Friday, April 28, 2017
Doctor Who - The Pilot
After hiding out as an university professor on Earth for five decades, while also protecting a mysterious vault from an unknown threat, The Doctor (Peter Capaldi) is thrown back into action by a cafeteria worker at the school who has been attending his lectures and has encountered something she can't explain. Along with Nardole (Matt Lucas), The Doctor and Bill (Pearl Mackie) investigate this odd puddle which has swallowed up another student (Stephanie Hyam) Bill had a crush on and has now taken her watery form while chasing her across campus, the universe, and through time.
Astro City #43
During this latest volume of Astro City we've seen the Broken Man pop-up from time to time with important messages directed to the reader. What we haven't seen, until now, is someone interupt and hijack one of the omnipotent figure's tales. That's what happens in Astro City #43 when his tale about the Gentleman, the Bouncing Beatnik, and Lord Saampa is interrupted by the Gentleman's daughter Tillie (who has her own amazing story to tell).
This Weekend - Planet Comicon
Planet Comicon 2017 kicks off today in Kansas City. The panels are set (check out the list) and the guests have arrived (see the full list of media guests, creators, and cosplayers). You can download the program guide and grab the mobile app for Apple or Android phones. And you can post and follow the action on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you haven't pre-ordered your tickets you can buy them at the door. Click here to learn more about the event and the weekend's festivities. Hope to see you there!
Thursday, April 27, 2017
Pretty Little Liars - These Boots Were Made for Stalking
It seems pretty late in the game to introduce a new adversary, but that's what nearly half of "These Boots Were Made for Stalking" is devoted to when a bitchy student named Addison (Ava Allan) turns the teachers against each other and accuses Emily (Shay Mitchell) of inappropriate conduct with the girls swim team. Events are enough to force Emily to play the game, but the entire sordid affair is dealt with in a single episode as it hardly stands up to one of A's more sinister attacks.
Batman #21
It's been almost a years since DC Rebirth #1 relaunched the DCU, retconned a big chunk of the New 52 as the work of a super-villain, and teased a connection behind the entire chain of events to one of the best comic series ever written. Since then DC's been pretty quiet on the subject for the most part, at least until now. It seems it's time for the Dark Knight Detective and the Scarlet Speedster to search for the truth.
Wednesday, April 26, 2017
The Flash - The Once and Future Flash
There are two issues at play in "The Once and Future Flash," although the show's writers have not intention of resolving either one. The first involves Caitlin (Danielle Panabaker) transformation into Killer Frost, which Barry (Grant Gustin) abandons his friends to deal with on their own as he races into the future to find answers about Savitar. Returning to the present nearly the same moment he left, Team Flash isn't left on their own for long, but it does prove long enough for Caitlin to escape and further crystallize the timeline the Flash has desperately attempting to prevent.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eleven #6
It seems Buffy's days in the internment camp is coming to an end. After an ambush by some of the less-pleasant inhabitants working for the guards, Buffy begins to suspect something wicked behind the scenes of the already unpleasant situation. With the help of Willow, the Slayer and her bestie sneak into the heavily-locked-down area in the camp learn more. What they find will force them to make some difficult choices in the days to come.
Agents of HYDRA - All the Madame's Men
Life in the framework gets a bit easier for Daisy (Chloe Bennet) now that May (Ming-Na Wen) has turned her back on Hydra and used a Terrigen crystal to restore Quake's powers. Despite Melinda not remembering the real world, her actions help bring the team closer together, although one member has fallen and another is still leading the enemy against them. It's good to see Daisy and May on the same side again kicking some ass together, and Daisy has her own star moment quaking Aida (Mallory Jansen) through a sky-rise window, but the real stand-out here is Coulson (Clark Gregg) who steps up in a big way to fill the void left with the Patriot's death.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Supergirl - Ace Reporter
iZombie's Rahul Kohli guest-stars as Lena Luther's (Katie McGrath) ex who shows up in National City to unveil a new technological marvel (which when not dazzling the press is murdering those who know too much about the project). Despite recent setbacks, Kara (Melissa Benoist) is all sunshine and rainbows (when not grief baking) as she steps up after learning Lena's ex may be hiding some dangerous information about his new nanite technology. Putting both hers super-skills and reporter instincts to work, our heroine quickly uncovers the truth. By the end of the episode her friend may be battered and bruised, but the city will be safe, and Kara will have earned her spot at Catco in the aptly titled "Ace Reporter."
Josie and the Pussycats #6
Teased at the end of the previous issue, Josie and the Pussycats #6 involves Josie, Melody, and Val being arrested for plagiarism. Of course the people who take them aren't actually police. And the place they are taken isn't exactly a police station. Blaming Josie for his sister's unhappiness, Alexander abducts the Pussycats and takes the to his Antarctic hideaway to stand trial for crimes against his family.
Elementary - The Art of Sleights and Deception
Obsession can be deadly, and there's plenty of obsession in "The Art Of Sleights And Deception." The death of a magician performing his trademark illusion sends Homes (Jonny Lee Miller) and Watson (Lucy Liu) down the rabbit hole which includes tricks of the trade, a sixty-year old mystery, and Nazi memorabilia. Despite plenty of dead ends, the pair eventually discover the true motive for the murder. The mystery proves to have quite a few twists and turns before the killer is raveled, plus there's the added fun of seeing Watson's reaction to Holmes' unannounced performance of the magician's trick in the middle of the brownstone.
Monday, April 24, 2017
Once Upon a Time - Where Bluebirds Fly
Zelena (Rebecca Mader) is the star of "Where Bluebirds Fly" as the episode's flashbacks give us a look back to her time in Oz and her friendship with a young boy who would grow up to be the Tin Man (Alex Désert) along with her first encounter with the Cowardly Lion. In Storybrooke, the Black Fairy (Jaime Murray) goads the Wicked Witch into rushing into a foolish mistake. The Zelena's attempt to destroy the fairy unintentionally provide the Black Fairy with enough dark magic to make all her plans come true.
Detective Comics #954
"League of Shadows" continues as Batman confronts Ra's al Ghul for the truth about the secret offshoot of the League of Assassins which he always believed to be a myth. Detective Comics #954 sees the Dark Knight Detective bested by the Demon's Head whose cryptic answers on further infuriate Batman. Offered no other choice but to trust Ra's, Batman soon regrets that decision as he's almost immediately betrayed and turned over to Lady Shiva and her cult.
Samurai Jack - Episode XCVII
Ashi's (Tara Strong) search for Samurai Jack (Phil LaMarr) leads her through the show's past as characters from several episodes are referenced, including the Three Blind Archers, the Woolies, and the Ravers - each with their own tale of Jack's heroics, and even a bar full of Aku's former minions. It's a fun walk down memory lane for fans of the show, while also serving the purpose of confirming Ashi's change of heart concerning the samurai leading the young woman to literally washing away the last vestiges of connection to Aku (Greg Baldwin). Her journey eventually leads her to a hopeless samurai prepared to commit seppuku, spurred on by the words of the mysterious Horseman.
Powerless - Emergency Punch-Up
Sometimes we all need to vent. Not making it out of the Wayne Securities offices in time for the company retreat Emily (Vanessa Hudgens) spent weeks planning, her team gets locked in the building during Dr. Psycho's gas attack. Emily's attempts to make the best out of a bad situation lead her into getting dosed with the gas which makes the normally conscientious co-worker brutal in her honesty to her teammates who, if they wish to save her, will have to make the ultimate sacrifice... by singing Kelly Clarkson karaoke.
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Darkwing Duck #8
It's not every comic that gives you a swarm of vampire potatoes. Seriously, when was the last time you saw the Justice League or Avengers take on such a threat? They probably couldn't handle it. You know who can? Darkwing Duck!
Marvel's Rocket and Groot
Over a series of one dozen short one and two-minute adventures, Rocket Raccoon (Trevor Devall) and Groot (Kevin Michael Richardson) attempt to put together 3,000,000 credits to buy a new ship. Although the shorts are connected with the common theme of earning money, each adventure is self-contained as the pair race Blackjack O'Hare, steal a golden egg, and cash-in on a series of bounties (including one for Groot himself). The moral of the story is obvious to the audience before our heroes, whose work provides them with rewards less grand than they were expecting, but while it lasts it's a fun ride.
The Wild Storm #3
If I'm listing out my favorite female comic heroes it's almost impossible for me not to put Jenny Sparks in the top spot. Created in 1997 by Warren Ellis as a character for Stormwatch to not much acclaim, two years later with the launch of The Authority the character gave us one of the best, albeit short-lived, runs before her death which left a hole in the title subsequent stories were never able to properly fill.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
The Blacklist - Dembe Zuma / Requiem
The Blacklist's two-episode mid-season premiere sets up the next big threat to Raymond Reddington (James Spader). While the first episode deals primarily with the red herring that is Dembe's (Hisham Tawfiq) apparent disloyalty, the second episode features on the back story of Mr. Kaplan (Susan Blommaert), including the events which led her into the lives of all the show's major players. There's quite a bit of history rewriting here which I'm not 100% certain would hold up if you went back an re-watched the show's First Season. That said, events here do help explain how Kaplan (played in the flashbacks by Joanna Adler) got her chosen name and profession, and why she was so willing to betray Red for Elizabeth Keen (Megan Boone), who she has apparently known for quite some time.
iZombie - Eat, Pray, Liv
There's actually quite a bit going on in "Eat, Pray, Liv" which is held together by the Liv (Rose McIver) becoming more zen after ingesting the brain of a murdered self-help guru, eventually helping Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin) solve the man's murder. The awkwardness between Ravi (Rahul Kohli) and Peyton (Aly Michalka) isn't improved by Ravi admitting his true feelings or strong-arming Blaine (David Anders) to try the experimental memory cure now that Major (Robert Buckley) is on borrowed time.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
X-Men: Blue #1
Samurai Jack - Episode XCVI
Spending more time with Jack (Phil LaMarr), Ashi (Tara Strong) is slowly convinced that everything she has learned about the world is wrong. But is her conversion too late? Believing he has failed in saving children abducted by Aku's (Greg Baldwin)minions and turned into bloodthirsty weapons, Jack's already fragile mind is shattered. Ashi actually is able to prevent the tragedy, and for the first time use her considerable skills to save lives rather than take them, but Jack walks off into the fog with the strange rider apparently willing to accept whatever fate has in store for him. Can Ashi find him and convince Jack to pick up the fight once more?
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Pretty Little Liars - Playtime
Pretty Little Liars returns for its final stretch of episodes with "Playtime" which deals mainly from the fallout of the season's mid-season finale which puts both Spencer (Troian Bellisario) and Toby (Keegan Allen) in the hospital, leaves Aria (Lucy Hale) unsure of her relationship with Ezra's (Ian Harding), answers some questions about the truth of Mary Drake's (Andrea Parker) statements concerning one of the Liars, and confirms that neither Noel Kahn's (Brant Daugherty) nor Jenna Marshall (Tammin Sursok) is A.D. There's quite a bit of drama in "Playtime," but other than setting up A.D.'s final gambit (which involves an overly elaborate game board to dish out rewards and punishment) the Liars spend the majority of the episode dealing with their own drama rather than that caused by their unknown adversary.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Once Upon a Time - Awake
As Once Upon a Time inches closer to the final battle, "Awake" returns to the events of the show's First Season reveal an undisclosed truth about Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) and David (Josh Dallas). Revealing that the pair had recovered their memories before the Savior's arrival in Storybooke, while the new scenes don't over-convolute the show's continuity too much, they do raise some red flags about why such events were never disclosed under now.
Hawaii Five-0 - Waimaka 'ele'ele
While the episode's backstory allows the show to work in Adam's (Ian Anthony Dale) current job, and his discovery of a bone at construction gives him reason to suspect that human remains may have been buried there, the episode's main focus involves a group of former soldiers turned bank robbers whose latest score causes the death of a Pearl Harbor veteran on the way home with his granddaughter (Lexi Atkins). Dylan Bruno becomes the latest Numb3rs alumni to make an appearance on the show as the leader of the robbers who have deeply personal reasons for their crimes and have no intention of being scared off by Five-0.
Pretty Little Liars - Cast Favorite Moments
The cast discuss some of their favorite moments over the show's seven year run. Pretty Little Liars returns tonight for the final episodes.
Monday, April 17, 2017
The Blacklist: Redemption - Whitehall
The Blacklist: Redemption wraps up its First Season with a two-part episode. We open with Scottie (Famke Janssen) confronting her son about his true identity... and then breaking any potential trust between the pair by having him tortured and chased around the city, cementing whose side he'll choose throughout the events of the finale. Putting all cards on the table, Howard (Terry O’Quinn) reveals himself to the world forcing a board meeting and providing Tom (Ryan Eggold) and Nez (Tawny Cypress), who like Tom chooses Mr. Hargraves over Mrs. Hargraves, the necessary distraction to sneak into Halcyon and smuggle out Richard Whitehall (Clarke Peters). The episode features a couple of cameos from The Blacklist including Liz (Megan Boone) and Harold (Harry Lennix), but the main focus remains Tom and his choice to help Howard stop his mother.
Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #18
Life for the combined forces of the Green Lantern Corps and the Sinestro Corps continues to get off to a rock start on Oa during the building of a new Yellow Power Battery as disagreements between the two groups come to blows. The responsibility for restoring order, and acting as the voice of reason, falls to Guy Gardner who manages to keep the peace... this time.
Powerless - Green Furious
Charm City isn't a great place to be a woman, super-powered or otherwise. Emily (Vanessa Hudgens) makes a new friend after stepping in to save Green Fury (Natalie Morales) from the tabloid media (who only want to discuss her recent break-up with another super-hero). When she butts up against her own glass ceiling at her first board meeting, Emily hatches a plan to use Green Fury's celebrity to solve both of their problems by rebranding her as a strong hero and the star of Wayne Securities new ad campaign. Of course, things don't exactly go to plan.
Friday, April 14, 2017
The Fate of the Furious
How did this franchise manage eight films? When The Fast and the Furious was released in 2001 to mixed reviews I doubt anyone foresaw the series generating seven sequels. Following in the path of the previous films, The Fate of the Furious is a pretty dumb film that provides entertainment mostly through the more ridiculous pieces of its plot (and let's be honest, it's all ridiculous).
Colossal
Anne Hathaway stars as Gloria, an unemployed alcoholic who is forced to move back home to her parents' abandoned house after her boyfriend (Dan Stevens) kicks her out. Back home, she reconnects with childhood friend Oscar (Jason Sudeikis) while struggling not to fall back into old patterns. All the pieces are here for an entertaining dramedy focused on Gloria, her questionable choices, and the people in her life. However, writer/director Nacho Vigalondo has something far more unusual in mind.
At the same time Gloria returns home a giant creature appears on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. Watching news footage, Gloria can't help but notice some similarities between the creatures mannerisms and her own and quickly discovers that at one spot in her town, and one specific time, she causes the creature to manifest halfway around the world and controls its actions (be that wanton destruction or goofy dancing). From here the movie could devolve into a wacky comedy, but once again Vigalondo has something more interesting in mind as the film takes an unexpectedly dark turn.
At the same time Gloria returns home a giant creature appears on the streets of Seoul, South Korea. Watching news footage, Gloria can't help but notice some similarities between the creatures mannerisms and her own and quickly discovers that at one spot in her town, and one specific time, she causes the creature to manifest halfway around the world and controls its actions (be that wanton destruction or goofy dancing). From here the movie could devolve into a wacky comedy, but once again Vigalondo has something more interesting in mind as the film takes an unexpectedly dark turn.
Thursday, April 13, 2017
Samurai Jack - Episode XCV
Awaking from his fall with the lone surviving Daughter of Aku, Jack (Phil LaMarr) begins his trek once more. Not willing to abandon the wounded brainwashed child Ashi (Tara Strong), the samurai decides to take her with him (despite the fact that she attempts to kill him every opportunity she gets). Even being swallowed by a giant beast and Jack having to crawl out with Ashi chained to his back does lessen the girl's hatred. One at the end, seeing Jack react in harmony with the environment does doubt begin to creep into Ashi's mind. Could Jack not be the end-all-evil that Ashi was taught to hate and kill her entire life? And, if so, what happens now?
Green Lanterns #20
A poor man's Magneto, Doctor Polaris isn't exactly an A-list DC villain. That said, writer Sam Humphries and artist Eduardo Pansica put the character to good use here as the emotionally unstable super-villain fights to save his dying brother. Trapped by the villain deep below the surface of the Earth, it's Jessica Cruz that saves both herself and her partner Simon Baz and the series continues the trend of making Jessica the far more interesting half of the duo as she's able to focus her will far better than her more experienced partner.
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
iZombie - Zombie Knows Best
One of the goofier episodes for Liv (Rose McIver) and Major (Robert Buckley) turns out to be one of the most dramatic for Babineaux (Malcolm Goodwin). Helping the detective with the double-murder, Liv and Major chow down on the brains of a father and his teenage daughter causing all kinds of bizarre behavior among the group. Buckley may have missed his calling, as he's terrific as the self-absorbed teenage girl. The case eventually uncovers a seedy motive for the crime involving the girl's best friend and her screwed-up home life.
Star Wars #30
Led by the journals of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker's journey takes him to an unnamed planet in the Vagadarr System where he will cross paths with Garro, who still holds a grudge for Yoda's interference on the world decades before. Seeing Yoda's adventures in flashbacks, the Jedi Master uses the Force to restore balance to the planet by reanimating the Giants of Living Stone.
The Bourne Ultimate Collection
This six-disc set collects all four of the Jason Bourne movies (The Bourne Identity, The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, and Jason Bourne) along with the single spinoff starring Jason Renner (The Bourne Legacy) as another member of the same secret government program. While the first film, the closest to Robert Ludlum's source material where an amnesiac Jason Bourne (Matt Damon) left for dead discovers he's an assassin, remains my favorite, all of the films hold up well (even Renner's single film).
The series features strong supporting characters throughout Bourne's attempt to learn the truth about his past including Joan Allen, Franka Potente, Clive Owen, Edgar Ramírez, and Alicia Vikander. Collected in one set, available on both Blu-ray and DVD, the movies include several of the short featurettes and audio commentaries from the previous releases along with a sixth bonus disc.
The series features strong supporting characters throughout Bourne's attempt to learn the truth about his past including Joan Allen, Franka Potente, Clive Owen, Edgar Ramírez, and Alicia Vikander. Collected in one set, available on both Blu-ray and DVD, the movies include several of the short featurettes and audio commentaries from the previous releases along with a sixth bonus disc.
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Guardians of the Galaxy - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun
"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" is a pretty straightforward and forgettable episode as the Guardians are hired by the Grand Commissioner of Rigel (Trevor Devall) to deliver his spoiled daughter, the Princess Tana Nile (Jessica DiCicco), home before her birthday to attend her coming of age ceremony. Keeping the emotionally-unstable telekenetic under control turns out to be a tall order for the Guardians, although Drax (David Sobolov) does take a shine to the independent young woman who reminds him of his own daughter. The story has a late twist leading the team to decide between the girl or the money, but is only really memorable (if at all) for the scenes between Drax and Tana.
Batman #20
"I am Bane" comes to a close with a bloody final issue as Batman and Bane square off in Arkham Asylum. Filled with narration and flashbacks filling in he events which led Batman to this final stand, the issue recounts why Batman has been willing to risk so much to see Gotham Girl restored, and why nothing will stand in his way to see that happen.
Once Upon a Time - Mother's Little Helper
There are four storylines at work in "Mother's Little Helper." While Hook's (Colin O'Donoghue) attempt to return to Storybrooke by making a deal with Black Beard (Charles Mesure) leads him even farther astray, two parts of the episode center on Gideon (Giles Matthey) and the Black Fairy (Jaime Murray). Making peace with the Savior, or appearing to do so, Gideon sends his pet after Emma (Jennifer Morrison) hoping to gain the power to kill the Black Fairy before she can break into this world. Sadly, his efforts only confirm that the Savior's final battle is about to begin. Meanwhile, the episode gives us a few flashback scenes into Gideon's childhood explaining his relationship with the Black Fairy and delivering a twist concerning his current motives. Turning Gideon into a pawn certainly changes things, especially as tensions rise between the Savior and Gideon's parents.
First Look - Thor: Ragnarok
Here's the first look at the upcoming Thor sequel with Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Jaimie Alexander, and Idris Elba all reprising their roles from the previous films. Cate Blanchett, Benedict Cumberbatch, Karl Urban, and "the big guy" also star. Thor: Ragnarok opens in theaters on November 3rd.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Hawaii Five-0 - Ua Malo'o Ka Wai
A ship full of dead bodies sends Five-0 to the island of Lanai where McGarrett (Alex O'Loughlin), Danny (Scott Caan), Chin (Daniel Dae Kim), and Kono (Grace Park) believe Yakuza big wig Michelle Shioma (Michelle Krusiec) has set up a new drug smuggling operation. Captured by Shioma's men, but still outgunned, it takes Jerry (Jorge Garcia) sending in the cavalry to save the day, which also earns Five-0's special consultant the prize he's been waiting years for.
Nova #5
An attack on Sam's home that puts his sister in danger forces Richard Rider to admit a harsh truth to both himself and Earth's other Nova. While the two of them can hold the malevolent creature at bay, Rider must admit he is unintentionally the cause for these attacks. Returning from the Cancerverse the Nova brought something back with him. And as long as Rider stays that door remains opened.
Powerless - Van v Emily: Dawn of Justice
The lead story of "Van v Emily: Dawn of Justice" could fit into any office comedy. Revolving around Emily's (Vanessa Hudgens) desire to get her own office and Van (Alan Tudyk) being threatened of a subordinate's success, the pair square off in the most ridiculous way possible - by competing against each other by using a child's playset. Loosing the competition, but breaking Van's ego in the process, it falls to Emily to put her boss back together again. There are some nice touches here, like Van going through a ridiculous assortment of trophies obviously purchased for him by his parents and Jackie's (Christina Kirk) reveal of the evil truth behind the employee of the month award.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Saturday, April 8, 2017
5 Film Collection: Monster Mayhem
This collection of five films from Legendary Pictures may not have any true stand-out, but it does have some enjoyable monster movies. While there are others that likely enjoy the film more than I do, Pacific Rim does offer crazy monster-on-robot action as humanity's last hope against invading Kaiju turns out to be dual-controlled giant robotic warriors (including one controlled by Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi). In that same vein, the fantasy Jack the Giant Slayer takes the classic fairy tale to new directions in a straightforward hero's quest by Jack (Nicholas Hoult) rescues Princess Isabelle (Eleanor Tomlinson) from giants. 2014's Godzilla remake might not be as good as the recent Kong: Skull Island, but provides monster-on-monster action as Godzilla appears to battle the film's other creatures.
Friday, April 7, 2017
Donald Cried
Creating an small independent movie centered around two generally unlikable characters presents some problems. In Donald Cried, Peter Latang (Jesse Wakeman) returns to his the home town he's avoided like the plague for more than two decades to deal with the the recent death of his grandmother. With no other family in sight, and having lost his wallet somewhere along the journey, Peter is forced to enlist the help of his old friend Donald (Kris Avedisian). Hoping to squeeze some cash and a ride to the funeral home from Donald, Peter is quickly guilted into spending the entire day with the odd man.
A glimpse into Donald's sad life only exacerbates the situation and makes it harder for Peter to extricate himself from the clingy Donald, even after leaning that for the past few years Donald had been masquerading as Peter at his grandmother's retirement home.
A glimpse into Donald's sad life only exacerbates the situation and makes it harder for Peter to extricate himself from the clingy Donald, even after leaning that for the past few years Donald had been masquerading as Peter at his grandmother's retirement home.
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Agents of HYDRA - What If...
Everything old is new again. Whether or not anyone wants it, whether or not the character ever worked, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. continues to push Grant Ward (Brett Dalton). And guess what? He's a traitor in any reality. In the show's return from hiatus, Daisy (Chloe Bennet) and Simmons (Elizabeth Henstridge) wake up in the computer-reality of the Framework and begin searching for their friends who don't realize the lives they are living are lies. Jemma wakes up having to dig her way out of her own grave. Daisy wakes up in Grant Ward's bed. It's hard to gauge which woman has a harder time assimilating to this brave new world.
X-Men: Prime #1
X-Men: Prime #1 is a good, if pricey, single comic. It does nothing to convince me to continue reading the series or any of Marvel's constantly shifting X-books, but it does offer Kitty Pryde a nice moment or two and establish a new base for the core X-Men team. As to just who that core team is... that's bit unclear. Kitty and Storm seem to be sticking around, but the time-displaced X-Men (you know, the ones who should have been returned to their time years ago?) have their own agenda, and Marvel still hasn't filled the gaping holes the lose of Cyclops and Professor X have had on all the X-Men titles (and likely never will without bring them back).
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Legends of Tomorrow - Aruba
The season finale of Legends of Tomorrow is a solid wrap-up to the events of the show's Second Season involving the Spear of Destiny and the time-travelers battles with the Legion of Doom. For the first time the characters get a bit more cavalier with their time-traveling lifestyle as the return back to the events of a previous episode, where they will be faced to deal with their younger selves creating a time quake that the Legends will still be feeling the effects of next season. For the finale, however, this becomes rather entertaining as the group first attempts to alter events without their younger selves knowledge before being forced to bring them all into the fold.
Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special #1
On the far edge of the universe, through a rift in space, two heroes answer the call about a dangerous weapon and a cry for help. Green Lantern/Space Ghost Special #1 follows the basic set-up of crossover issues with our heroes from different universes each mistaking the other for a villain and coming to blows for a few panels before discovering that they are on the same side. But, hey, this has Space Ghost and Green Lantern, so there was no way I was passing it up.
iZombie - Heaven Just Got a Little Bit Smoother
Picking up 2.8 minutes after the Second Season finale, the main focus of "Heaven Just Got a Little Bit Smoother" is to cover up what happened at Max Rager and have the characters deal with the new status quo of knowing there's a new player in town in the private military company full of zombies. There's no murder of the week to solve here, as the show deals with the fallout of last season and sets up major arcs for this year. For Ravi (Rahul Kohli) this means working on a new cure for the unintended side-effects of his old cure. For Blaine (David Anders) this means beginning to act a bit more like his old self, while still be not quite sure who that was. For Major (Robert Buckley), that means struggling to live in a world where everyone sees him as the Chaos Killer.