issue 29 // volume 40

Fool Me Twice

» 'The Serpent of Venice’ book review

Joshua Grant Columnist

to write novels, his work might have turned out a bit like

that of Christopher Moore. Moore’s newest book, The Serpent of Venice, is a re- imagining of Shakespeare’s Venetian dramas featuring bawdy humour, transvestism, and liberal borrowing of plot and character. His weapon for literary mayhem is the Fool

: characters, who traditionally : serve as both comic relief and : critical commentary.

00000

WwW William Shakespeare : alive today and decided: : mission. Dashing through : Shakespeare’s The Merchant of : : Venice and Othello, as well as : Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of : : Amontillado,” Pocket, Othello, : Shylock, and Jessica contend

: against plotting villains

: Antonio and lago.

The Serpent of Venice takes place some time after the end of Moore’s King Lear- inspired novel Fool (2009), with Pocket the Fool sent to Venice on a diplomatic

The Fool rights wrongs,

: foils plots, and delivers : somewhat anachronistic

eS ce yma oo

By Paramount Pictures

: remarks—such as Othello

: getting accused of being

: “asecret Muslim,” which is

: relevant both now and against : the backdrop of a looming

: crusade. The novel also pokes : fun at the conventions of

: drama, as how characters are

: painfully aware that they all

: have English accents and are

able to hear and argue with the

: Chorus.

The novel is fun, but

: unfortunately, despite his

: apparent lack of control, the

: Fool is just too good at fixing

: things. The book also lacks

: some of the dread and sadness : that could have made it a

: deeper, more rewarding read.

arts // 7

By Amazon

Get ready for fun and loud explosions

» ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ movie review

: so we think. With the help of : a black-ops leader (played by

By Comicvine

Comic Corner: Back off evil-doers! The Earth is ours!

» ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 1: Cosmic Avengers’ review

Steven Cayer Senior Columnist

90000.

. : (Mark Wahlberg) buys a

know many of you moviegoers : : : rundown truck and tries

: to salvage it for some extra

: cash. Sure enough, it turns

: out to bea seriously injured

: Optimus Prime, the leader of

: the Autobots that have been in

: hiding.

are a little skeptical about Michael Bay’s new action ad campaign Transformers: Age of Extinction, but let me tell you that this instalment is my second favourite, just behind the first one.

It takes place in the aftermath of the battle of Chicago from the last movie, if you even saw it. The American government has finally had enough of the robot fights and has decided to hunt down and destroy every Transformer, Autobot, and Decepticon—or

: Kelsey Grammer) and a scientist : (Stanley Tucci), they strike : adeal with the Decepticons

for the technology to build

Transformers themselves. Meanwhile in Texas, an

inventor named Cade Yeager

For those of you who go

: to these movies for the special : effects, humour, and overall

: good times, this film is a true

: summer blockbuster, and the

: 3-D is actually amazing. Keep

: that mindset when you see this : and I guarantee you'll have a

: great time.

Brittney MacDonald Senior Columnist

OOOOS

ward-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis gives us this fun, quirky

reboot of the Guardians of the : : you-can-eat buffet.

Cosmic Avengers attempts : : to capitalize on the popularity : : of the Avengers franchise,

: made obvious by not only the graphic novel far from perfect. : "4M but the new addition : of Iron Man to the team.

: Unfortunately this particular : volume is used to set up the

: new narrative for the series,

: so things are left unresolved and it lacks a complete story

Galaxy series just in time for the release of the new Marvel movie. But unnecessary character additions and inconsistent art make this

Unbeknownst to its residents, Earth has become the new hot commodity as villains from all over the galaxy fight tooth and nail to get their share. But the

: Guardians of the Galaxy won't : have any of that and declare : that the Earth is off-limits.

As they battle off invasions, Star Lord, Rocket Raccoon, Gamora, Groot, Drax, and

even Iron Man try and figure : out why the scum of the : universe are all of a sudden looking to Earth like it’s an all- : : ina more traditional style with

: arc. Additionally, Iron Man

: himself adds nothing to either : the narrative or the team

: dynamic, making him just a

: tag-along sidekick rather than : the fan-favourite hero we all

: know him to be.

The art by Steve McNiven

: is for the most part amazing,

but it lacks consistency. Done

heavy inks, the issue lies in the anatomy. McNiven creates

: dynamic page layouts, but will : oftentimes have one or two

: panels where the anatomy of

: the subject is simply off.

Overall I enjoyed this read

: and would recommend it to

: anyone looking for a series

? commitment that’s a little less serious.