issue five W 11 09 NAKED

MUSIC/RETROSPECTIVE 03 Editor’s Letter Gaming 05 Rev Says... 06 Wishlist 07 Gamer’s Diary 08 Freeware 09 Naked War 18 11 Street Fighter El13 Flicky 14 Game Reviews Music 16 Queenadreena 18 Prodigy 19 Myspace 20 DoorMat 22 Music Reviews 33 Films 24 Da Vinci Code 26 Doctor Who 28 Film Reviews QUEENADREENA Comics 30 Infinite Crisis 16 QUEEN 32 The Sandman 33 Fables 34 Comic Reviews Gallery ADREENA38 Next Issue... Words and Photos: Design: 24 Publisher Tim Cheesman Design Team Andrew Revell/Andrew Campbell/Rachel Wild Content Editors Andrew Revell/Ian Moreno-Melgar/Rachel Wild Contributors Adam Parker/Jason Robbins/Dan Gassis/Matthew Boylan Keith Andrews/Chris Pickering/Danny Badger/Talek Glover Cover-art Sam Miller @ http://fargalex.monkeybasedesign.co.uk [© Disposable Media 2006. // All images and characters are retained by original company holding.] DM5/EDITORS LETTER

emember us? We’re that magazine. The one that had a really good re- Rdesign, launched our best ever issue and then completely disappeared. We got sidetracked. We really haven’t got a better excuse. It was sunny, we frolicked - you know how it is. At least we captured a bit of it for the cover, eh? The summer did stop though, so we’ve got back to work and you’re now reading the

proof, . Some of it was written ages ago, some is brand new and we hope you enjoy every little bit of it. The future? We’re not totally sure. First stop is a Wii Launch special, in a similar vein to the 360 special from last year, aimed at releasing the same week the Wii releases in the UK. We’re also working on a new website to provide DM content much more regularly than the magazine does (not a terribly difficult task, lets be honest) which will hopefully be launching some time soon. DM6 on the other hand, we’re not sure about. We’ll see how it all goes., but while we promise DM isn’t going to die anytime soon it might change quite a bit. Stick around to find out, would you?

-Andrew games

DM5/GAMES

currently playing . . . naked war / street fighter/ flicky/ loco roco / new super mario bros / sensible soccer 2006 GAMES/RANT

ike a lot of people reading this, I’m happy to put a few hours aside to play a decent game. LHell, make a game good enough and I’ll put dive for a game on your hard drive, play it and see the Game Over screen before a that many hours aside in one sitting but that normal game has loaded up. So what is making this sudden push for quick thrills? makes me something of an exception. Everybody Well, money, obviously and the need to get it from more places now the cost of plays game to kill a bit of time and for most people making a game is rocketing. Look at Geometry Wars – something that has gone that tends to be a lot closer to twenty minutes from being an extra in Project Gotham Racing 2 to a fully fledged arcade game than a few hours. For a while it started to seem like with a demo version in PGR3. While Bizarre Creations prove that you can easily developers were forgetting this, making games get money selling extra content (or at least cars) it is even better to have bigger and bigger and longer and longer. Recently something making money from people who don’t want another racing game. though, things seem to be changing a bit. Rockstar Presents Table Tennis is a similar example. On it’s own it is a fun, quick It probably started with the DS, thanks to games game that aside from some lovely graphics and a physical disc isn’t too dissimilar that you can thoroughly enjoy in just ten minutes from the sort of games on Live Arcade. Rockstar have made no secret that it was such as Animal Crossing, Zoo Keeper and most created for a reason to make a character creator to use in future (GTA) games. And rev says… The fuTure is...The pasT? what is wrong with that? Everyone benefits because we get fun dm ediTor andrew reveLL games while they get more money for little extra development Looks aT how nexT-gen cost. It’ll work the other way too, grab your complicated physics games are going To be code, a couple of pot plants someone made, look at it sideways, made and funded. create a game, put it together. Stick a multiplayer mode, in get recently the Brain Training games prove that. Even Microsoft to give it the nod and get it on Live for a fiver. the bigger games became quicker and more Of course the danger is that we’ll end up with some thread-bare hand- accessible thanks to the sleep mode meaning it me-down version of the proper game with a high-score table bolted on using was possible to dive into a game for a few seconds, easy achievements as bribery to buy it, using this trend as a new way of creating put it back to sleep and return to it later. The PSP, of rubbish. Thanks to trial versions and some level of quality control that might not course, has the same benefit and it compared to a happen. It’s a good enough idea (for everyone) that it’s easier to look on the five minute loading time flicking Football Manager bright side for now and remember how limitations sometimes help people on, playing a game and flicking it off again knockout hugely creative stuff. suddenly makes it a lot more tempting. In these days of epic games, design by committee has overtaken (even if it is by Now we’ve seen this sort of spontaneity we’ve necessity) that personal touch unless the biggest of big names is involved. Now found we like it and we want more and with the big developers have a reason to remember how to make little games we’ll see Live Arcade the 360 is giving just that, with that come back a bit and it’ll be nice seeing what kind of games they make now Nintendo already following suit and there is a they can afford to make big games with their own money, not a faceless loan. “reasonable” chance Sony might “borrow” the idea Maybe they’ll get better too? too. Whatever, thanks to Live Arcade you can now

“The danger is we’ll end up wiTh some Thread-bare hand-me-down version of The game using easy achievemenTs as bribery To buy iT” GAMES/rAnT n DM2, I discussed the future of artificial intelligence in games, and put forward the Iconcept of a virtual ‘personal Jesus’ who might one day live on our desktops, be fed by information on the internet, and function as a kind of desktop With company forecasts suggesting that Google could one day gain a 20% share salesperson, amongst other things. of the global advertising market, it stands to reason that they would want to Since then, Google have announced not dissimilar know every detail about their users. plans to introduce artificial intelligence to their search But what will this mean for gaming? As TV ratings fall among the demographics engine. most associated with gaming and the internet (read: males aged 18-30), “The ultimate search engine would understand advertisers have had to diversify the mediums used for their message. In-game everything in the world. It would understand advertising is already present in games such as Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory and everything that you asked it and give you back the updated in real-time on Anarchy Online’s futuristic billboards. exact right thing instantly,” Google founder Larry Page Of course, the interactive nature of the medium presents a great many more told the assorted press and industry representatives at opportunities for consumer analysis. Games might be encouraged to grow European Google conference, Zeitgeist ‘06 thematically and in complexity in order to function, subversively, as an intricately wIshlIst adam parker tells us detailed customer survey. Inputs to such a theoretical survey what he would wIsh for could take a number of forms: from analysis of what we say to make gamIng better through voice recognition to concepts we haven’t even wIsh four: considered yet. Might something as bland as the syntax of our aI-vertIsIng speech, or the way in which we flick the sticks of a joypad be While these plans were somewhat inevitable, and enough to form a picture of the individual? Making a choice in a would naturally improve their web searching service, seemingly innocuous conversation tree might never be the same again. there are financial advantages to such a system. A log Our culture grows as the work of one auteur inspires the work of another, be it of searches made might develop a picture of a user in the craze of bullet time or lens flare in games, and if entertainment were to have a a way not unlike Amazon.com’s bespoke function it would be precisely this: evolution through group inspiration. recommended products system or Tesco’s logging of In the future, as we play, will the shadowy companies that watch over us be purchases made by Clubcard owners, albeit with a far inspired by us without us even knowing? Will we all become unaware slaves in a broader range of inputs than simply purchases that giant network of consciousness and together be responsible for future have already been made. blockbusters plucked from our minds? As a Google user searches for information on It’s The Matrix without the need for plugs into our brains, and it’ll happen summer blockbuster movie X, will he later be invited without our even knowing. to holiday where the filming took place, or tempted to buy the sunglasses the protagonist wore? The possibilities are literally endless.

“In the future, as we play, wIll the shadowy companIes that watch over us be InspIred by us wIthout us even knowIng?” GAMES/RANT

he ‘360’ has gotten a lot of use this month being paraded around friend’s houses, it’s Twhite curves stroked and guide button prodded. When on display it unfurls its fan of colourful games to win over potential gaming GW really is a master class of retro/modern arcade gaming, it’s got everything mates. Expanding a chest with Ghost Recon, the classics had, the simplicity to explain itself without the need for a big shaking a rear with Project Gotham, and stretching instructions screen and page of controls, and that mysterious score barrier that an arm with a spot of Table Tennis. Onlookers ooh separates the novices from the pro’s. Have YOU broken a million? and ahh at its vibrancy, detail and glimmering Once you do there’s another goal to achieve, getting the top spot on your effects. But for all that show, all that glitz and friends list. This is where Live Arcade really comes into its own, you and your glamour, when brought home to its nest under the mates popping in and out of sessions, slowly honing your skills and aiming for TV, another side to its personality is revealed. A gamEr’sdiary EvEry issuE Jason robbins that moment when you can slip them a message to check the lETs us glimpsE inTo his lifE leader boards and initiate the next stage of the battle. Away as a gamEr. This monTh: livE from the craziness of the uber-beings breaking the arcadE, going for a million impossible barriers and 10hour game sessions you can pick and uno. and choose your goalposts, someone you know who’s just side without normal mapping and X-million that little bit better than you. polygons, but one that is currently proving to be Away from all those climbing scores, neon explosions and frantic action Live even more alluring. Arcade uses the same system to present an altogether different experience; the Live Arcade is a wonderful thing, a touch of the leisure of UNO. old with a large helping of the new, as I Here, at the card table, it’s all about kicking back and taking things slow. accumulate a collection of games I feel like I’m Accompanied by a jazz lounge theme tune that none of your own albums can slowly building a huge Wario Ware, snippets of match, a seamless loop of audio-silk that eases out the explosions ringing in your action that fit a current mood or gaming ears. This is where you come when you’ve just got home from work or if it’s late in opportunity. This month’s case in point: Geometry the evening and you want to wind down, invite some buddies into a room and Wars and UNO. spin the yarn. There is strategy of course, but a good helping of chance and a clear prompt as to which are the only cards you can play in each shot enables you to switch off your brain and let the game play out, simply match the colour or the “AwAy from All those climbing card value. There’s a strange beauty in a game that you can’t always win, it should scores, neon explosions And be utterly frustrating, but you just learn to ease back and enjoy it, meeting some frAntic Action live ArcAde uses people along the way. the sAme system to present That friend’s leaderboard is still there though…. An Altogether different experience; the leisure of uno” GAMES/FREEWARE irstly, a confession: I haven’t heard of all of collecting power-ups, and so the these titles before (the title is derived from eat game rewards the skillful with super-

FG-Stream2020, Guwange, Ikaruga, GR powerful shot weapons that can DoDonpatch Daiouzyou(DDP3), Ketui destroy the larger enemies very Kizunazigoutati, Xll STAG, and Border Down), and quickly. As is also traditional with titles GRDXKD’s

I’ve only played about half of them, so if you’re F of its ilk, using the beam weapon can ths

looking for an opinion that critiques all of the G decrease your speed, but this can be a influences on display, go away now. What is blessing for those who find the game’s en

certain is that the end result is one of the most R controls somewhat twitchy for a one o one

polished freeware efforts (ShootTheCore states D bullet-hell shoot ‘em up. that the free download is a demo, not a full Gripes? Well, it’s only a one-level

product) I’ve seen, evoking memories of classic an demo, but then that’s no more G Cave and Treasure titles whilst offering brand new disposable than a short webgame

scenarios that are sure to test your reflexes as well st eatest such as issue three’s Princess title. The

as any commercial product would. ailin controls can be a bit twitchy when a accessibility is both a a both is accessibility F GR Choosing from three DoDonPachi ships and one keyboard is used, but this is common XII Stag ship, each vessel has different attacks with certain MAME shooters and other freeware depending on whether you hammer or hold the shooters such as last issue’s Shoot The Bullet (and fire button, and once in the game proper you’ll my current gamepad is having issues with XP so I GuwanGe-RuGa notice homing attacks can’t test for compatibility there.) There’s also the (similar to the spirit problem of accessibility: some gamers may not be thing in Guwange and used to the pace of the game, some (such as -Daioujou-Xii-Kizuna- Shikigami), combo- myself) may not be aware of the mechanics ouR FReewaRe coRResponDent scoring from behind each of the games that inspired this title, Dan Gassis Reviews a Game with a DoDonPachi, buzz some might simply be overwhelmed by the Down RiDiculously lonG name. ye GaDs! systems, all manner of options available to them at the start. This means golden bonuses as seen that some players run the risk of not getting the in many a Cave game, and much more. The most from the title, and thus not enjoying it as remarkable thing is that it all works without being much as they could. overkill, the developer resisting the temptation to However, accessibility - as well as being a great flood the game with so many mechanics that it failing - is also one of GRDXKD’s greatest strengths, becomes stupid. No matter what your experience at least in a commercial sense as opposed to a of the games that are namechecked, you can quite mechanical one. Consider that PC gamers don’t happily blaze through the game as you wish have anything available on store shelves to match without being punished for your lack of shmup the console shmups, or that most console shmups knowledge. are hard to find in big mainstream stores such as

ain - this this - ain However, it must be stated again - this thing is GAME. Consider the fact that you’d normally have G polished, with enemy and level presentation that to enter the murky world of emulation to see some a D D is on a par with classic arcade hits by Cave, as of the games inspired by this - either that or pay opposed to the simple stylings of most freebie daft prices on eBay. This fanwork, although only a shooters. If you focus on the backdrops then sure, demo, is a great way of getting more everyday they might look patchy and lo-res. However, it’s gamers interested in these more esoteric shooters likely that the backdrops are the last thing you’ll without producing either a financial or legal be looking at. If you’re familiar with Cave’s works barrier to entry, so now there’s no excuse not to

is polishe is you’ll know that your shot and beam weapon can indulge in some of the finest free shmup action G become more powerful if you stay alive whilst going. it must be state be must it thin GAMES/NAKED WAR NAKED WAR WORDS AND DESIGN: ANDREW REVELL I’M CURRENTLY PLAYING MY FIRST EVER GAMES OF NAKED WAR. CHANCES I’LL WIN ARE SLIM SINCE I’M PLAYING AGAINST THE PICKFORD BROS. JOHN AND STE, ZEE 3. BUT WHAT BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO ASK A FEW QUESTIONS ABOUT NAKED WAR AND BEING AN INDIE DEVELOPER? aked War is a turn based strategy game, “a development of idea’s we Nhad for Pillage”. Unlike Pillage (or Future Tactics, as it was finally called) the main focus is two player, specifically playing over email against your opponent. Take your turn, click send and your moves are sent through the server and out as an email to your opponent, who opens an attachment and replies in kind. So to the games. John first. It’s fair to say that for my first game ever I wasn’t really expecting to do well so a slow start seems like a good idea. I hang back and move towards vehicles. It seems sensible to start with the important question. How has it been being an independent developer for two and a half years? “Frugal. But enjoyable apart from being poor but it was a golden opportunity”. Ste (from another match) takes up the baton, “It was very exciting and liberating starting work on a project we knew we could do our way, without it being spoilt by publisher interference and stupid deadlines. A chance to do it right.” GAMES/NAKED WAR

Back to the game. John manoeuvres for both being destroyed in a single shot. One around two to three hours a match that is a might take a couple of games to get into it position, shooting mountains and getting into round of fire from John later and it’s Game lot of gaming and while a one-off payment but when it clicks...brilliant. a gun turret. The opportunity arises for me Over for me. is cheaper it’s impossible to complain. In the course of this article I’ve clocked up to take first blood, with a few petty blows Since I’m feeling bitter after losing in such Unsurprisingly, to quote John, “everyone 5 games. 2 wins, 1 loss and two that are still changing hands until I completely misjudge an amateur fashion, it’s a good time to bring seems to like it. It’s pretty popular” in progress. As much as I want to explain that the enemy range and get blown up, lots. up my least favourite aspect of Naked War Another aspect to it is that Naked War I was close to beating John before it took Sigh. Back to questioning, about how it feels - the subscription/payment system. Unlike isn’t set in stone, as Ste clarified “We plan a turn for the worse and that I’m in a right now the game is out. “We’re surprised by the most games, the initial cost provides only a to keep working on the manual, the game mess against Ste after he blasted me with amount of hours people put in. Also, every limited amount of gaming with subscriptions and the website over the coming months. a gun turret I’d not noticed there just isn’t reviewer who has played it has kept playing starting at $19.99 for 20 challenges, with In fact we see it as an ongoing work-in- enough space here. The fact that between all after completing their review”, and Sales are, everyone getting a free credit to try it out. progress rather than a finished project” and the games the stats say I’ve spent 14 hours “slow but constantly improving” From the Zee-3 point of view this is a great John confirmed there would be expansions and 25 minutes in the game in less than two (It’s around this point I start a match with system, it almost totally rules out piracy and “Absolutely. Subscription pays for ongoing weeks should say enough about how fun DM Editor Tim Cheesman, play until 4am, it’ll generate revenue until the last development,” with, “definite,” plans and enjoyable this game is. Probably more work out what’s going on -concentrate on two players give up. For people CONCENTRATE already in mind for what aspects to so than GamesTM giving it 9/10, although collecting doofers, not killing folk- and most thinking about trying it out though ON COLLECTING expand. they’ve got that to boast about too. John importantly gain my first ever Naked it can be off-putting. My reasoning; DOOFERS, NOT Naked War is impressive. You really sums it all up, “It’s just good knowing people War victory.) “Why bother trying to find out if I have to play it to get an understanding like it”. Having some knowledge of what is going like it when it’ll only keep costing KILLING FOLK! as to how neat it is. The fact it’s sent What more can you ask for from a on makes one real difference - it shows that me money if I do?” over email and you can get on with work developer, really? I’m losing, badly. A vain attempt to regroup The clincher for the system is that it’s while waiting for a turn to arrive is brilliant. doesn’t go too well and I’m soon being not charging you for games - it’s charging It even looks good, with lots of neat little Find out more at: chased around the map. Despite having a you for challenges. If a friend challenges touches really making it shine (although a http://www.naked-war.com better range of vehicles it’s not long before I you to a game it doesn’t cost you a penny. certain creator of the graphics played it down make another comical error that leaves tanks The cost is only from challenging people, so a bit, “I guess I’m kinda proud of making an colliding (as shown in the strip at the top, you can reasonably expect to get 42 games OK looking, low-tech game without spending taken from the website tips) that ends with from 21 challenges without feeling guilty. At millions”) and most importantly it all works. It GAMES/STREET FIGHTER thE WORlD’S WaRRIORS It’S a FRIDay EvENING aND IN thE back cORNER OF a pOORly lIt amuSEmENt aRcaDE, a GROup OF pEOplE aRE cROWDED aROuND a SINGlE machINE. thEy aRE all OF DIFFERENt aGES aND FROm DIFFERENt RacES, thEy EvEN SpEak DIFFERENt laNGuaGES tO Each OthER but DESpItE all thIS thEy GathER tOGEthER, almOSt DaIly FOR thE SamE REaSON, FOR thEIR lOvE OF a GamE, FOR thEIR lOvE OF StREEt FIGhtER.

WORDS: MATTHEW BOYLAN DESIGN: ANDREW CAMPBELL

or the uninitiated, Street Fighter is one of the forefathers in the fighting game genre. It is a Fpure one-on-one test of skill, be it against the computer or against a live person. This is now up to its thirty first arcade iteration, usually with a mixture of the suffixes“Super”, “Turbo”, “Max”, “Upper” or “Dash”! The original Street Fighter was surprisingly not that big of a hit, this was mainly due to its poor control system and the elitism that surrounded the game and. It may be hard to comprehend now, but Ryu and Ken’s now iconic special moves were only known to a small proportion of players and these players kept the commands to themselves. It wasn’t until the advent of Street Fighter 2 that the franchise really took off, GAMES/STREET FIGHTER offering a wide range of iconic characters and add that up, it makes for an eye watering “WE caN play FOR 2 - 8 hOuRS WIthOut EvEN through a simple glitch, the series had amount of money that overwhelms any World thINkING abOut It. tOuRNamENtS caN takE DayS inadvertently created the combo. A sequence of Warcraft subscription fee. But for any of tO cOmplEtE” – naGaTa LoCk ii of attacks which, when executed with proper these dedicated players, there is only one timing, did not allow the opponent to interrupt goal; to win one of the major tournaments practise. “I spend at least two hours a day on limelight, Street Fighter is as strong today as it the combination. A feature that you can now such as the “Evo 2K Tournament”. Evo is a the practise modes” States another dedicated has ever been. And with two new increments find implemented into the core of any fighting multi-day, gaming festival with player who goes by the alias of now on the way, this is just as good as any system since. Since then there have been tournaments for many fighting ‘Rakukojin’ “I try to get fifteen time as any to get into the world and culture many improvements to the system over the games, including the likes of hours a week practise if of Street Fighter. ages and many other spin off series. Arguably, Virtua Fighter and the Guilty possible and I usually proving that all good things come in threes, Gear series. The Evo spend an hour a day the best iterations of the franchise are “Street tournaments are said to be practising parrying in STREET FIGHTER Fighter Alpha 3” and “Street Fighter 3: Third the biggest and best of Street Fighter 3: Third ALPHA: GENERATIoNS Strike”, which are still played by the fans their kind, attracting Strike” Parrying is the (PS2, £20) almost religiously in arcades, years after their gamers from the US, technique of tapping his is exactly what the fans have original release. Europe, Korea, and forward at the exact It’s these fans that make the series what it Japan. The added been crying out for, an arcade moment an perfect conversion of Street is today. To the dedicated player, it’s no longer incentive of a enemies attack t Fighter Alpha 3 on a home console at just a game; it’s a part of their culture and an possible $40,000 connects, and is important part of their lives. “Personally I barely in prize money also last. That would be enough to keep any the core principle street fighter fan happy for months, but play on my own. If I have friends over we can helps to sweeten the of the Third Strike play for 2 - 8 hours without even thinking deal. These Capcom have decided to be incredibly game. “Along with generous and also include every other about it, never mind things like tournaments tournaments even give that, I’d say I spend which can take days to complete” Explains birth to gaming increment of the Street Fighter Alpha about eight hundred series. Including gem fighters and a brand ‘Nagata Lock II’, an avid fan from Canada “The celebrities, who are hours a year playing, money I spend on Street Fighter is quite celebrities in the original sense new version of Alpha 3, this version be it against human or features 4 new fighting styles taken from immense. If you go to monthly tournaments of the word, known for their talent computer opposition.” That you’re probably spending at least $20 in and skill amongst the fighting game other Capcom games such as Street sort of dedication is what’s required to Fighter 3’s Parrying system. Thus games, another $10 in food, and then there is community. These include names such as make it to tournament level, let alone win. As all the money that is spent on fuel and other four time Marvel Vs Capcom 2 world screating a version of Alpha 3 that is you can probably guess, stepping up your incredibly enjoyable, but expenditures. I personally probably spend an champion Justin Wong and ‘Daigo’, who is game from casual gaming to competitive average of $50 every month in small known for the spectacular way he won the unfortunately not gaming is an extremely daunting experience. exactly to a tournaments alone. Add on that another $10- world championships of Street Fighter 3: Your first trip to one of the community’s many $20 dollars a week on arcades. Then add Third Strike. professional tournament forums can often be a bewildering experience standard. If you have ever further on to that another $200 at least for a This sort of talent and minor fame isn’t just with all the people seemingly talking a major tournament.” When you given though, it has to be earned. They may enjoyed a fighting game in different language. All the talk of “FRC’s”, your life, then you owe it to make it look easy, but have no doubt, to be the “SAII’s” and “JC’s” will mean an extended trip best requires a lot of dedication, time and yourself to go out and to the site’s FAQ’s before anything can be purchase this game right now. understood. But if you stick with it, you will “I tRy tO GEt FIFtEEN hOuRS a WEEk pRactISE find an ever growing community with a loyal IF pOSSIblE aND I uSually SpEND aN hOuR a Day fanbase who will accept and guide anyone HHHHH pRactISING paRRyING” – Rakukojin else who is willing to learn. Even if it is no longer in the public GAMES/FLICKY controllers flung across the room in pure routes burned into the player’s mind after a blockbusters of the 21st century rely more frustration. At the time, it seemed nothing else few hundred plays or so. That’s and more on plot over playability. It’s could match the story of a bird desperately not an exaggeration; Flicky was perhaps not a fair argument to claim trying to save her chicks from the drooling (and still is) always a hit-the- that such a tactic in any way leads to a mouths of some predatory tigers let loose reset-button-at-first-failure poorer game at the end of it all, but in a living room. kind of game. there is certainly something to be said Anything to avoid work, I guess. Pin your plan down, for titles of Flickys ilk. FLICKY The original ‘Gotta catch ‘em and Flicky becomes a test Simplicity is certainly in vogue. WHAT DO YOU GET WHEN YOU all’, Flicky is a simple tale of getting of holding one’s nerve and Nintendo’s drive post DS has been to CROSS SOME BIRDS WITH A COUPLE from A to B in one piece. Charged putting faith into said entice the non-gaming masses into the OF TIGERS AND AN IGUANA? EITHER with the task of retrieving her routes, hopefully breezing fold. The success of the company’s A REALLY BAD PUNCHLINE, OR A 80S offspring, play involves navigating through the early rounds. brain-trained handheld in Japan is SEGA CLASSIC. Flicky around various recurring Pressure off. certainly testament to its achievement maps, making sure she passes her Until a new map is encountered, of of that goal, to a degree. Microsoft has also Words: Keith Andrews young along the way, who handily course – a moment usually greeted thrown its hat into the ring, adding a new Design: Andrew Revell attach themselves to the back of with genuine excitement and fear in dimension to Xbox Live with the inclusion of her to form a binding chain. Reach the door, equal measure. Because that’s Flick’s little Live Arcade. Destined to be the home of retro and all is well and good. Get caught by a tiger, trick. Thumbed into dedicated submission and faux-retro titles for years to come, its and her litter disband only to start aimlessly from early on, ‘having a quick go’ at Flicky creation has certainly added a new string to wandering around like useless idiots. Useless becomes as routine as popping down to the the giant’s bow, even if its appeal is unlikely to idiots you then have to corner shop for some milk. You branch out beyond the hardcore anytime soon. re-catch, and so the FLICKY BECAME A MINI know exactly where everything is – It does prove there is a market, however. cycle continues. OBSESSION OF TOP SCORES, you’ve been here a thousand times There is money to be made – something Not especially before. It’s sorted. You’re fine. Until publishers might like to consider when their technical in 2006, or in LEAGUE TABLES, AND FLUNG you pass ‘Go’ and up pops a map latest million-dollar ‘killer-app’ ends up in the 1991 to be honest. CONTROLLERS where the door (which, incidentally, bargain bin in Woolies two months after its Indeed, it’s fair to say seems to escort the chicks to what release. Perhaps we’re on the brink of a full- that Flicky’s first real console conversion to appears to be a hotel lobby room), the ledges scale renaissance. Perhaps Flicky 2 is just the Mega Drive (the game had technically and the are-they-really-using-that-as-a- around the corner. already featured on home consoles, in the weapon flower pots are all in different Or perhaps we should all focus on what’s form of a release on Sega’s pre-Master positions. That’s when Flicky becomes a most important. Who’s got the highest System ‘SG-1000’, although it naturally mecca of mass panic again, and you realise score, again? t was the summer of 2004 when Flicky received little fanfare) a mere seven years you’re no longer in charge of your life. first entered my life. I’d always been aware after its cabinet debut hardly stretched the Be warned – it can happen to any of us. Iof its presence; a dedicated Sega zealot machine’s mighty architecture. But it’s to its Flicky is a title that, like most games that have to the extreme in my youth, Yoji Ishii’s ode to credit that, even in the pixel-perfect ‘look stood the test of time, manages to sidestep pet-care somehow managed to escape my they’ve actually animated REAL stubble on his the issue over overcomplicated controls. No attention. Yet it wasn’t until my boxes-of- face’ modern day, Flicky’s appeal has not triggers. No shoulder buttons. No select instant-mashed-potato fuelled student years been lost. button or fiddly white or black buttons. Just that Flick and her chicks finally took hold. To put it plainly, it’s a pressure cooker. the ability to go left, right or jump. Included in one of Sega’s many money- Each map is technically more taxing than the Yet the fact that Flicky’s (and indeed spinning retro packs, Flicky was described by last, with the strain of making an ill-timed leap countless other’s) uncomplicated nature many a critic as mere filler - a title included to or a crippling wrong move causing the blood doesn’t make it any easier to play has ‘make up the numbers’, as it were. But within to pump through the veins at a frankly seemingly escaped the attention of our four student walls, Flicky became a mini unhealthy rate. But maps eventually become a developers today. Often weighed down by the obsession of top scores, league tables, and question of memory over skill, with successful sheer scale of options available, the big GAMES/REVIEWS

t’s always the simplest of ideas pretty much that. You can tap both he title is misleading; this is pure ignored every game after the Ithat still hold weight in the years at the same time to cause your told-fashioned Mario, with no original SMB will enjoy this - never to come. Space Invaders, Pac Man, LocoRoco to jump, but essentially gimmicks spoiling the party. once are you given SM64-style Tetris, they’re all inherently simple that’s all you need to solve the Hardware features have been used “objectives” , for example: this is ideas that are absolutely timeless. puzzles that the oncoming terrain to enrich the experience without simply about reaching a flag at the And now you can add LocoRoco to possess. diluting it elsewhere, and so the rest end. that list. Usually with gaming it’s a case of is as you’d hoped. Eight worlds rich Star coins and alternate routes Starting each level with a tiny little style over substance, but damn, in colour, variety, challenge and invite revisits, but then so does the blob (a LocoRoco in fact) you LocoRoco has them both in dazzling secrets; that feeling of fluid control game’s effortless conveyance of joy, traverse the terrain ahead via the abundance. Finally a truly essential and momentum as dominant here as this is something you’ll replay for simplest of control systems. Instead PSP exclusive. as it was in the N64 flagship; a a long time to come. of a wickedly convoluted command Chris Pickering welcome return to past and present dan gassis system that might just dilute the traditions, be they SM64’s wall- simple concept, you simply twist the jumping, SMB’s ceiling breaches or LocoRoco screen to the left or right using the NEW SUPER Yoshi’s red coins. Most welcome, PSP’s shoulder buttons. And that’s MARIo BRoS however, is that even those who (PSP) “UsUally It’s a Case of style over “the game effortlessly Coneys joy. sUbstanCe, bUt damn, loCoroCo has thIs Is somethIng yoU’ll rePlay for a them both In dazzlIng abUndanCe.” (DS) long tIme to Come.”

new version of Sensible Soccer, excuse for teleporting goal keepers, lending the mechanics of the a unique “remix” song that blends all athe finest football game ever laughable artificial intelligence and brhythm-action genre and the the minigames of that group with created and from the outside incorrect line-ups which overshadow “minigame compilation” trend - the song’s BGM in perfect everything looks great. It’s got a the decent passing and fine various precise-yet-simple actions in synchronicity. roughly similar graphical style, Jon shooting. Multiplayer is bearable, a minute timeframe - Rhythm Like Wario Ware, each minigame Hare as a design consultant, quite but little more. Tengoku takes the opportunity that has charm and humour, the amount fast gameplay. Everything in fact, In a few years you’ll look back at was just waiting to be realised. of quality music in the game is apart from being a good game. Sensible Soccer 2006 in the same Most regular stages (around 40 in mindblowing, and the remixes leave I wanted to like it. I really, really, way you’ll look back at the 2006 total, broken into eight groups) you gobsmacked with their seamless really wanted to like it (I wanted it to World cup. Rubbish. begin with a tutorial detailing the blending of the previous minigames. have Live play and be backwards andew revell gist of the minigame, before the In short: an essential purchase. compatible too) but like England song proper begins. You’ll be pulling dan gassis and the world cup, some things out beard hairs, spearing ghosts with aren’t to be. Rushed out for the arrows, contributing to dance SENSIBLE World cup and also being a budget RHYTHM performances and more besides. SoccER release is the reason, if not the TENGokU Best of all, each group culminates in 2006 “yoU’ll look baCk at sensIble soCCer “yoU’ll be PUllIng oUt beard haIrs, (xBox) 2006 In the same way yoU’ll look baCk (GBA) sPearIng ghosts wIth arrows and at the 2006 world CUP. rUbbIsh.” ContrIbUtIng to danCe PerformanCes.” music

DM4/MUSIC

currently listening to . . . prodigy / queenadreena / colt / huski / emulsion / world’s rarest funk 45’s / bands on the doormat MUSIC/QUEENADREENA QUEEN ADREENA PHOTOGRAPHS: TIM CHEESMAN WORDS AND DESIGN: ANDREW REVELL

QUEEN ADREENA (OR QUEENADREENA WITH THE ueen Adreena are certainly one figure contained in a stained dress violently REMOVED SPACE WE REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE) of the more unique British bands thrashing around the stage. Combine it with GOT TOGETHER AGAIN FOR A GIG IN SEPTEMBER Qaround at the moment which is easily vocals ranging from delicate vulnerability to attributable to singer KatieJane Garside. uncontrolled screaming and you soon see AND WE WENT ALONG, TOOK A FEW PHOTOS AND Her onstage persona could be described she’s a massive part of the band’s appeal. THEN WROTE THIS ARTICLE. as “that of a mad person” with her slender In fact a few people might not even have MUSIC/QUEENADREENA

noticed that there was a band Vapid Dolly with neither behind her, but there really is. The gaining much success. bassist and drummer seem to be In 2000 the pair reunited interchangeable (over four gigs in and formed Queen Adreena the past few years I’ve never seen and soon released their first the same ones twice) but guitarist album, Taxidermy on Blanca y Crispin Gray forms the other half Negro. Two years later, now with of the band’s ex-Clash Pete Howard on drums, backbone and they released Drink Me on Rough creates the Trade. Their most recent studio bands sound album, featuring KatieJane’s sister together with Melanie ‘Maple Bee’ Garside on bass KatieJane. and entitled The Butcher and the Butterfly, DAISY CHAINSAW was released IMPLODED IN THE WAY in 2005. It was TOO MANY GREAT released on original Daisy BANDS DO Chainsaw The two record label One Little other than had previously Indian. With one record a shoebox to worked label per album, they’ve record in. As with together in the clearly never been Ruby Throat, a debut early 90’s as record label favourites. album is still in the members of Since then there has future although they the group Daisy been a live CD and DVD have the lead having Chainsaw and occasional gigs and played a solitary gig. (listen to breaks. At the moment The last part of them at they’re on hiatus again the Queen Adreena www.myspace. (as usual, signified by family, Melanie, is com/lovesick- the disappearance also busy. As well as pleasure) of their official site) being half of the poptastic Huski , who drew and this time it was who, coincidentally, are reviewed a sizeable strongly rumoured to later this issue (you can go and ‘underground’ be permanent. Until the have a listen at www.myspace. following gig that the surrounding com/huskimusic). She’s and even photo’s were taken also working on experienced at, at least. her second their fifteen The break doesn’t mean that KatieJane solo album as well as minutes of and Crispin aren’t keeping busy though. She being, quite surprisingly, mainstream is currently working on a project named Ruby one of the Mediaeval fame, Throat and their myspace demos suggest Baebes who are famed for turning down Top of the Pops gentler and more folkish than anything she being attractive and singing and Maverick records before has previously been involved. It’s certainly songs that are centuries releasing an album and then no less enjoyable for it though, have a listen old. Nothing in common with Daisy Chainsaw imploded in the at the catchily entitled www.myspace.com/ Huski and even less with way too many great bands do. katiejanegarsiderubythroat). An album and Queen Adreena. She’s a busy While KatieJane entered the gigs are promised soon. Crispin has another lady. music industry wilderness, Cripsin band, The Dogbones, who sound much The gig? It was good. They trudged on eventually hopping closer to Queenadreena although the demos even played a new song but the with the rest of the band to (www.myspace.com/thedogbonesuk) seem pictures paint a better story than become Dizzy Q Viper and then to be lacking in spark as well as anywhere we ever could. MUSIC/RETROSPECTIVE

c ctRONI ElE WORDS: Matthew boylan puNkS DESIGN: anDRew CaMPbell lectronic Punk, the label of the genre form of Hip-Hop MC, Maxim Reality, that the fresh today as it did ten years ago. With Jilted, attack from British chat show hosts ‘Richard invented in a desperate attempt for prodigy released their first studio LP. “The Liam had now destroyed all the conventional and Judy’ to ban the single and its’ video. This Ethe media to pigeon-hole The Prodigy, Prodigy experience” is a high paced roller laws of dance music and with the release of ensured that the subsequent LP “The Fat of and yet still after all these years they remain coaster ride through the world of the the “Voodoo People” he continued this the Land” became their biggest selling album alone in this classification. It’s a testament to underground for the uneducated masses, with rampage even further. to date, featuring tracks such as industrial the career of a band that is revered as much an intro that demands your attention and What came next was a pure injection of drum and bass fusion of “Serial Thrilla” and by the rock community as they are by the doesn’t let go of it until the very end. rebellion with the advent of the dirty electro the extremely dark cover of L7’s “Fuel My underground rave scene from which they Highlights of this album include the reggae punk anthem “Firestarter” a song so clouded Fire” emerged in 1990. acid trip that is “Out of Space” and the energy in controversy due to the pro arsonist content After a long seven year absence, with only And it was here that the Essex born trio of invoking finale Death“ of the Prodigy of it lyrics, causing the song to be pulled from the critically shunned single “Baby’s got a Liam Howlett, Leeroy Thornhill and Keith Flint Dancers”. many retail suppliers, although this did little to temper” in between, The Prodigy returned with started their own assault against the senses Their second LP “Music for the Jilted stop the song from rocketing to number one their long awaited forth studio LP. An album with the release of their first single What‘ Evil Generation” came with a simple philosophy, in the top forty. This success continued with taking a lot of influence from Liam’s time Lurks’ which gave fuel to the flames of the that rave had become too commercial and the raw and rough, “Breathe” featuring the spent back in the underground bootleg scene. rapidly growing UK underground scene. It was in desperate need of renovation before it famous almost steel whip-like rhythm With highly electro tracks like “Girls” and the wasn’t until the release of their second single suffered death from over exposure. This interlaced throughout the track. The bootleg-esque and dirty “Memphis Bells”, the “Charly” that the prodigy transcended from evolution was achieved by a move into controversy continued with the openly explicit public’s reaction became extremely mixed. the Dance Chart into the Pop charts, sampling introducing new instruments into the genre. “Smack My Bitch Up”, the subject of its lyrics Although constantly wrapped in some form a Children’s Safety video to an up-tempo “Their Law” is the perfect example of this, being so blurred that it came under fire from of controversy, one fact still remains, The hardcore breakbeat sound, the likes of which splicing guitar solos with a darker, edgier both woman’s rights groups and drug abuse Prodigy have done more in sixteen years and had never been heard before by the mass variant of drum and bass, which still sounds as prevention groups. Culminating in a two hour four studio LP’s than most bands could even public. This innovation continued with the hope to do in a lifetime, making their live release of the singles “Everybody in the cONStaNtly WRappED IN SOmE fORm Of cONtROvERSy, thE performance something that should be seen Place” and “Fire/Jericho.” However it wasn’t pRODIGy havE DONE mORE IN SIxtEEN yEaRS aND fOuR StuDIO lp’S at least once by everyone before they die. until Howlett added another member in the thaN mOSt baNDS cOulD EvEN hOpE tO DO IN a lIfEtImE MUSIC/OPINION

mysp A ce . com WorDs: IAN MORENO-MELGAR Design: RACHEL WILD

Welcome To gooD vs. BAD. every issue We pick on someThing music relATeD AnD prAise iT AnD shouT iT DoWn AT The sAme Time. A BiT like The nme, BuT noT quiTe As chilDish. This issue iT’s myspAce. for AgAinsT

vast library of bands, a plethora of influences or simply by examining bands’ M has a MySpace. never find as there too many awful profiles to styles easily searchable, free MP3s, friends’ list. But you know all this. The reason So do I. wade through. Alinks to bands you’ve never heard of, MySpace is so great for music though is D And if either or us gets one The whole thing has devolved into a videos, exclusive competitions, a chance to because of its initial draws - it’s free and there more cold friend request from a shitty college Murdoch-run mess, a complex maze of guitar interact directly with the artists and a whole are literally millions of people on there. The indie band I’m gonna get, um, more angry than leads, mic cables and 2 minute fame seekers. bunch of other lovely goodies. The rise of sheer scope and the lack of cost involved in this I was before. Every 10 minutes a new band is MySpace is the new Pop Idol, a place where MySpace is well documented, with the likes of is a truly revolutionary aspect. desperately trying to get me to be a friend so as seemingly any ol’ Joe with a band or a Q Magazine lauding it as a tool which will MySpace allows bands to actively bypass to proclaim to labels “we have 25,000 fans!”. computer can become famous, the problem revolutionise the music industry. the typical label system and whether it’s simply being that with such an obscene The Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen have allowing people to download demos, stream The iDeA BehinD music on myspAce numbers of auditionees, how the used it to their benefit to build a fan-base tracks or even buy their CD, MySpace is perfect is superB BuT hAs Become Densely hell are we supposed to listen? before the traditional marketing kicked in. It for hearing something that the radio won’t play, sATurATeD By BAnD WAgon jumpers. Don’t send me a friend request, I allows bands to easily build up a relationship major labels won’t sign or that your friends won’t listen. Tell me about your with fans, attracting new people via the friends haven’t read about in the NME. The feature we The ability to quickly add people as ‘fans’ is one band, make me interested, I system. Smaller bands may need of the selling points of the site and almost one might tell you to fuck off, I might listen, but at to actively seek new fans, rather The sheer scope AnD The lAck of of it’s most misleading. The idea behind music least try. Send me a CD and I’ll love you. than the fans coming to them, but cosT involveD in myspAce is A Truly on MySpace is superb but has become densely Unless you’re shite, obviously. it still provides an easily accessible revoluTionAry AspecT. saturated by band wagon jumpers. MySpace used to be a place for mavericks, manner of communicating It may offer free downloads. But only by a an opportunity to plunder, now it’s dominated between band and potential customer. have in DM where bands send us CDs to select few. It potentially offers you a unique by label-paid-for banners and plugs, fake For fans it’s an entirely flexible system review is essentially us being lazy; we should be ability to communicate with bands you like. profiles and desperate kids. It’s a sordid shitty allowing them access to their favourite band, or looking for them, scouting out new music. But it Who’ll never reply because the site is run by a mess. And that’s when it’s working. at least a band they might not be familiar with. It shows how MySpace puts power in the hands work experience lacky at the bands’ label. offers unparalleled opportunities to explore and of the bands, rather than labels. Which can only There are loads of bands on there. Who you’ll discover new music by browsing styles, be a good thing right? MUSIC/DOORMAT e thought that this might take aren’t that impressive but the middle of the duVin (and thanks again for proving it off a huge amount with lots of three, Clocks, is great. Sure, it sort of wasn’t a one-off either with a bunch of other Wbands wanting eight thousand reminds me of the Ab Fab theme tune but downloadable tracks.) people to read about them, but it hasn’t it’s easily good enough to see them rub Lets head away from that seventies really. That said we have got enough to shoulders with whichever guitar band is in musical again and right back up to the shuffle the design of the page a bit so we’d vogue at the moment. That’s meant to be a present day. Johnny Poindexter are better get on with it, hadn’t we? good thing, by the way. If all else fails they next up and the generous souls are This issue, Grease is, in fact, the word. It’s can probably get a good job handing out currently giving away their debut album, got verve, it’s got meaning and it is also has leaflets - you wouldn’t believe how many Place Your Trust in Empty Spaces, free via a cover album devoted to it thanks to record postcards fell out of the envelope when I MySpace. Go ask them for a copy, as it’s company Filthy little Angels. There’s opened it (Well, you probably would, it was marvelous. Complex ideas communicated Another issue And yet not room to do each band justice (there’s nine. But that is still a lot to accompany one with samples, superb electronica and tight, Another selection oF one for each song after all) but I’ll smear CD). occasionally dense guitar work that tAlented MusiciAns hAVe Grease highlights throughout. The If there is one band you’ve come across (possibly unintentionally) reminds you of sent stuFF to lAnd on... conclusion can sit at the start though - it on this page it’s probably this mob, the Mogwai and the current ‘Math-Rock’ scene. wouldn’t be worth buying - there are too Pocket gods. They certainly seem to be It easily manages to be unique although popping up in all the right places and seem sometimes it does feel like they are striving to be a hard-working bunch as well. They’re that bit too hard to be different and it goes different, that is for sure, mostly sounding as far as damaging a couple of the tracks. the doorMAt like some sort of friendly punk get together Someone send them a decent producer and where everyone is helping create an tell him to keep them reigned in and the elaborate and pornographic collage. Suffice good things will easily get even better. Words And design: ANDREW REVELL to say, it’s not too easy to describe but And we’ve still got more to do, mostly different is definitely correct. Do I like them? thanks to the fact this issue has been quite To be honest I don’t know. Sometimes, delayed. Normally we’d just cram them in certainly. Sometimes not. But I’ll not but it’s hardly their fault that they’re all in complain if they reach the big time as it’ll one issue rather than spread between a make a nice change hearing them amongst couple or more. So we’ll be fair and increase the rest of the radio’s normal fare. Jombal the page count this once. Even if we haven’t many songs that just aren’t very good. Good Party, the partiest of all the songs has been quite got enough for two pages and insert news though - it’s all free and that makes it the one doing the rounds mostly and it’s odd bits of padding here and there. Here, worth grabbing just to sit in gaping certainly the highlight. Track it down and specifically. amazement as well as enjoying the few give it a listen. Next up the impressively professional good tracks. If you like it they’re asking for Back to Grease - the highlight? The sounding 51 breAks. They’re so nice. It you to donate to charity as a thanks, so they reprisal of the theme by the really isn’t work going through their CD, all can be saluted for that too. Go and get it at internAtionAl kArAte Plus who so easy and nice. You want a description http://filthylittleangel.com/ seem to have been busy imploding since beyond nice? Harmonic, melodious and DownToGreaseOnHoliday and enjoy(ish). this bunch of tracks was compiled and I first sounds a bit like Keane (this is music Anyway, the first non-Grease stuff. the listened to it which is a shame so we’ll move journalist slang for “has a piano” in it). There VoltAires, like a lot of bands these days to the back-up highlight, Sandy, which was isn’t really a stand out song but they are all are a guitar band from The North. Bless ‘em a close second anyway. It poses a reasonable very pleasant and professional. And no, I if they weren’t about two days too late to question - is making songs sound quite a lot didn’t particularly like them but it seems get into DM4 as well. Hell, they’ve almost like Spandau Ballet really a bad thing? mean to admit it when they’re so nice. certainly forgotten they even sent a disc in Probably not, at least in my book. The track One last look at Grease - want a version at all, but I’m glad they did. Two of the tracks is thanks to the inimitable imitator grAcie of Blue Moon that has frequencies in it that MUSIC/DOORMAT FiltHy little Angels myspace.com/filthylittleangels can smash windows? It’s a bit like a high- together well. That sentence was like a gift for them. Both are good at writing decent pitched asthmatic Darth Vader was stood quoting wasn’t it? Got to keep them happy songs and neither are going to sell millions behind the singer and guitarist. Anyway, though, I accidentally scratched the last CD so of albums. look to cAPtAin PolAroid if you do. I’m hoping for another to be sent when her sikorA are another new guitar band tHe VoltAires Better is the synth-tastic take on You’re the album escapes. The fact I miss it though does from Sheffield but thankfully troubled myspace.com/thevoltaires One I Want that sounds broadly Human prove it deserving of praise anyway. themselves with sounding a bit different to League like. Or more accurately like OK, what else? reVere next I think with the rest. In fact if it wasn’t for a couple of someone was watching Grease and playing their single Learning to Breathe. The most pronounciations (eg. “lukin” rather than on a SNES at the same time with Mario even instant comparison my mind comes up with is “looking”) you’d never know they share a tHe Pocket gods going down a pipe at one point, I swear. It’s with Leaves, famed more or less only for being city with Milburn. Chords ring, melodies myspace.com/thepocketgods cute if nothing else so well done to one of my favourite bands and coming from come together and they don’t feel they have HyPerbubble. It’s probably worth Iceland. So that probably doesn’t help too to sing about queuing for kebabs either. In mentioning Greased Lightning as well - much for most people, however much I think terms of comparison, Tenacious D minus imagine you put the original LP on a it should. Radiohead without any electronic comedy is surprisingly accurate - the songs JoHnny PoindeXter turntable that moves at constantly varying gizmo’s beyond guitars is a reasonable are bright and cheerful without going past myspace.com/johnnypoindexter speeds. Oh and that comparison though. It’s certainly grand stuff - the line of making them annoying. Aside the bin-men were any band that can credit 11 different from one ballad that doesn’t quite work, WAnt to be Here emptying the instruments in the sleeve without them their debut EP shows them in a very good 51 breAks neXt issue? neighbour’s bins getting hopelessly in the way of each other light and is thorughly enjoyable. Very good myspace.com/51breaks while chanting. Got are clearly pretty good at what they do. Oddly stuff indeed. it? Yep, that’s exactly their er...C side(?), How Did You Fall is more Last but not least, Pocket books. eMAil what it sounds like. memorable than the A-Side, not that it Remember way back in DM1 there was an disPosAbleMediA@ Thanks to gAy matters once the CD is in your grubby mits as article about the DS game Electroplankton? VictoriA kleWin gMAil.coM And AgAinst you for whichever way the tracks are ordered they’re If you’re familiar with it then the first track myspace.com/victoriaklewin We’ll tell you that. Probably time all good and clearly created by a brilliantly here is easy to describe because it sounds WHere to send to stop looking at talented bunch and deserve every success - like it was made with it. After that track is your stuFF. this Grease album, fingers crossed they do a bit better than done though it settles down into a sort of eh? Leaves. They might even get a better website happy-and-they-know-it Belle and Sebastian Pocket books myspace.com/pocketbooks Just because if they do well, their current one is rubbish. It’s area with fun lyrics and it works well, depsite we’re finished with Grease doesn’t mean one of those clever ones that make getting to the singer not having the best voice in the we’re done though. Next up is singer- anything difficult and annoys me greatly . world. Still it’s lovely stuff and it would be songwriter VictoriA kleWin. Her CD Great band though. great to hear what it would sound like if it bAuer landed on the doormat with a lovely This next bit is a little unfair on the was recorded properly, as the quality is myspace.com/bauermusic handwritten note saying “don’t worry about previously mentioned 51 Breaks as bAuer quite poor here. Hopefully they’ll get a the last track, it’s a Tom Waits cover so it’s are really pretty similar. It’s very much pop- chance to rectify that in the future. not as important as the rest” and while it indie stuff music, it’s very polished and so on. Well, that’s it for this issue - as always, get probably wasn’t written for quoting it gives But this time I quite like it, especially EP in touch if you want to appear here next reVere a good idea of where she aims her music. opener Connected. It’s nothing amazing and time and we’ll get the address to you. myspace.com/reverelondon Fiona Apple came to mind as well, so it’s certainly not in any way innovative but that musically interpolate between those two isn’t always a bad thing. If it helps I really quite points and you’ll have a good impression of enjoyed Thirteen Senses as well (famed for what she sounds like. If you think you’ll like being reduced to £2.48 a mere two months sikorA myspace.com/sikoraband it from that then you definitely will - she after being near the top of the album chart in writes good songs and lyrics and puts them Tesco) and bAuer roughly remind me of MUSIC/REVIEWS

rainspotting funk experts might a great 16-page booklet containing ’m reluctant to use the same lazy Maple Bee, with the former handling Tdisagree about the title, but if the history behind each track and icliche as every other music the music and the latter the vocals. your idea of funk is Jamiroqua, then photos of some of the best afros in reviewer out there and compare Stand out tracks include eminently you’re in for a bit of a shock. history. Perfect for recreating a cool Huski to Goldfrapp, but quite frankly head-bobbable Make Me Your The album kicks off withFunky smoke-filled funk club in your living I am lazy, and the band do have an Picture, and Planet Urtica (which, as Thing by Larry Ellis & the Black room. It also has links to all the undeniably similar vibe. someone who knows absolutely Hammer, chills with Hot Funky and relevant bands, meaning that it Both acts are of what I’d term the nothing about ther genre, seems to Sweaty by The Soul Lifters and might be the start of a funk odyssey, ‘intelligent’ electronic pop variety, me to be a fantastical dance track). maintains the funk groove all the so the only real downside is the and have a very strong visual They even slow things down a bit on way through to Tra La La by The imminent danger to your wallet. presence to go along with the music. the song Everything Changes. QUANTIC “Great Deltas”. Stand out floor fillers Just don’t be tempted to dig out HUSkI Huski’s live shows see each song All in all, ‘tis right grand. Buy it now. PRESENTS: include Mystery of Black by The some flares. LOVE PEACE accompanied by a video in the same Tim cheesman THE WORLD’S Shades of Black and Ain’t No Other Danny Badger PAIN flashy neon style as onthe fancy RAREST FUNk Way by Herman Hitson. album sleeve to the left. 45S Put together by Will Holland of the The act is a collaboration between Quantic Soul Orchestra, you also get the curiously named duo of Pike and “PerfecT for recreaTing a cool smoke- “i’m relucTanT To use The lazy cliche filleD funk cluB in your living room.” of comParing huski To golDfraPP, BuT quiTe frankly i am lazy.”

o, you won’t find a ‘painting’ aforementioned electronic god, with rom the band formerly known articulate. This is the sort of nbased joke at all in this little only All Robots On Sale! particularly fas Living With Eating Disorders, beautifully disturbing music that will review of the debut album from standing tall as a more instantly comes Colt’s debut album, leave a cold sweat on your back and Emulsion. Nigel koch’s - who memorable track. consisting mainly of new material your bottom lip trembling. ultimately is Emulsion – obsession But Blue Sky Objective isn’t just for with a few re-recorded LWED songs. This is an album for anyone who with the plinky plonkey 8-bit sounds electro-heads or gamers. Nope, it The album is produced by John has ever been touched with sadness of yore is blatantly obvious as soon seems to transcend genre with Fryer, who has previously worked and, let’s be honest, who hasn’t? Be as the first trackLeftRightLeftRight catchy beats and emotive melodies. with both Nine Inch Nails and warned however it certainly isn’t begins with those NES esque bleeps Even your dad might tap his foot to Cocteau Twins, and this may account easy listening and may leave you and bloops. This is pure electronica this album. While painting the living for the industrial elements that feeling very fragile. Natural, honest, EMULSION through and through, much like that room. COLT touch their work but do not heartbreaking and above all a BLUE SkY sublime Trash80 production ‘Pain Damn. THESE THINGS overpower the album. sincere work of art. OBJECTIVE Fade Down’. chris Pickering CAN’T HURT Colt is fronted by Andrea kerr, Talek glover However, koch’s compositions YOU NOW, SO whose vocals range from delicately aren’t quite as immediately gripping, THROW THEM IN haunting to blistering screeches, but nor as catchy as those of the THEFIRE always remaining coherent and “iT seems To TranscenD genre wiTh “naTural, honesT, hearTBreaking anD caTchy BeaTs anD emoTive meloDies.“ aBove all a sincere work of arT.” film & tv

DM4/FILM&TV

currently watching . . . da vinci code / doctor who / the break-up / brick / sophie scholl FILM&TV/DA VINCI CODE

THE CODA DECODER THE DA VINCI CODE IS A STORy. ver two years have passed since NOT juST IN THAT IT’S A WORk Of picking The Da Vinci Code up from fICTION THAT HAS juST bECOmE Oa bootsale for 50p, reading it a A fIlm, buT IN THAT IT HAS SOlD couple of times and enjoying it. Slowly but mIllIONS Of COpIES AND HAD surely it started to appear everywhere, with mIllIONS Of WORDS WRITTEN the film being the most recent. It’s had books AbOuT IT, WITH ANOTHER debunking it, DVD’s debunking it and even THOuSAND OR SO HERE, Tony Robinson debunking it. Working out why TRyING TO WORk OuT HOW IT it’s got so much attention is quite bewildering - All HAppENED. (WE AlSO SORT as Baldrick pointed out “it’s not even written that well”. That hasn’t stopped it though. Of WANTED TO SuRROuND AN Dan Brown is, in the politest possible way, ARTIClE WITH pICTuRES Of a complete klutz when it comes to haphazardly AuDREy TAuTOu. NO jOkE.) splurging words and punctuation across the WORDS: ANDREW REVELL pages and allowing them to land wherever DESIGN: ANDREW CAMPBELL they choose. Read his old books and you’ll quickly recognise the fact he’s only got one story to tell as well - he might have got taken to court for ripping off “Holy Blood, Holy Grail” but if he could sue himself he’d have lost millions. Broken Sword could probably have got in on the legal action too - clever, but slightly clumsy American gets together with FILM&TV/DA VINCI CODE

minxy french lass and gets shot at somewhere had an amazing idea - they could flagellation which seems all too graphic for a during Knights Templar related make a film of it! They haven’t done a half- 12A film. adventures? Riiiight. His research hearted job of it either, pulling in big names Good things? The film glosses over a few abilities must be great too - who and taking it all worryingly seriously. Robert “factual inaccuracies” within the book. While else can get enough research for Langdon is played by Tom Hanks and as the book claims “Mary kissed Jesus on the a whole novel with five minutes Sophie Neveu is French they cast Audrey mouth” when quoting a Gnostic Gospel, the on Google? Tautou - talk about inspired, original casting. film takes into account the hole in the papyrus So where did the phenomenon Hanks certainly tries his best, but and the quote gets cut off before the last come from? First time through it unfortunately he takes it so seriously that it word. The effect is the same but it makes it a is a fun read - Dan Brown can becomes detrimental to his performance - bit more believable. The Priory of Sion, famed write the ends of chapters someone should have told him he wasn’t for not existing, does have it’s existance brilliantly, and like good comic working on a great work of fiction. Audrey questioned in the film with “that’s what they writers, convinces the reader the does a bit better, despite being quite clearly ill. want you to believe” - it’s tacky but it might next chapter will be the best one ever. Unfortunately her role was cut down hugely shut up a few people who complain about It never is, but by the time you work that from the book and is no longer treated as an such things. out you’ve finished the book, daft and equal of Langdon, just a pretty sidekick. Such Unfortunately though, it all seems just a simplistic-but-fun puzzles and all. None a relegation might be fairly predictable little pointless. The story running through The of those are the reasons for success normally, but in a story more or less entirely Da Vinci Code was never that strong and though, it’s the introduction page that based around females being trampled on for a making professional people act it out managed that. By claiming that everything couple of thousand years, it might have been doesn’t make it better; it just except the characters were true and factual, a good idea not to do it in this flick. Whilst becomes embarassing. The pace people started to forget that they’d grabbed it we’re talking about good ideas, not hiring the forced into the book with the in the ‘3 for 2’ fiction section. screenwriter of ‘Batman and cunning cliff-hangers is gone as You don’t need a survey to find out how Robin’ is another… well and it makes the film drag on people first heard about it - through word of Elsewhere the other stars slowly until it reaches its mouth. Lots of sensible people read it once, do well - as eccentric Teabing terrible ending, something enjoyed it and moved on but since it Sir Ian McKellen does a great which the film has mentioned religion it drew “those” people out. job. Unsurprisingly he is managed to make even A very, very small amount of people took it clearly totally aware of what worse. It really isn’t a seriously and loved it. Luckily for Dan Brown he is working on, has a bit very good film at all. though, The Da Vinci Code suddenly took off of fun with the daftness of Those that loved the as the dinner party conversation of choice with the story and adds to book will no doubt love it, people determined to deride it, debunk it and every scene he is in. those that hated it will no demonstrate their superiority. Even more Alfred Molina is fine, doubt go and see it just to “uNfORTuNATEly THOuGH, IT All worryingly, members of major religions but it does improve add an extra bullet point to SEEmS juST A lITTlE pOINTlESS. deemed this daft story book worthy of the film if you try not their carefully planned THE STORy RuNNING THROuGH response. To be fair though, they are the sort to think him as Doctor dinner party speech but if of people that’ll take a book and run with it, so Octopus. Paul Bettany is you’re just a normal THE DA VINCI CODE WAS NEVER it’s a bit more understandable. Without people less good, although no person you’ll be left THAT STRONG AND mAkING telling other people how wrong or bad it complaints. He’s also wondering why you pROfESSIONAl pEOplE ACT IT OuT was, it probably would have disappeared a involved in the bothered going to see it. DOESN’T mAkE IT bETTER; IT juST lot quicker. controversial scene of Oh, yeah. bECOmES EmbARASSING.” It didn’t disappear though and someone, him performing self- Audrey Tautou. FILM&TV/DR.WHO

Words: KEITH ANDREW thE dancing doctor dEsign: RACHEL WILD With almost fiftEEn yEars passing sincE its last sErial appEarancE on British tElEvision, thE rEturn of doctor Who Brought thE likEs of thE dalEks, cyBErmEn, and EvEn thE ‘shooty dog thing’ k-9 Back to our scrEEns. hoWEvEr, not EvEn thE doctor’s most infamous friEnds and foEs havE BEEn aBlE to stop this aging shoW from challEnging a nEW frontiEr – thE lovE story.

ver since the BBC started re-releasing classic Doctor Who serials on DVD a Efew years back, I’ve felt an almost of the Daleks or Caves of Androzani on constant need to apologise if watching with Eccleston, Tennant and co. is in places increasingly using the big screen for their friends. “Oh, ignore that bit,” I would say. “You crystal, but television has inevitably action fuelled fix, the ever-widening box in our know what special effects were like back then.” changed. It’s fair to say that the rush of living rooms has slowly morphed into often Often whole hours would pass while I would try budget-happy blockbusters from across the nothing more than a daily portal to a fictitious to explain just how it was possible to thoroughly Atlantic in the last 15 years hasn’t helped square in the east-end of London. Yet, as I sit enjoy Earthshock, despite Adric’s presence. the BBC’s flagship Sci-fi series age with any become a twee British icon from the past – here and type in the middle of the summer, No doubt, respective fans’ opinions will more grace. BBC Wales also faced the task of challenging ratings figures for many of the episodes in the differ, but in a lot of respects the original serials But the successful return of Doctor Who in the idea that time-fantastical adventures no so-called ‘second series’ of Who suggest that, haven’t aged well. It was never the stories’ fault 2005 was not only a test of whether Russell T. longer had a place on mainstream British as an entity, it is now just as important to the – indeed, the influence of tales such as Genesis Davies could reinvigorate what had almost television. With audiences in the UK BBC as EastEnders. FILM&TV/DR.WHO

The modern tales have naturally benefited She also makes plenty of mistakes, almost The chirpy, cheery and ever-so-slightly queer from a suitably larger budget and improved tearing the Earth apart while travelling back to tenth Doctor is also still pained by his eternal visuals, but the differences between then and try and prevent her dad’s death in Father’s Day, isolation in the latest series – a point beautifully now are certainly not purely superficial. Perhaps yet becoming its saviour in the end of season illustrated by his chance encounter with Sarah- the biggest triumph of 21st-century Doctor finale, The Parting of the Ways. Her journey Jane Smith in School Reunion. “I don’t age. I Who has been its ability to maintain a balance. with the Doctor is an entirely natural one of regenerate. But humans decay. You wither and Whereas critics claimed that in the 1980s the swings and roundabouts – a contemporary you die. You can spend the rest of your life with programme became a parody of itself - stripped account of the Doctor and his assistant. The me, but I can’t spend the rest of mine with you. of humour, wrapped up in its own world and first assistant to share screen-title billing with I have to live on. Alone,” he tells Rose, ever moving away from its core family audience, the Doctor, no less. explaining why at some point a clean break is Davies’ focus on the human element to Tegan’s lack of remorse for her Aunt also an agonizing inevitability rather than a choice. stories has returned Who firmly back into seems faintly quaint in comparison to Rose’s But the Doctor’s future is one he will now the mainstream. strings-firmly-attached approach. The writers have to face without Rose – as will we. Perhaps Conversely, the sheer quality of the writing have never forgotten to remind us of those left his most consumed assistant ever (and and devoted handling of iconic elements such behind, with mother Jackie and on/off boyfriend ‘assistant’ is almost an insulting way to describe as the TARDIS, the Daleks and even the Mickey Smith serving to illustrate that there are Rose’s role in Who’s return), Rose’s family was regeneration has endeared new Who to those no clean breaks these days – travelling with the in the end reunited by the Doctor – a stark who religiously watched before. Doctor ultimately comes at a price. contrast to the one he was seemingly ripping But this isn’t a stagnant show. You only need It’s fair to say that Davies’ family-friendly apart. Rose, Mickey, Jackie and Pete are all, in look back to Tom Baker’s last story, Logopolis, fashion has not been universally praised, one way or another, in a better state for to see how the writers have changed their especially in some fan’s quarters. Often meeting the Doctor. Yet he has loved and lost, approach to all things familial. Stumbling into a accused on focusing too much on the ins and and goes on. Alone. Again. Police Box on the way to her first day at work, outs of the Tyler family, the Who team have If only he knew we were watching. Aussie air-stewardess Tegan Jovanka instead used the backdrop of a fairly-ordinary Of course, the most important part of that automatically recognises it as some sort of ship council estate in London to highlight the statement is that he does go on. With and shows little remorse when she discovers Doctor’s more extravagant flaws and fallibilities. production on the Christmas special, The her Aunt Vanessa has perished at the hands of Although the Doctor’s solitude has been Runaway Bride, already well underway, David The Master. Likewise, compadre Nyssa loses touched upon in years gone by, the fabled Tennant’s Doctor will have another 14 episodes her Father, Step-mother and home planet in the ‘Time War’ has left him wounded in battle. to come to terms with his own frailty, while this space of her first two stories, yet shows Eccleston’s entire run is loaded with guilt, with time next year Russell and co. will again be complete dedication to the Doctor throughout his interpretation of the Doctor almost unable dealing with the plaudits and condemnation in her two year stay. to come to terms with the notion that he is equal measure. Skip to 2005, and Rose Tyler is an entirely truly alone in the Universe, by his own hand. But at least people are talking. People are different proposition. As much a representative Wildly passionate and in places unstable, the talking about Doctor Who again. of how we, the audience, might react placed in ninth Doctor’s swinging emotions cause him And you know what? That’s fantastic. her situation, Rose spends the entire first series to vow to save the lives of a couple who met coming to terms with her new interstellar life. In on a street corner after a night out (a life, he “What do I do? Get up, catch the bus, Go to Work, come back the series opener, Billie Piper’s character painfully admits, he’s never had) in Father’s home, eat chIps and Go to bed. Is that It? It Was a better lIfe. struggles to accept that the man standing in Day, but to kill a foe he has seemingly the doctor shoWed me a better Way of lIvInG your lIfe.” front of her is, in fact, an alien. become one with in Dalek. rose tyler, the partInG of the Ways FILM&TV/REVIEWS

e’re not mentioning the real- Who the hell is the guy selling the et in an American high School, and Juliet within the narrative device Wlife shenanigans surrounding house and why is he playing pool sproviding an insightful vision of of Roman Polanski’s Chinatown. this, we’ve got enough with this with the dudes from Swingers? adolescent life and a beautifully A superb performances from a entirely lumpy film. The great scenes The blame will have to be placed twisted style, Brick is not your young adept cast, some wonderfully – and there are a few – clip along at a with the director that tried to make a average film. unique direction and a story that great rate thanks to some brilliant script with no romance into a A murdered ex-girlfriend is the exudes ‘cool’, this is a film of subtle dialogue, although anyone putting romantic comedy. The great parts catalyst for Brenden (played with a beauty, tangible pain,genuine style Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau are stretched to breaking point, but stunning confidence by Joseph and begs several viewings. Essential. together in a scene will find it hard just hold together enough to make Gordon-Levitt) to become involved ian moreno-melgar to fail. Even the couple scenes are this a very tentative in the murky world of drug-running, fine, although Rache… Jennifer recommendation. teenage gangs and a dark, Lynch- Aniston’s scenes alone frequently Andrew Revell like murder mystery with plenty of grind to a halt. twists and subversive imagery. The real problem is the plot, Perhaps most lazily compared to ThE BREAk-UP loosely held together and blasted BRICk Donnie Darko, a more accurate (12A) with Plotyfilla to cover gaping holes. (15) comparison is Baz Lurhman’s Romeo “The ReAl pRoblem is The ploT, loosely “A dARk, lynch-like muRdeR mysTeRy //director: held TogeTheR And blAsTed WiTh //director: WiTh plenTy of TWisTs And subveRsive Peyton Reed ploTyfillA To coveR gAping holes.” Rian Johnson imAgeRy”

here’s one moment in Sophie tells them “You’ll soon be standing ccording to the press coverage on that note it’s safe to say that it’s TScholl: The Final Days that sticks where I am now.” Athis is either the greatest movie definitely the comedy of the year. in your memory. No, not the initial The task of bringing depth to a two ever made, or 83 minutes of racism The laughs come thick and fast, and flurry of anti-war propaganda that dimensional character who becomes that nearly encapsulates all that’s whilst there aren’t that many Sophie Scholl, and her brother hans so revered over the years is a huge wrong with this country. Not since moments of genius it is consistently – two members of the ‘White Rose’ one at best, and for the main it’s an the equally overblown furor around great. ant-war movement - push over the achievement well done. Things do The Da Vinci Code has so much fuss This would have been a five, but for ledge at their Munich campus. Nor descend into a simple case of good been made out of a simple piece of one thing: since I saw a preview the lengthy interrogation scene, versus evil during the trial scenes, entertainment. screening a couple of weeks ago where Sophie is subjected to much but it cant sullen the fact that this Personally I’d say the film is much nearly every minute has been mental torment by her interrogator film packs the kind of punch we can closer to the former - not that I’m repeated to death on tv promo Robert Mohr. Nope, it’s towards the only wish all of the same ilk suggesting it’s one of the best films spots, so you’ll probably find you’ve close of the film. After an possessed. of all time, simply that I fail to see seen most of the best bits already... unmitigated travesty of a trial held chris pickering how anyone could actually be Tim cheesman SoPhIE SChoLL: by the Nazi judges, Sophie BoRAT: CULTURAL offended by something that is so ThE FINAL DAYS approaches the bench and firmly LEARNINGS oF... ridiculously comedic at every turn. (PG) “This film pAcks (15) “definiTely The comedy of The yeAR. The //director: The kind of punch //director: lAughs come Thick And fAsT, leAving Marc Rothemund We Wish All of iT’s ilk possessed.” Larry Charles mosT of The cinemA in hysTeRics” comics

DM4/COMICS

currently reading . . . the sandman / fables / infinite crisis/ deathnote / ultimate spider-man / batman and the mad monk / all new atom COMICS/INFINITE CRISIS

CRISIS: INFINITE CRISIS WORDS AND DESIGN : ANDREW REVELL t’s months since this crisis got going and 1) AN UNSTABLE OR CRUCIAL TIME OR STATE OF it’s still got months to go before it’s all AFFAIRS IN WHICH A DECISIVE CHANGE IS Ifinished with. From Identity Crisis over a IMPENDING year ago, through Countdown to Infinite Crisis (via four limited series, one-off issues and enough tie-ins to make the Wayne Foundation 2) DC COMICS MAJOR EVENT CONCERNED WITH blush financially) before the main series even VARIOUS EARTHS. IMPLEMENTS MAJOR CHANGE, started and that is now being followed by 52 and the One Year Later titles that almost OFTEN COMPLICATING RATHER THAN SIMPLIFYING signify a return to normality. It’s been about as MATTERS. SPREAD ACROSS VAST NUMBERS OF big (expensive) as DC have dared to make it COMICS TO ENSURE MAXIMUM PROFIT. and it does seem it is going to change as much as they spent months threatening it would. Until it all gets changed again, of course. SEE ALSO, RET-CONNING. So what has been going on? If you fear light spoilers, and you’ve managed to ignore everything going on in the DC Universe over the last year or so ignore the next paragraph. It all started with the death of Sue Dibney, wife of Elongated Man. That death made every hero worry about their loved ones and a race to find out who did it soon broke out. Part of the JLA had an instant prime suspect, as it was revealed Doctor Light had been mind-wiped after successfully entering the JLA watch- tower and raping Sue. The mind-wipe by Zatanna was the result of a close vote, but it was interupted by Batman, vehemently against the procedure and ended up also being mind- wiped. And that was just how it got started. Events after that ended up with an OMAC army trying to kill everyone with super-powers after Wonder Woman killed Maxwell Lord and Superman from Earth 2 inadvertently helping Alex Luthor with a plan to kill billions to create a perfect earth to replace what he saw as an earth in a terrible state but was eventually stopped by Superboy. The first 11 issues of 52 include a much more thorough summary of everything including the crisis in the back if you’re behind. COMICS/INFINITE CRISIS

Beyond that though USSR and the fall of the Twin Towers comics to this crisis? Quite a lot if you start thinking After years of trying to no-one really knows what were in something of a lull? Whichever you about them both at once and start looking for push for the sort of gritty is going on. All the major choose to believe they are now back, they’re similarities - both involve a rape realism that left titles have jumped being written well and part of this crisis seems that splits a team, both involve IT’S ABOUT THE Gotham forward a year with a few to be about having a bit of a spring-clean an unknown murderer and both ACTIONS OF HEROES collapsed, Bat significant changes that allowing for a better starting point for a reach a conclusion that involves AND THE DUBIOUS Girl paralysed weekly comic 52 is trying range of new titles. an individual wanting to kill CHOICES THEY MAKE and a Robin to explain. As well as Where that solid base is being located is millions to make things better (sort-of) dead a trying to explain how the but with one key difference - in the Crisis the push towards heroes Oliver Queen become interesting heroes don’t get there fifteen minutes too late. succeeding is going to mayor of Star City and part. The They arrive in time to stop the terrible plan, but seem like a big change. what Batman did for a over-riding are still forced to accept why such a plan was It’s unlikely they’ll go all year it is also launching theme of being fomulated, because Earth’s heroes were the way back to the four or five arcs of it’s this crisis no longer doing a good enough job. simple good vs. bad own. It’s going to be It’s enough to make Batman stories of the Golden Age interesting to see if they go away and train, it forces but it’ll be interesting to manage to explain Superman to take a year off as see how an audience everything but it’s been a a human and Wonder Woman weened on realism will good title so far even if it to become something react to any change does seem to be completely different all to try towards positive stories, progressing very slowly. and improve as heroes and especially after a Crisis Why now though? Why, featuring several murders suddenly does the time and a rape. As long as feel right for a major seems to be about the actions DC avoids its stories comics event when there of heroes and the dubious becoming boringly hasn’t been one for choices they have made in the predictable and don’t years? Well, superheroes last few years. The earth isn’t force a new agenda too are having something of a the same one that first hard it might work. comeback after a weak launched Superman, Of course, there is still period in the nineties ever characters take drugs, get HIV, die and come they each the possibility of 52 diving since the Spider-Man and back to life with surprising regularity in a push have off in another direction, X-Men flicks brought for some sort of bizarre, gritty, spandex- reason to with a new big bad guy interest back to a wearing reality. There isn’t a precise moment do so. DC being foreshadowed early business that got a bit too to point to when that change happened suddenly on, but with a sub-plot big around the time (Green Lantern/Green Arrow?) but the point wants its making it possible for Image Comics were when it was consolidated must be the heroes to anyone to be a hero it created by the “super launch of Watchmen. get better, does seem choices and talents” of the day. Or, the Watchmen was (and still is) something a to improve and to be able to live up to the actions are more alternative explanation is little away from the norm for comics. It stood heroics that was common before Watchmen important now than the that the nineties were a out as a work of literature about characters and all the rest. If the end of Watchmen creation of a single earth. time of peace that didn’t that sort of happened to be super-heroes as changed comics for twenty years will re-telling It won’t be universally need super-heroes - is it well. It’s impact came from how different it the story but with a happy ending be enough welcomed, but it’ll be really a coincidence that was and how it pushed realism at to change them again? It certainly seems like interesting to see how it between the fall of the superheroes. What difference does this make DC is trying to find out. works out. COMICS/ESSENTIAL THE SANDMAN: PRELUDES & NOCTURNES “THROUGH YOUR DREAMS, MY SLEEPING WORDS: DANNY BADGER CHILDREN. YOU HAD A PASSENGER AND DESIGN: ANDREW REVELL YOU NEVER KNEW”

ince it was originally published in legend, religion, and the oft-derided fantasy shocking debasement of humans, and the 1989, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman tag, Volume One, Preludes & Nocturnes black humour that pervades even the black, Shas become shorthand for the best in begins with the mistaken capture of the reflective eyes of the dream lord. Every cameo adult comic literature, putting the novel into Master of Dreams by satanists. Not many and familiar reference is handled with a light graphic novel and winning acclaim authors would be confident enough to touch, from the early appearance of Satanist and awards. imprison their main character in a small glass Crowley, to the appearance of Dream’s sister Almost 20 years on, and ten years after bauble for the entire first issue, but it gives Death in the final issue of the collection. The the series ended in 1996, The Sandman still valuable time to sink into the twisted gothic one reassurance is that anyone with an has the power to shock and awe new readers, realm of Morpheus, the ruler of dreams attraction to goth girls will no longer be afraid as well as providing fresh insight for visitors and nightmares. of the grim reaper. returning to the dream world. Mixing myth, Nightmares govern the collection of first The Sandman might dress like a member eight issues, but despite the ongoing violence of The Cure, but you’ll be left in no doubt of between Cain and Abel, and a visit to the the beautiful strangeness of his world. Just THE SKILL OF GAIMAN IS kingdom of Hell itself, the most disturbing make sure you read the first of 11 collections sequences all take place within the ‘reality’ of in The Sandman Library when you’re alone at EVIDENT IN THE normal everyday life in the DC comics night, and all is quiet, and it’s sure to stay in ACCEPTANCE OF THE universe. Encounters with heroes John your memory for a good time yet… RULES OF MORPHEUS AND Constantine and The Martian Manhunter, and villains like The Scarecrow and Dr Destiny are HIS ETERNAL KIN never overplayed, and seem almost like breaks of sanity compared to the situations mortals find themselves in. The skill of Gaiman is evident in the acceptance of the rules of Morpheus and his eternal kin, the handling of even the most COMICS/INDIE grim fairy tales ever wondered if it really would be “happy ever after” for the prinCes and prinCesses of your favourite Childhood storybooks?

elebrating its 50th issue last month, happy-ever-afters turn into acrimonious themes to unfold by themselves in the with the much anticipated wedding divorces, and the good/evil roles are often background whilst one- or two-issue story arcs Cbetween Snow White and the Big Bad reversed, but never stable. Forced by war into keep the audience not only sufficiently Wolf, it seems that there are not only happy the mundane world from their various story interested, but the issues themselves dense endings, but a rather interesting future for home lands, the community of Fabletown, New enough to take more than five minutes to Fables, Bill Willingham’s creator-owned series York provides a backdrop for every read through. for Vertigo comics. type of story imaginable, from The accompanying Put simply, Fables follows the lives of your murder mystery to political sidebars, page decorations favourite mythical characters from tales of old, conspiracy with a fair bit of and detailed artwork, often and shows us a world where stories collide, romance, adventure and by regular penciller Mark magic along the way. Buckingham, lend to the Ok, yes, Vertigo The first few issues of the information crammed, good is a DC imprint, not series, now nearly four years value atmosphere. James exactly the most independant of all comic publishers... However old, are a little bit heavy Jean, arguably one of the the main reason for its existence is to let handed in re-introducing you best cover artists in the creators such as Bill Willingham practise so to the revised versions of the industry, regularly provides much care and creativity with their worlds in a legends you thought you the eye candy that you just weren’t full of happy bunnies, before safe, unfranchised, non-DCUniverse knew so well, but knowingly can’t resist picking up off the Disney got hold of them. Plenty of other environment. The continuity in art, story and so in places, and they serve comic store shelf, if just to books find pleasure in subverting the characterization provides a stark contrast to the typical schizophrenic superheroes going off on as a good starter for new figure out what his mixed up innocence of such fairytales, Alan Moore’s new missions, with new attitudes, to fight all-new, readers. masterpieces in old-school Lost Girls most infamously; but Fables is badder-than-ever villains every other arc. Original Happily, after the initial story teasers are portraying far from following the cliche (and for the Graphic Novels such as the upcoming 1001 start, the series credits its this month. record, although Vertigo has its ‘mature’ Nights Of Snowfall, a cross between audience with a little more The storybook-character- reputation, it’s nowhere near as ‘adult’ as Scheherazade and Secret Files & Origins, intelligence than usually found in hand-holding, as-adults-in-slightly-twisted-situations isn’t Lost Girls either). It’s not rebellion for provide the rich history whilst the ongoing monthly comic book and new spin-off Jack exposition-led comics, leaving slow burning exactly a new idea - hell, even the originals shock’s sake; it’s using a familiar setting of Fables keep the world moving with and fantastical precepts, with their new storybook lands and characters, slow burning themes unfold by themselves in the baCkground gorgeous colours and stylings, to tell all haunted by the overseeing whilst one- or two-issue story arCs keep things dense enough to very real, well crafted modern fables. shadow of The take more than five minutes to read through. Adversary. words&design: Rachel wild COMICS/REVIEWS

he human world is rotting. The how will he be stopped? C fans might be getting a gang driven hearses and what boils Tgods of death are bored. Thus If you have yet to make your dlittle fed up with the down to date rape it’s a thorough begins the joint project of two of journey into the world of Japanese constant Crisis stories, so titles like story. The art is generally good, Japan’s most prolific comic icons, and Korean comics, then make this this are a pleasant break. Created although Matt Wagner is Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, your first port of call as its intelligent by one man army Matt Wagner significantly better at drawing and their frantic tale of cat and story rivals that of any crime thriller (and benefiting from the clarity a Batman than he is Bruce Wayne. as mouse with the point of view novel out there. single artist/writer brings) it is this is the middle of the story it’s focused firmly on the antagonist. Matthew Boylan focused on retelling one of the probably worth waiting for the trade Death Note depicts the story of very earliest Batman stories. Early paperback, but if it carries on as well Light Yagami, a 17 year old genius Batman stories always seem to as it’s going it will be a highly who comes into possession of a work better, the extra fallibility recommended purchase. as a single book with the power to kill anyone and the commitment to taking issue it’s not too easy to recommend just by writing their name down, but down crime makes stories more though. to what extremes will Light go to rid interesting and this is no andrew revell the world of murderers and criminals exception. DEaTh NOTE BaTMaN aND Complete with vampire action, (VIz) to create a perfect world? Or rather, ThE MaD MONK Tsugumi Ohba & “If you’ve yeT To journey InTo The #3 (DC) “coMpleTe wITh vaMpIre acTIon, gang Takeshi Obata world of japanese and Korean coMIcs, drIven hearses and whaT BoIls down MaKe ThIs your fIrsT porT of call.” Matt Wagner To daTe rape IT’s a Thorough sTory.”

here are plenty of people who on Carnage and cloning - it’s even ere’s a thrilling origin - Ray made use of that useless quote book Tnever expected Ultimate Spider- called the Clone Saga which might hpalmer has sort of wandered she got last Christmas. man to have reached its 100th issue be familiar to some. It chucks out a off, so there needed to be a new The fact I find John Byrnes art but here it is and it isn’t slowing few notable revelations and is one of atom. So it’s Ryan Choi has taken the scruffy and old-fashioned makes down. a large part of this issue is a the better arcs but still feels odd as house, day-job and super-hero role little difference. The preview issue look back over the 100 issues so far 100. of Ray palmer and it’s just in time! was dreadful, the first issue was and despite the fact it’s laid out like a With long-term artist Mark Bagley There are some really small aliens dreadful and this second issue is, children’s book (big print and all) it’s leaving in 10 issues the comic will trying to take over the world!!! guess what, dreadful. It’s as simple as interesting to see the peaks and face its first real upheaval, but Really. that, avoid this comic. troughs presented in such a hopefully it’ll manage another 100 To make it even worse, the entire andrew revell compact fashion. Wolverine and issues. story is peppered with barely Spider-Man swapping brains being andrew revell relevant quotes from Danish the lowest and highs throughout. physicists and american satirists just The issue itself is an odd one for a to give it an air of intelligence. It ULTIMaTE celebration as it is halfway through a aLL NEW aTOM doesn’t work, but at least Gail SpIDER-MaN #100 story arc. The story is back focused #2 Simone can rest easy knowing she (MaRVEL) “IT chucKs ouT a few noTaBle (DC) “even worse, The enTIre sTory Is Brian Bendis & Mark revelaTIons and Is one of The BeTTer peppered wITh Barely relevanT quoTes Bagley arcs, BuT sTIll feels odd as 100.” Gail Simone froM danIsh physIcIsTs.” gallery

DM5/GALLERY

the disposable media reader’s gallery. . . if you’d like to see your work here please send and email to: [email protected] DM5/GALLERY marc sach

WHAT: ‘dj Heros’ WHo: mArc sAcH WHere: cAsuAllyHArdcore.co.uk DM5/GALLERY

WHAT: ‘Flippin’ Hell’ WHO: AndreW CAmpbell

andrew campbell WHere: mOnkeysinC.CO.uk NEXT/ISSUE

NEXT ISSUE: WII LAUNCH SPECIAL

WII LOOK AT THE WII. EVERYTHING FROM THE CONTROLLER, VIRTUAL CONSOLE, THE GAMES AND THE FUTURE. LIKE THAT 360 SPECIAL WE DID LAST YEAR, REALLY. BUT WITH MORE WII-RELATED PUNS, PROBABLY.

ENJOYED THIS ISSUE? THEN WHY NOT DONATE? WE’D LOVE IT IF YOU DID. THANKS!