A "Scott Pilgrim" Day... and Stuff

Some time ago, I discovered a movie called "Scott Pilgrim vs the World". Once I saw it, I knew I had found of my most favorites movies of all time, simple as that. I fell in love with everything: the visuals, the special effects, the acting, the drama, the dialogues, the fights, the soundtrack, and the messages. It was absolutely amazing. 

Then, I found out the movie was based on a series of six comics by author Bryan Lee O'Malley. I knew I had to read them, period. It was a need I had. I had never read a comic book before, so I was a little nervous going into them. I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't really know how to read them, as I had only read novels before. I even thought I wasn't going to like them. But oh boy, was I wrong! 

I fell in love deeper than before with the story, by the very first page. It was a little hard at first to get used to that writing style, but I got the hang of it quicker than I thought. Let me tell you that I devoured the comics. They can be read very quickly, and they always left me with a craving for more. I finished the last one two days ago, and so I want to review the comics today. 

For this post, I will divide the topic in two. In the first part, I will write my review of the comics. It will be without spoilers of any kind, just in case you wish to read the comics or if you're currently reading them. The second part will be about the differences between the comics and the movie. There are a LOT, so I chose the ones that stood out to me the most. This latter section will have spoilers, so beware. 

That said, let's get started! 

My Review: 

OH MY GOD!!!

I CAN'T!

The comics are perfect, period. The artwork is amazing, exciting, cute and fun. It captures your attention in a way you can't stop reading, you feel as if you're part of the story. 

The story progresses in a good pace, in such a way that it feels logical, as if it could easily happen in real life. It doesn't take a few weeks to be developed or even a couple of months. On the contrary, it takes its time to establish the characters, the world, and all the story lines in the best way possible. 

The setting for me is everything. The story takes place in Toronto, Canada which I admit is a very refreshing thing. I'm not shaming or anything, but it's so great to read a story that doesn't take place in the United States or Europe. Also, the way the city was drawn in the comics was so beautiful.

Credits to the artist!

The characters are humanized in a way that they feel completely real, and they are so fun to read about. Even the villains (at least some of them) are very humanized, and you can see things from their point of view, as twisted as it may be. Every character has a unique way of speaking, a unique sense of humor, and a unique style. They are fully fleshed out, which is something I love. 

The magic system (to call it someway) in the comics is well explained. As some of you might know, a well explained magic system is everything for me. The powers are explained in such a way that it feels as if they could really exist. Also, a very cool thing about powers in these comics is that everyone treats them as normal. Super powers are part of the characters' everyday lives, and they don't fuss over them too much. It's like "Oh, so this guy can move things with his mind? Cool. Wanna get a cheeseburger?"

I mean... look at Ramona in the back. 
She's bored watching a supernatural fight. 

I believe this story is perfect for teenagers and adults, but mostly for adults in their twenties, like myself. Not only because the majority of the characters are in their twenties, but because the issues presented in the comics reflect the very same issues we twenty-something people have to deal with. Getting jobs, working through college, going on crappy dates, striving for independence, evolving as people, working to develop healthy relationships, maintaining our friendships, coming to terms with our mistakes, learning to accept ourselves... it's a lot! All the while we're still trying to figure out who we are and what we really want in life. The "Scott Pilgrim" comics reflect all of this and more, which is why it's perfect for people in their twenties. Although I'm still planning on reading this when I'm old, so whatever. 

The story includes a lot of lessons, which I will take forever with me. They have made me realized I seriously need to get my shit together already, but that it is perfectly normal that I'm still figuring myself out. The story taught me that it's awesome being the nerdy guy I am, that there are different ways of being cool. That even although I'm an adult already, I don't need to have every single thing figured out by now; I can take my time, and that's fine. I also learned that I shouldn't close myself to new experiences, new people and new love. It's all part of growing up and finding your place in the world. 

But most importantly, the story taught me not to take life so seriously. Of course I have responsibilities, and I must attend them constantly. But that doesn't mean that life is without fun or cool moments. That heartbreaks come and go, but it's part of life, and there's nothing that time and a good pizza won't heal. And also, that I must make peace and forgive myself, and move on with the lessons I acquired in the way; this includes owning the bad things I've done instead of denying them, and make amends. 

If you would like to start reading comic books, I believe the "Scott Pilgrim" ones are a perfect beginning. I don't think you'll regret it if you read them, and maybe you'll find some other lessons I didn't get. 

Now, let's move on to the SPOILERS section. Here I will be talking about some of the differences between the comics and their movie adaptation. If you haven't read the comics, I suggest you leave now. But if you're not planning on reading them, or if you don't really mind spoilers, then go ahead and read. 

Anyways, here's the list. 

Movie vs Comics: 

1- The fight against Gideon is longer and more epic: Gideon is the last of Ramona's evil exes, and so the last one that confronts Scott. The fight against him is in the sixth and final volume of the series, and it covers the vast majority of the book. It's a very intense fight, that takes place in two different realms. Also, opposite to the movie, it's Ramona and Scott who fight against Gideon, not Knives and Scott. Furthermore, in the movie only Scott gets stabbed in the chest, while in the book Ramona is also stabbed (only she doesn't die like him). 

2- Envy Adams is not quite the same: Envy is Scott's evil ex, who's real name is Natalie. She and Julie (the bitch with glasses portrayed by Aubrey Plaza) were roommates in college, and it's there that Scott and Natalie met. Natalie and Scott broke up mutually, although he hurt her more. In the comics, it's Envy Adams who fights against Ramona, not Ramona's ex Roxie. Therefore, it's Envy the one that is defeated by Scott with that weird knee orgasm. She is not as evil as in the comics, and she and Scott depart on fairly good terms. She returns in the final volume being used by Gideon as a singer in his new club, where she is over sexualized by that bastard. She supports Scott's relationship with Ramona, and also she's a redhead, not a blonde. 

3- Knives Chau was also different: On the contrary to the movie, Knives never fought against Gideon and she didn't help defeat him. She was present in the final fight alongside the whole gang: Stephen, Julie, Envy, Wallace, Young Neil, Tamara (Knives' friend) and Stacey (Scott's sister). Knives did fight against Ramona, but much earlier in the comics. Finally, she was well over Scott by the last volume, and she moves away for college, leaving on good terms with Scott. 

4- Kim Pine's storyline changed: Kim is Sex Bob-omb's drummer, and one of Scott's exes. She moves away in the final volumes with her parents for a while, and at her parents', she and Scott find closure to their issues together. There it is revealed how Scott hurt her in the past. She is not present in the final battle against Gideon, but she does sense Scott's death. She comes back to Toronto by the end of the final volume. Also, she once made out with Knives. 

5- Stephen Stills is gay: Stephen plays the guitar in Sex Bomb-omb, and he is constantly in an on-and-off-relationship with Julie. But by the end of the final volume, he reveals he has a boyfriend who's name is Joseph. The latter has appeared since the second volume, and he was the one who helped Stephen develop the band's first album. Joseph doesn't speak much, but he's sweet and caring, and he dislikes most of Stephen's friends (mostly Scott). Stephen came out on volume 5, but he didn't tell Scott because he thought the guy had too much on his plate then. Quick fact: Sex Bob-omb broke up in the end. 

6- The time span is longer in the comics: In the movie, the story takes place in a matter of weeks. Whereas the story in the comics develop over a year. This helps the characters become more fleshed out and the different storylines to develop better. 

7- The powers are better explained: Ramona has control over subspace, a dimension atop of their own that allows her to travel from one physical place to another, and also to travel through people's minds. Todd has psychic vegan powers (I can't). Matthew Patel could summon demons and fire. Gideon could infect people with the Glow, something that trapped people inside their own minds, focusing only on their negative aspects and rendering them useless when facing their inner demons (or something along that line). Scott obviously has super strength, and a super ability to make people want to punch in him in the face. Most of the powers are explained- how the characters acquired and developed them, while some can be presumed are as natural to the characters as breathing. Regardless of their origins, they are all well explained either through drawings or full spoken explanations. 

8- The twins' powers were very different: The Katayanagi twins, Kyle and Ken, were Ramona's fifth and sixth exes, and they appeared in volume 5. In the movie, they fight against Sex Bob-omb summoning dragons with their music, while in the comics, this never happened. The twins kept sending evil robots after Scott to kill him throughout the story, and by the end of the volume, they fought Scott face to face. Their collective powers allow them to increase their strength and agility when fighting together, making them stronger and faster than if they fought individually. 

9- Some characters were left out: There was this actress friend of Kim and Scott, called Lisa Miller. She went to high school with them, and came to cause romantic tension between Scott and Ramona. I can totally see why she was left out of the movie. Then, in Envy's band Clash at Demonhead, the girl drummer Lynette did appear in the movie, but her role was way smaller than in the comics. In the books, Lynette has a robotic arm and she's the one who punches Knives' highlights out of her hair (lol). Todd, Envy's psychic vegan boyfriend, cheats on her with Lynette. 

10- Ramona and Scott have an apartment together: The main couple do live together by some point in the comics. Not only that, but Scott did get a job (finally). He works with Stephen Stills in a restaurant. In the end of the series, Ramona and Scott end up as a couple, and it's implied that the two of them go back to living together; it could be in Ramona's apartment, or in Scott's- his parents got him an apartment after Ramona left him. 

To summarize all of this, and to bring an end to Scott Pilgrim: I love these comics with my life. I will certainly return to them when I'm ready, and meet with these literary friends. If you ever decide to read the series, I hope you enjoy it a lot, even more than me. Believe me, you won't regret it. The movie, although very different at some points, it's still for me a great book adaptation. Lastly, thank you Bryan Lee O'Malley for creating this beautiful world; you're a legend. 

P.S. If you could have a super power, which one would you like to have? 

My Small Problem With the "Umbrella Academy"

Fan art from the comics. 
Credits to Alfret. 

Greetings everyone! For today's post, as you can see, I will be discussing some elements about "The Umbrella Academy", a series of comics written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá. 

Before I write anything else, I just want to make something clear: I love "The Umbrella Academy" and its Netflix adaptation. I just have some opinions that might be unpopular about it, but that doesn't mean I hate it. With that said, let's begin! 

If you haven't read the comics or seen the series, here is a quick synopsis. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.  

One normal day, 43 women around the world became pregnant and immediately gave birth at the same time. These 43 babies were each born with special powers. A rich, eccentric man named Reginald Hargreeves found and adopted (more likely bought) 7 of these children. He gave each of them a number for a name, which represented how valuable they were to him according to their powers; also, these numbers represented the order they were born. Six of the children were trained and formed the Umbrella Academy, a superhero group; the last child, a girl, was lead to believe from birth that she was powerless. 

When the children grew up, the group split after the death of #6. Several years after this event, the Umbrella Academy came together again after the death of their "father" Reginald Hargreeves. From there the story continues, with the adventure and danger rising every time. This isn't your typical superhero story: it's extremely gory, dark, with deep psychological themes, and heroes who are not very good people, to say the least. Which is why I love this story so much! 

Now, before I go into what I don't like, I'd like to briefly share what I do like. First, the artwork in the comics. This story is beautiful not only in the written content, but also in the drawings that represent the story and characters. Gabriel Bá did an amazing job drawing these characters, and everything looks so gorgeous! 

Second, I adore the characters. Each of the members of the Umbrella Academy has some serious, unsolved issues since childhood. They were psychologically and sometimes physically abused by their "father" since the beginning, as he looked at them as mere objects. They were never treated as human beings, nor did they grew up feeling loved or welcomed. Therefore, we have a group of very unstable adults who as I mentioned are not very good people. They are: 

#1 Luther Hargreeves, Spaceboy 

Left comic. Right Netflix. 
Credits to C.B.F.

A ruthless leader, Spaceboy's head is attached to a gorilla's body, as a result of an accident that nearly cost his life- long story. His powers include super strength and high resistance. 

#2 Diego Hargreeves, The Kraken

Credits to C.B.F.

The Kraken is not the best following orders, specially coming from his brother. His ability is holding his breath for countless hours, and is also very good at throwing knives- he never fails. 

#3 Allison Hargreeves, The Rumor 

Credits to C.B.F.

Narcissistic, manipulative, and in full control. Allison has the power to alter reality by speaking lies. By the saying the phrase "I heard a rumor..." and adding what she wants to happen, her lies will become real. 

#4 Klaus Hargreeves, The Seance 

Credits to C.B.F.

An emo in the comics, a flamboyant self-destructive man in the series. Klaus can communicate with the dead, use his body as a conduit for them, and as long as he's barefoot he can fly and move objects with his mind. 

#5 The Boy 

Credits to C.B.F. 

He was never given a proper name, having run away from home before that. The Boy is able to control time, allowing him to teleport and time travel. Extremely smart and extremely sadistic.  

#6 Ben Hargreeves, The Horror 

Credits to C.B.F. 

Poor Ben... His power was the ability to summon giant, monstrous tentacles from his chest. He's dead by the beginning of the series. 

#7 Vanya Hargreeves, The White Violin 

Credits to C.B.F. 

She's the most powerful and dangerous of the Academy. At first she thought she had no powers, as her "father" led her to believe so. He sensed the danger and tried to stop it, in the worst way possible; he caused Vanya years of self-doubt, isolation, low self-esteem, and pain. Vanya's power is transforming music into power waves, which are quite destructive. 

__________________________________________________________________________

Now, the Netflix adaptation is pretty great as well. It has some awesome special effects, the music is perfect, and the cast does a terrific job portraying the psychological issues of their characters. I would definitely recommend it if you love the superhero genre. 

But... there is one thing I don't like from the series. This section will also be full of SPOILERS! 

My problem with "The Umbrella Academy" in Netflix is pretty simple: they messed up the powers of three of its members. They changed them, making some of them only a shadow of what they really are. To be more specific: 

1- Klaus as I already mentioned above, has some very strong psychic abilities, from telekinesis and mediumship to flying. But in the Netflix series, his powers are rendered to merely speaking with the dead and giving them to ability to touch again... that's it. You're telling me that one of the most powerful members of the Academy is left as the weakest for no apparent reason? I have no problem whatsoever in his personality change, but why did they have to change his powers? WHY????

2- Allison is also very powerful in the comics. Do you know how much that woman could do with the proper lies? She can alter reality itself; it has a limit, of course, but that doesn't make her any less powerful. She could say "I heard a rumor that your car exploded" and it would immediately happen. In the series, her powers are limited to just mind control; for example "I heard a rumor that you shot your friend in the foot". Yes, it's still powerful and cool, but I feel like her true potential was too limited and therefore wasted. 

3- Last but not least, Vanya. Her powers in the comics come solely from music. As she plays her violin she turns those musical notes into destructive blasts of power- pretty cool if you ask me. In the series, she's the contrary to her siblings: while Klaus and Allison are underdeveloped, Vanya is overpowered. The source of her power in the series comes from any kind of sound, while also giving her power to fly and control the weather to an extent- she even has some telekinesis! Those three added powers have zero relation to her music abilities, and take the meaning of her name (White Violin) away. I see absolutely no reason why she was rewritten this way. It was too much for me. Sorry not sorry. 

Now, does this mean I hate the Netflix adaptation? No way! I like it a lot actually. I recommend it to a lot of people including my students, some which are very hooked on the series. But I really wish those things I explained had been done the same as in the comics. Yes, I completely understand that in the adaptations of the source material to the screen, some things are going to change; I know this, I'm not stupid. But I strongly believe that are some elements that should remain the same. I do not appreciate how Allison's and Klaus' powers were so undeveloped and wasted, seeing as they had so much potential, and Vanya's powers being so over-the-top. 

I'm still going to watch the series, and I'm waiting patiently for its third season, because even if I have my issues, it's still awesome. You do not have to agree with me, this was just my opinion. I also feel this way with the powers of Scarlet Witch in the MCU, as they very underdeveloped as well. But what's done is done I guess.                                          

                          *unsatisfied mumbling* 

Wishing you all a happy week, and please stay safe out there. 

P.S The comic was better.