If you wish for a strong 'Aladdin,' consider it granted

With the debut issue of "

Aladdin

: Legacy of the Lost," it's clear Radical is becoming to comics what

James Cameron

is to movies. In short, Radical is using the best production values and technology available to tell simple stories on a grand scale and is raising the bar of an entire medium while doing so.

Indeed, part of the reason Comics Guy was disappointed with Radical's last offering, "The Last Days of American Crime," is because it seemed a walking contradiction - the plot seemed overly grandiose while at the same time producing scenes that were pedestrian and that could be found in dozens of average crime comics with far cheaper production values.

It was as if Cameron decided to direct a TV movie of "Hill Street Blues."

But those problems aren't found in "Aladdin."

In fact, "Aladdin" is yet another title that makes a strong case for Radical being the future of comics and the company that will continually raise fans' expectations of what they can expect from the medium.

Radical's Aladdin will surprise anyone whose memory of the character is mainly derived from the 1992 Disney classic.

Rather than a squeaky-clean, shy heartthrob, this Aladdin is the child of a single mom who toughed it out on the streets before finding shelter in a bordello and who died giving birth to him. Raised by whores who took pity on him, he has become a skilled gambler and a thief with a knack for getting in trouble.

After one incident, the head of the bordello feels that the boy she took in has become a sly and bitter 20-year-old man and decides she can't be responsible for him any longer.

Feeling lost and having conned, cheated and double-crossed everyone he knows, Aladdin is easily swayed by an offer by the manipulative Qasim, who promises untold riches in exchange for Aladdin retrieving an artifact.

When Qasim predictably betrays him, Aladdin rubs the artifact and a genie appears.

Only this genie looks more like Mickey Rourke in "The Wrestler" than the version immortalized by Robin Williams.

Anyway, now that he has been granted three wishes, the question is whether the innocent boy he was or shallow thief he has become will bubble to the surface. The cliff-hanger ending gives us a clue.

This is tremendously entertaining stuff. In addition to a breathtaking story, writer Ian Edgington is so skilled at dialogue that he enables us to know each character with a single word balloon and gives both Aladdin and Qasim great depths for readers to explore.

The art by Patrick Reilly is out of this world. Cinematic doesn't begin to describe it. From the different emotions shown in Aladdin's facial expressions to well- choreographed fight scenes to having the reader feel a real sense of terror at the threats unleashed by Qasim, a reader couldn't ask for much more.

Though Comics Guy feels the 17 pages of house ads and previews are unnecessary and could have been used for more story or fewer pages and a lower price, getting 47 pages of story of "Aladdin" in a prestige format for $4.99 is definitely worth an investment - if you're looking for an entertaining story that will knock your socks off, "Aladdin" will make your wish come true.

Torres feels 'Super'

Actress Gina Torres had an unanticipated assist in bringing the powerful yet sultry voice of Superwoman to life for "Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths," an all-new DC Universe Animated Original movie that hit shelves Tuesday.

Flu had lowered her vocal range, according to information from DC, adding a "smoky sexiness" to her voice.

"I'm so glad they called me to do Superwoman," she said, "because I was in the mood to get back in there and be a badass," said Torres in a DC interview.

"Superwoman is one of those superheroes that knows her power, and is very comfortable in her power. And it's all cat – it's no mouse with her. She likes to bat around her prey and she really enjoys what she's doing. Superwoman is motivated by power and money and sex, and sex and money and power. Who can't relate to that?

"She rules the world. She's Superwoman! What I love about superheroes, and Superwoman in particular, is that in that comics world they're all curvaceous. There aren't really any skinny bitches in the world of comic books. They've got muscle. I like that. I appreciate that. They're strong. And it's important to have strong images of women out there, women who aren't afraid of expressing themselves, women who aren't afraid of taking chances, women who aren't afraid of their own power."

Bruce Campbell to hit Wizard Philly

It was recently announced that actor Bruce Campbell will appear at this year's Wizard Philadelphia Comic Con. Campbell will meet fans on Saturday, June 12, as a special guest.

"It's so much fun to bring Bruce Campbell to our Philadelphia fans. From 'Army of Darkness' to his cameos in the 'Spider-Mans' to 'Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,' he spans all the genres and he really knows how to have fun with his appearance," said Wizard CEO Gareb Shamus in a news release that also included Campbell shouting out to his Philly fans:

"Hey gang, I look forward to tormenting you all at Wizard - and because I am a big fan of Philly, here is a special offer: $10 to any person in my autograph line with an 'Evil Dead,' Ash or Tom Cruise tattoo!"

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