Review: Sherry Birkin, Resident Evil 6

For long-time fans of Resident Evil, Sherry Birkin is fondly remembered as the plucky little girl who survived the viral outbreak in Raccoon City with the help of Leon S. Kennedy and Claire Redfield. Over a decade later, Sherry Birkin is all grown up and ready to kick butt as an NSA agent tasked with bringing in the mercenary Jake Muller to fashion an antidote for the virus that creates zombies.

Of all the characters in Resident Evil 6, Sherry Birkin is probably the most welcome inclusion. There’s a sense of nostalgia attached to the character and seeing her once more is like catching up with an old friend. Of course, much has changed in Sherry’s life since she survived Raccoon City. As an NSA agent, she knows a thing or two about gun-slinging and she comes across as resourceful and intelligent. She’s still spirited but there’s a slight sassiness to her character that obviously comes with age. Sherry is also now eligible for romantic plotlines due to her age and her interactions with Jake Muller are dripping with sexual tension. Their chemistry is quite notable and comes across as more believable than that of Leon and Ada. Naturally, this is to be credited to the animators and voice actors. Above all else, Sherry is so interesting due to her emotional transparency and her desire to stick to her moral convictions even when that means going against orders.

As far as ‘The Mercenaries’ mode is concerned, Sherry is a tank. Her default costume comes with a well-stocked inventory that is tailored to zombie smashing and racking up combos. Her Triple-Shot handgun is fairly standard but it’s quite effective since it allows the gamer to follow-up with melee attacks. When it comes to tougher enemies, Sherry’s Lightning Hawk magnum is very useful. It doesn’t have the same crowd control effect that shotguns do but it efficiently deals damage to boss-level opponents. Sherry also carries a Stun Rod that is a decent back-up weapon should ammo run out or if the gamer is seeking to conserve ammo. Sherry’s inventory is rounded out by essential healing items – two red herbs and a First Aid Spray. Those red herbs are especially useful since they are scarce otherwise. While her default costume is great, her alternate is even better. Her inventory in her alternate costume is about as good as it gets. Her primary weapon is a high-powered assault rifle which has an alternate function that can utilize explosive rounds. The Bear Commander rifle is strong and takes care of enemies with incredible proficiency. Sherry’s secondary is the Assault Shotgun. It’s an excellent weapon for crowd control and for downing boss-level baddies. As with her previous costume, Sherry carries those essential red herbs and First Aid Spray. The only drawback to this alternate costume is that her inventory is clogged with the less-than-useful Flash Grenades that should be ditched at the start of the level to make room for more effective items. Of course, in order to play as Sherry the gamer first needs to achieve a B-rank on the Mining the Depths level and then achieve an A-rank as Sherry on any stage in order to unlock her alternate. The former task is a little more difficult but it’s well worth it since Sherry is probably the best character in ‘The Mercenaries.’

Though Resident Evil 6 has its share of faults and mistakes, Sherry Birkin isn’t one of them. She’s a fantastic character whose presence helps to ground Jake’s campaign. Additionally, Sherry’s well-stocked inventories in ‘The Mercenaries’ makes her an essential character that is most certainly more adept at dealing with bad guys than her male cohorts. Not bad for a girl whose speciality used to be running and hiding from enemies.

Grade: A+

Review: She-Hulk v1 #1-12

Originally created in 1980, She-Hulk was introduced as a female counterpart to her more famous cousin the Hulk and quickly grew into her own as a smart and sassy heroine who was more than just walking muscle. She-Hulk proved to be a hit amongst comic book fans and has been a member of the Fantastic Four and the Avengers as well as a full-fledged solo star. After two lengthy solo series in the '80s and '90s, She-Hulk was re-introduced to the public via a third ongoing series simply titled She-Hulk in 2004. Though it only lasted for a year, this title achieved critical acclaim and served to remind everyone of what a truly great character She-Hulk is.

For a time, She-Hulk was at the mercy of writers who viewed her as nothing more than a convenient plot device. She was characterized as promiscuous and had suddenly become a tool of destruction in storylines occurring in the Avengers title so when Dan Slott took to writing She-Hulk he went on damage control. Slott understood the core of She-Hulk's character and imbued her with not only an incredible sense of humour but also with great heart. In many ways, She-Hulk was a very introspective title and helped to establish an identity for the character where she could finally come to terms with her dual identities as She-Hulk and Jennifer Walters. Remarkably, She-Hulk's intelligence was utilized fully so much so that most of her conflicts were solved with her brain rather than her brawn. This is an important distinction for the character since most people discount just how smart She-Hulk truly is. Of course, what makes She-Hulk such an enjoyable title is also the comedic tone placed on the narratives and dialogue. She-Hulk herself is a total riot and there are numerous laugh-out-loud moments that come from the dialogue. If anything, She-Hulk is a work that embodies She-Hulk perfectly. Slott characterized her as smart, funny and sexy just the way she should be.

The downside to She-Hulk is that it lacks the accessibility that would have guaranteed it a wider audience. Slott grounds much of his series in continuity and requires the reader to know the basic knowledge of some of the events She-Hulk has lived through, particularly those while she was an Avenger. Another issue the title faces is that there is a definite absence of dire conflict. She-Hulk doesn't save the world but rather deals with smaller scale problems that don't have the same urgency as an alien invasion or A-list supervillain attack. As such, it's easy to call She-Hulk's usefulness into question. Would she be able to single-handedly deal with Avengers-level conflicts the way Captain Marvel or Spider-Woman could? Nevertheless, the saving grace for the title comes in the form of She-Hulk's trusty nemesis Titania. Slott cleverly re-introduces the character to the readers and spends an issue re-telling her origins for the benefit of those who are unfamiliar with her. Titania proves herself to be an excellent enemy for She-Hulk and has such tremendous power that she becomes the kind of bad guy the title needed.

In retrospect, Slott deserves credit for his initial 12 issue run on She-Hulk. It is cohesive and self-contained without any interruptions from those pesky events Marvel has been plagued by for well over a decade now. It's brisk and humorous with just the right amount of heart thrown in to make the readers care about the Emerald Amazon as well as her remarkably well-written supporting cast. It is an enjoyable read that is recommended for anyone who is interested in learning more about She-Hulk.

Grade: B+

Review: Kelly Rowland, Here I Am

Plagued by numerous delays, the hotly anticipated third album by Kelly Rowland dropped in the summer of 2011. Here I Am proved to be an eclectic mix of R&B and electronica, marrying the two genres Rowland had been working under at that time. It was preceded by the smash hit "Motivation" and helped to re-introduce the R&B diva to the public.

Here I Am opens with the hand-clapping, foot-stomping, hair whipping "I'm Dat Chick." Aided by a grandiose electronic composition, Rowland's vocals are brash and saucy on this infectious dance track. After the explosive introductory cut, Rowland offers more traditional R&B jams. "Motivation" is a scintillating sex jam with a seductive Rowland delivering some of the steamiest lyrics heard since Prince's heyday. Similarly, "Lay It On Me" pushes more of those same buttons with its sassy lyrics and Rowland's dominating presence on the track. It serves as a standout on the album with its effortless piano melody and catchy chorus. Another solid offering is the self-love anthem "Feeling Me Right Now." Interpolating a piano arrangement with a heavy electronic composition, "Feeling Me Right Now" is an impish track that encourages self-confidence. Unfortunately, the album is bogged down by some so-so material. "Work It Man," despite its playfulness, is standard R&B fare and even though "Turn It Up" features strong vocals by Rowland it fails to really reach the necessary climax the song requires to be great. "All of the Night" likewise struggles to stand out due to its forced sensuality. Nevertheless, Here I Am manages to end on an impressive note. Rowland briefly slows things down with the beautifully airy ballad "Keep It Between Us" which features breathy vocals on romantic lyrics. She follows this up with the two best songs on Here I Am -- "Commander" and "Down For Whatever." The David Guetta-produced "Commander" is a dance anthem with a bombastic arrangement and some of the most confident vocals Rowland has given in her career. It is high energy and extremely infectious. Likewise, "Down For Whatever" is a dynamic club hit with a swinging electronic composition that is reminiscent of Jennifer Lopez's smash "On The Floor" and features solid vocals on Rowland's part. For those who picked up the deluxe version of the album, the empowering ballad "Heaven & Earth" serves as another standout on the album. This Ne-Yo-penned and produced track features Rowland pushing herself vocally and ultimately delivers the powerful message of never settling for anything less than happiness.

Prior to releasing Here I Am, Rowland declared that she would not be boxed into one specific genre and yet Rowland seems to be having the most fun and being the most confident on the dance songs present on her third album. She courageously refuses to adhere to the conventions expected of an R&B artist on Here I Am and for that she should be applauded. The flow of the album is spot-on and invites the listener on a journey through genres. While the album could have used more cohesion and would have benefited from trimming some of the R&B filler in favour of including some of the material she'd released in the European market, Here I Am is a fun record that clearly shows that Rowland is a grown woman who is fearless and is willing to take risks.

Recommended Listening: "I'm Dat Chick," "Motivation," "Lay It On Me," "Feeling Me Right Now," "Keep It Between Us," "Commander," "Down For Whatever," "Heaven & Earth"

Grade: A-

Review: Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly - Deluxe Edition

After the perceived underperformance of Kelly Rowland's sophomore effort Ms. Kelly, Rowland returned to the studio and reworked the album re-branding it Ms. Kelly: Deluxe Edition. This version eliminated several songs from the previous release and either replaced them with updated remixes or with new songs all together.

One of the complaints of the original release of Ms. Kelly was that it was bogged down by ballads and midtempo tracks, Rowland addresses this from the get-go with the re-release. The album opens on the slick Freemasons remix of her dance anthem "Work." The already sassy song is improved upon with an Indian influence that gives the track an exotic feel. It stands strong as one of Rowland's most remarkable works. Among the new material on the album is a Bobby Womack cover, "Daylight." This feel-good track is bright and effortless, adding a playful dimension to the re-release especially since Rowland genuinely seems to be having fun on the song. "Like This" returns from the original release of Ms. Kelly to complete the trifecta of party songs that open the album before the rest of the record slips into a series of ballads. "Love," "Better Without You," "This Is Love" and "Every Thought Is You" all return but the distinctly vulnerable "Still In Love With My Ex" is disappointingly absent. The other scrapped songs along with "Still In Love With My Ex" are replaced with four ballads. The first is the unremarkable "Broken." The lyrics are predictable and Rowland seems to be going through the motions over the dull arrangement. However, it proves to be the exception as the remaining ballads become selling points for the release. "No Man No Cry" is a polished and modern track that finds a confident-sounding Rowland moving on following a failed relationship and "Love Again" is a superbly soulful old school R&B jam where Rowland gives one of her finest vocal performances to date over a simple yet moving piano arrangement. However, the true standout amongst the new material is the incredibly emotional ballad "Unity." A favourite amongst fans, "Unity" features impassioned goosebump-inducing vocals by Rowland and a beautifully layered composition of strings, piano and percussion. It is perfection. Closing the album are two club remixes of "Daylight" and "Comeback." The length of these mixes is a bit excessive and clashes with the overall tone of the album. That said, it anchors the album enough to satisfy those looking for a dance fix and mirrors the opening of the album. Still, they feel more like bonus tracks than intentional album cuts.

Kelly Rowland made a valiant effort with Ms. Kelly: Deluxe Edition. The vast majority of the new songs included on the release are beautifully composed and sung well. There are some definite standouts and some could have possibly become hits with the right promotion ("Unity" especially). Rowland also seemed to be very aware of where the weaknesses of the previous version laid. She smartly removed "Ghetto" and "Flashback" but, unfortunately, she also left off two standout tracks ("The Show" and "Still In Love With My Ex"). Nevertheless, Ms. Kelly: Deluxe Edition is a solid offering from this R&B diva and should be bought alongside the previous version of the album. However, those who are more digitally-inclined can simply purchase the digital-only Ms. Kelly: Diva Deluxe which is an EP featuring the new songs to supplement the standard Ms. Kelly.

Recommended Listening: “Work” (Freemasons Radio Edit), “Daylight,” “Love Again,” “Unity,” “No Man No Cry”

Grade: B+

Review: Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly

Largely viewed as a career low point for R&B diva Kelly Rowland, Ms. Kelly was Rowland's sophomore effort that failed to match the success of its predecessor. Its singles struggled on the charts despite fairly solid sales figures for the album itself. Nevertheless, Ms. Kelly serves as one of Rowland's most cohesive bodies of work and is most certainly an underrated R&B record that set Rowland on the course towards producing more personal and meaningful music as a solo artist.

The album opens on the club-favourite "Like This" featuring rapper Eve. Its popping arrangement and Rowland's assertive confidence on the track make for a fun dance record that is fondly remembered among Rowland's fans. Rowland also burns it up on the standout track "Work" with its pounding rhythm and playful lyrics. "Work" is sexy and sassy in the best way and serves as a solid dance anthem with an arrangement perfectly laid out for intricate choreography. The winding "Comeback" is another solid effort with its urban influences and Rowland's seductive vocal delivery. Similarly, "The Show" is a remarkably sensual cut that provides a preview of the sex jams that would later punctuate Rowland's music. Unfortunately, these club tracks are few and far between on Ms. Kelly. The album itself is ballad and midtempo heavy which, interestingly enough, was also a major issue with Simply Deep. Still, much of the album is co-written by Rowland so the material comes across as deeply personal. The simmering ballad "Every Thought Is You" is airy and features effortless vocals on Rowland's part. "Still In Love With My Ex" serves as the standout amongst the slower tempo songs. Its lyrics are vulnerable and honest while Rowland's vocals are pained and emotive. The song is powerful and could be favourably compared to the work done by diva supreme Mariah Carey. It truly is unfortunate that "Still In Love With My Ex" never emerged as a single. The Solange-penned "Love" is a solid midtempo track with an underlying piano melody and a hopping arrangement laid over it. Rowland pushes herself vocally on the song and is to be commended for doing so. "Better Without You" sees Rowland settling into a gorgeous breathlessness across the track's weightless composition while "This Is Love" is a beautifully-written orchestral ballad that attempts to capture love within its nearly five-minute running time. The latter song closes the album sweetly and highlights a rarely seen side of Rowland where she indulges in love and romance rather than raunchy sex and he-done-me-wrong break-up jams.

In retrospect, Kelly Rowland should be proud of the work she put out with Ms. Kelly. It features solid R&B ballads and has lyrical depth and diversity while its dance tracks are infectious. Her voice on the album is warm and layered while maintaining the slight sweetness she's known for. Yes, the album could have used more uptempo tracks but it is remarkable for its lack of filler tracks. Ms. Kelly is start-to-finish a cohesive urban album that should be celebrated and viewed as a milestone in Rowland's career as a solo artist.

Recommended Listening: "Like This," "Comeback," "Work," "Every Thought Is You," "The Show," "Still In Love With My Ex," "Love," "Better Without You," "This Is Love"

Grade: B+

Review: X-Men #1 (2013)

                Arguably one of the most highly anticipated Marvel titles in years, X-Men brings together six of the most iconic female mutants onto one team for the very first time. This Storm-led team consists of fan-favourites Rogue and Jubilee as well as Shadowcat, Psylocke and Rachel Grey. Together they've been assembled to battle the menaces of John and Arkea Sublime.

                Brian Wood seems enthusiastic about the material he is writing. The pacing is quick and there is an obvious focus placed on the characterization. Unfortunately, there does seem to be a little something off with the way he writes the characters. Rachel is rather dull and seems to be an unnecessary inclusion. After all, why include Rachel when the team already has a psychic in the form of the fierce telepathic ninja Psylocke? For the casual observer, Rogue’s inclusion is partially confusing. If she’s an Avenger now, what is she still doing with the X-Men? Surely, a more deserving female could have taken her spot. Her powerset is fairly confusing as well. What exactly are the skunk-haired mutant's capabilities these days anyway? She's mostly written like Wood forgot that the whole Rogue-having-Ms. Marvel's-powers thing was removed from her skillset ages ago. There’s also a false girlfriend-like playfulness between Jubilee, Kitty and Rogue. Though the banter between Rogue and Kitty seems authentic given their past friendship, Jubilee never bonded with either character in previous issues aside from a few moments here and there. In fact, Jubilee was always much closer around her male teammates than female ones. As such, Wood’s attempt to write these six as girlfriends feels slightly forced. Sam Humphries is currently doing a better job with writing Storm and Psylocke in Uncanny X-Force where their chemistry is both palpable and captivating. There they read like real friends. Though it may seem irrelevant, Dazzler’s exclusion is equally as disappointing. Her close friendship with both Psylocke and Storm would have added to the dynamic of the title as would her rocky truce with Rogue. Still, she was likely excluded due to her previous involvement in X-Treme X-Men and now because of her position as an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D.

                So what is great about X-Men #1? Well, the team is all-female for starters. Aside from nitpicks about the roster, it is a solid gathering of characters and it illustrates that some of the greatest members of the X-Men are in fact not men at all. Though it may read like a gimmick to some, this all-female team is exactly what most diehard fans have been clamouring for. The narrative itself shows incredible promise. Still, it’s not as accessible as Marvel’s other all-female team book (Fearless Defenders) but most X-Men fans should be able to follow it. Additionally, the art is gorgeous. Oliver Coipel is incredibly talented and each character is unique and dynamic. Jubilee, in particular, is drawn rather well and Storm is rather striking. If anything, Coipel’s art is the reason to buy this title.

                Though it is only one issue in, it is clear that X-Men needs a little work. Wood will have to ensure that each character on his team stands out and that they have distinct personalities. The interactions shouldn’t be forced and he need look no further than Uncanny X-Force to see how to do that properly. This title is exciting and monumental. It’s shocking that it’s taken this long for it to happen but many are glad it’s finally arrived. The art is spectacular and the story has potential. Hopefully it sells well enough so Wood will be given enough time to work out the kinks in the title (and maybe toss Dazzler on as well).

Grade: B

Review: Captain Marvel - In Pursuit of Flight

                When Marvel announced that Ms. Marvel would be changing her name officially to Captain Marvel and would be wearing a brand-new outfit, the comic book community held its collective breath. Though this transformation was apparently an aesthetic one, many were skeptical and there are still quite a few who are uncomfortable calling Carol Danvers by her new moniker.  However, with the release of the first trade paperback collecting the first six issues of Carol Danvers’ new adventures as Captain Marvel it is clear that this change is a positive one and is one of the most interesting directions she’s been taken in in years.

                It must first be said that Kelly Sue DeConnick knows Carol Danvers really well. In Pursuit of Flight is well-written and DeConnick’s understanding of the character is evident to such an extent that Captain Marvel is captivating and interesting from the get-go. Carol is sassy, witty and independent but has tremendous heart. The interactions Carol has throughout these six issues with other characters take on a playful edge and it serves to illustrate Carol’s sharpness as well as her comfort around others. Her banter with Captain America and friend Tracy Burke are stand-outs as both laugh-out-loud and heartfelt moments. DeConnick should also be commended for including Spider-Woman (in her civilian identity of Jessica Drew) in one issue as it highlights Carol’s long-standing friendship with Jessica. The narrative itself outside of the witty dialogue is thrilling and keeps the reader in suspense. Carol accidentally travels back in time and must maneuver her way back to the past all while coming to terms with her new identity and legacy. There are explosions galore and a little espionage thrown in for good measure. To layer the story, DeConnick gives purpose to the time travel. It isn’t merely a device but has meaning as the reader eventually understands the events that led to Carol becoming the hero she is today.

                Dexter Soy takes care of the art chores for the first four issues. At times, it can be muddy and unappealing but its lack of polish helps it in standing out against more traditional comic book art. Soy’s ability to draw female faces should be commended though. When panels focus on Carol’s face, she looks stunning. Emma Rios takes over for the final two issues collected here. Her art has tremendous character to it and there is incredible expressiveness to the way she illustrates not only the characters but also how she constructs the panels. Much like Soy, her art is unconventional for a superhero comic but is nonetheless quite interesting. It should also be mentioned that the covers are done by Ed McGuinness and later Terry Dodson. They’re totally gorgeous and there’s a definite desire for said art to continue into the issues themselves.

                Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight is a must-read for any comic book fan. It is action-packed and has lots of heart. Captain Marvel is a modern heroine who serves as a relatable role model. This would perhaps not be possible without her new costume and name change. She’s been moved into the 21^st century and acts as the kind of hero we should expect from our supposed "post-feminist" society. This collection is also accessible. For those using the excuse of comics being hard to get into, Carol’s adventures here stand on their own without the necessity for research and it even has a comprehensive biography of the character in the back, giving the reader all the information they’d ever want to know about Carol Danvers in one convenient place. Though Marvel’s continuity may be a mess as of late and it may continue to lead its company with eye-roll worthy events, Captain Marvel is that shining beacon in their universe indicating that perhaps all hopes may not be lost for the comic book giant.

Grade: A