The Marvel Cinematic Universe of Stan Lee!

Let’s start with one of Stan Lee’s earliest cameos in The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989) as a jury foreman who was startled at the Hulk’s transformation.  This of course starred Bill Bixby as David Banner and of course Lou Ferrigno as The Hulk who were the leads in The Incredible Hulk (1977-1982) tv series developed by Kenneth Johnson.  The character of The Hulk was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962).  He was next a hot dog vendor in X-Men (2000) as he watches the mutated Senator Kelly (Bruce Davison) walk onto the beach.  The Stan Lee and Jack Kirby creative team created The X-Men in The X-Men #1 (1963).  The original team consisted of Angel, Cyclops, Beast, Iceman, and Marvel Girl (Jean Grey). Next in Spider-Man (2002), Stan was Man in Fair who witnesses the explosion caused by the Green Goblin and saves a little girl.  Spider-Man of course first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko.  He was next the Old Man at Crossing in Daredevil (2003).  Young Matt Murdock (Scott Terra) uses his cane to stop him from walking into the street while reading a newspaper.  Daredevil was created by Stan Lee and Bill Everett in Daredevil #1 (1964).  In the Ang Lee directed Hulk (2000), Stan had his first speaking part as a Security Guard talking to Lou Ferrigno’s security guard. 

In Fantastic Four (2005), Stan played his first comic book character, as Willie Lumpkin greeting Reed Richards in the Baxter Building. The Fantastic Four begun the Marvel Age with Fantastic Four #1 (1961).  Lumpkin first appeared in Fantastic Four #11 (1963).  Stan had one of his best cameos in Spider-Man 3 (2007) as Man in Times Square saying to Peter Parker looking at the message of Spider-Man being honored, “You know, I guess one person can make a difference. `Nuff said.”  He played himself trying to crash the wedding of Reed Richards and Sue Storm in Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007).  This mirrors Stan Lee and Jack Kirby trying to crash the wedding in Fantastic Four Annual #3 (1965).  Stan’s first Marvel Cinematic Universe was in the first Iron Man (2008) movie where Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) mistakes him for Hugh Hefner.  Stan gets a few more words in his cameo in Thor (2011), as the truck driver trying to pull up Mjolnir, and asks “Did it work?”  Thor was created by Stan Lee, Larry Leiber, and Jack Kirby in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962).  In Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Stan is in military uniform as General and remarks at the confusion of the Captain America ceremony, “I thought he would be taller.”  Stan did not create Captain America, but he started writing his adventures with Jack Kirby in the Silver Age with Captain America #100 (1967).  Stan also created the Avengers with Jack Kirby in The Avengers #1 (1963).  In the first Avengers (2012) film, Stan comments in Central Park playing chess, “Super heroes in New York? Gimme a break.”  

Stan had an extended cameo as Debonair Gentleman in the T.R.A.C.K.S. (2014) episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.LD.  He had two women at his side in the train car and was giving advice to Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg).  While Agent Coulson was created for the films, S.H.I.E.L.D. itself was created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in Strange Tales #135 (1965).  Stan is billed as the Xandardian Ladies’ Man watched by Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).  This was a team and characters that was not created by Stan.  Another great cameo was at the end of Big Hero 6 (2014) when he voiced Fred’s Dad.  This also was a team and character that were not created by Stan.  In Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), there is a funny cameo was Stan as a veteran who wants the Asgardian drink of Thor played by Chris Hemsworth and leaves the party with “Excelsior.”  In Agent Carter, “The Blizkrieg Button” (2015), he was Man on Bench who asks Howard Stark (Dominic Cooper) for the sports section of the newspaper.  Stan Lee and Jack Kirby created Peggy Carter in Tales of Suspense #77 (1966).  In Ant-Man (2015), Stan is a bartender whose dialogue is taken over by Luis (Michael Pena), “Yeah, crazy, stupid, fine.” The original Ant-Man, Hank Pym, was introduced by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, and Jack Kirby in Tales to Astonish #35 (1962). Another funny cameo was at the end of Captain America: Civil War (2016) where Stan plays a FedEx Driver and knocks at the window.  

Another great Stan Lee cameo was in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) where he watches the launch of nuclear missiles with his wife, Joan Lee, both play their real life counterparts.  This is his favorite cameo since it also features his wife.  Also in 2016, was Stan’s cameo in Doctor Strange.  Baron Mordo and Doctor Strange are slammed into a subway car window while Stan laughs at what he is reading.  Doctor Strange first appeared in Strange Tales #110 (1963) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Stan is in an astronaut suit, as the Watcher Informant, explaining to a group of Watchers that he was “a Federal Express man.” Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) features Stan playing Gary at the window saying, “Don’t make me come down there, you punk!” Stan’s cameo in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) has Thor is locked in a chair, the Barber played by Stan hears Thor vows his wrath and laughs before shearing off his beard and long hair.  This year, Black Panther had Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) winning at the casino table and Stan’s Thirsty Gambler moves the winnings to his side.  Black Panther was introduced in Fantastic Four #52 (1966) by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In Avengers: Infinity War, Ned (Jacob Batalon) panics the passengers, Peter (Tom Holland) slides out of the bus, the bus driver played by Stan says, “What’s a matter with you kids, you never seen a spaceship before?”  In Ant-Man and the Wasp, during the van chase, the Wasp (Evangeline Lilly) shrinks the bike of a motorcycle rider, then shrinks a car that Stan is about to enter.  He says, “Well, the `60’s were fun, but now I’m paying for it.”  Stan Lee has a number of cameos in superhero films based on Marvel characters.  He has worked with fine artists like Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko to create these legendary characters.  

#StanLee, #JackKirby, #SteveDitko, #MarvelCinematicUniverse

Doctor Who, “Kerblam!”, Review!

The Tardis is rocked in the vortex, the Doctor notices a teleport pod is headed towards them, and a robot, the Kerblam! Man appears.  He has a package for the Doctor.  She opens the box to find a fez, a nod to Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor, and Yaz shows her the packing slip which reads “Help Me.”  The Doctor sets coordinates for Kerblam! which is located on a moon.  Ryan feels like he is going to work.  The Doctor takes his mention as a mission to go undercover to work at Kerblam!  She shows the Kerblam! official (Julie Hesmondhalgh), her identification, psychic paper, and scans her pad with the sonic screwdriver.  Judy notes that the identification says they are “relatives of the First Lady.”  She also finds that there is record of their landing on her pad.  The Kerblam! ad behind her has the Kerblam! Man with flashing blue eyes which gives him a skull-like look that makes me think of They Live (1988).  She introduces herself, Judy Maddox, Head of People.  A worker, Daniel (Lee Mack) greets the Kablam! Man.  Ryan notes that they are creepy.  The Doctor says his comment “robophobic.” Each member of Team Tardis is scanned for their particular job. The power suddenly fades and ankle bracelets are attached to each member.  

DOCTOR WHO -- “Kerblam!” -- Ben Blackall/BBC Studios. 

Judy takes them on a tour to the rest of the factory, shows them the Fulfillment section, then Final Check, that goes to Dispatch.  Judy heads off and the Doctor switches anklets with Graham.  Yaz, Ryan and the Doctor are sent , while Graham is sent to Maintenance.  Kira Arlo (Claudia Jessie) likes the work of Ryan and the Doctor filling boxes at Final Check.  She has only one present, a box of chocolate from Judy, and she can’t think her family.  The Doctor wants to know where the packing slips were made.  At the Fulfillment Section, Daniel warns Yaz that she is being monitored, and she eyes the robots.  He points to his face on the Kerblam! ad.  Daniel shows the necklace made by his daughter.   He works to provide for her.  The Kerblam! Man wants them to pick up efficiency.  Yaz has a packing slip for Triple Nine, Daniel is worried about her, and takes the slip.  She follows him.  The power drain happens again at the Doctor, Ryan, and Kira’s section, entering is an executive (Callum Dixon) who is harsh with Kira.  The Doctor introduces herself and the executive says his name is Jarva Slade.  A worker got a warning from Slade and disappeared like others. Daniel pushes a cart at Triple Nine, he is startled by a robot, knocks on his face and then Yaz checks on him.  She hears his scream and runs to find the necklace and scanner.  Yaz sees a Kerblam! Man and then another and then runs.  

Graham is given the long rules for maintenance work by Kerblam! Robots who introduce him to Charlie Duffy (Leo Flanagan).  On the outside, the Doctor gets the update from Yaz, then she asks for Graham for plans for the factory.  He introduces the team to Charlie.  Kira spills her plate in front of Charlie and everyone can see the sparks between them.  At the executive office, the Doctor files the complaint and shows Slade and Judy the “Help Me” note.  Slade tells the Doctor the slips were auto-generated.  The executive promise to look into it and the Doctor says they answer to her.  She adds to Yaz and Ryan that she doesn’t like bullying, conspiracies, or people in danger.  Yaz mentions she would like poking a stick in a wasp’s nest.  The Doctor has opened an alcove for them to wait until they can slip into the executive office.  She also notes the wasp connected with Agatha Christie!, this was “The Unicorn and the Wasp” (2008) episode of Doctor Who.  Graham asks Charlie about his crush on Kira.  He suggests to Charlie that he would need something to help him get around, like a diagram, so he leads Graham to the artifacts room.  Graham takes the diagram of the company.  For some reason, the design of the place reminds me of the movie Toys (1992). 

DOCTOR WHO -- “Kerblam!” -- Ben Blackall/BBC Studios. 

The Doctor, Yaz, and Ryan enter Slade’s office and the Doctor uses her sonic screwdriver to open Slade’s filing cabinet.  Judy confronts them.  The Doctor has found that Mr. Slade has been tracking the seven missing people, the power shuts off, and it is a complete power failure.  Graham brings the Doctor the original plan of the complex.  Ryan sees an active robot, Charlie checks on it, and the robot slams him against the wall.  Judy pulls off it’s head.  The power comes back on and the Doctor uses her sonic screwdriver.  She determines that the system put all of it’s energy into one robot.  Judy says that the system shows that all seven workers appear to be alive.  They go to artifacts room and the Doctor activates the first version of Kerblam!, Twirly.  The robots tell Kira she’s employee of the day and lead her to a gift.  The Doctor finds Twirly ran out of power.  Judy finds a message that Kira was taken.  Ryan, Kira, and go to find Kira.  Ryan is ready to go down the Dispatch chute.  They all slide down.  The robots lead Kira to a room and lock the door.  They slide to massive drop where packages are taken in a network.  Ryan high fives Charlie who falls down to another level so Ryan and Yaz leap down. The Doctor activates Twirly and introduces herself, Graham, and Judy.  The Doctor loads Twirly to search the system.  Twirly says, “Help me” and they realize it is the system.  Charlie tells them to run and they dodge laser blasts.  They reach the Foundation level and it is empty columns so they try to follow Kira’s voice.  

Slade has a gun to the Doctor, they are transported, and she puts a Venusian hold on him to throw away the pistol.  They see a pit and then the Doctor sees legions of the robots assembled.  They run up to see Kira in her room and a package appears on her table.  The Doctor theorizes that the power may be stored to transport all of the robots.  The Doctor takes out the toy from the package.  Kira finds the bubble packing, Charlie screams a warning, she snaps one and it vaporizes her.  The Doctor has scanned the bubble wrap and finds that it is weaponized.  Charlie has it all set up, acting for the rest of the 90%, the Doctor says the system was acting against him.  Charlie activates the controller.  The Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver on the controller and has them rip off the postman’s head.  Charlie runs away.  She links Twirly to change the address to deliver to the postman’s location.  Charlie is down there with the postmen.  The Doctor transports everyone away.  On the outside, Slade has given everyone a paid holiday, and turning the company to entirely organic.  Team Tardis returns to the Tardis, Yaz thanks the Doctor, and she wants to take the locket to his daughter.  

Four Sonic Screwdrivers out of Five! 

#DoctorWho, #Kerblam, #JulieHesmondhalgh ,#ClaudiaJessie

The Titans, “Jason Todd”, Review!

Jason Todd was introduced at the end of the last episode, “Together”, he is the controversial replacement for Dick Grayson as Robin.  He first appeared in Batman #357 (1983).  Jason has the same origin as Dick, acrobat parents who were killed, trained by Batman.  He wasn’t popular with comics readers and met his fate in “A Death in the Family” storyline.  It starts with the funeral of Dick’s parents in 2002, Gotham City as Dick watches.  Members of the circus troupe place flowers on the grave.  He stays with a member of the troupe, the strongman (Lester Speight) and doesn’t want to get adopted by Bruce Wayne.  It picks up with Dick and Jason dragging the body of Dr. Adamson to a station wagon in a garage.  Dick drives with Jason and asks about the partnership which he answers was for a year.  Jason explains that he found Dick with a tracker in his arm.  He suggests a building owned by Bruce Wayne and they enter with their briefcases.  Dick is surprised Jason is allowed to drive the Batmobile.  He goes to a bathroom to cut the tracker out of his arm. 

THE TITANS -- “Jason Todd” -- Christos Kalohoridis/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Then, he gets a call from Kory, now in a purple dress, and she explains that the Nuclear Family died. Dick gives him the warning that Batman does not have a partnership, he acts out of his own self-interest.  Jason presents him with photos of his troupe now killed except Atlas the Strongman.  Jason tells him that the killer is the Melting Man.  The Melting Man was a Green Lantern villain, but his identity is changed here.  Bruce sent Jason when the victims were connected to Dick.  Dick uses Jason’s Wayne Enterprises’ computer to find Atlas, Clayton Williams.  An alert shows the arrival of the Titans.  Kory settles down Garfield and Rachel’s questions.  Kory talks to Dick, he has been replaced as Robin, and Kory says she will watch over Adamson while Dick checks on Clayton.  He is busy checking on parts and dresses in a suit, working as security, he is seen on the streets by a man who follows him.  I really like the character of Clayton Williams, a new character, and what he adds to Dick Grayson’s story.  Dick flashes his badge and then Jason tries to use his fake i.d.  Dick sees a figure out of his past.  He says “Halley’s Circus” and Clayton hugs him.  Jason slips in the back way.  

Clayton says the circus broke up after the death of Dick’s parents.  They exchange numbers and Clayton says he is proud of him.  Jason tries to flirt with a woman, her boyfriend is not happy, but the fight is broken up by Dick. There is an explosion of glass. A car burns outside, a distraction, Dick and Jason evacuate people.  He gets a call from the Melting Man, a man from his past, with a mask.  We flashback two years in Gotham City, Anthony Zucco, who murdered Dick’s parents, is arrested.  Dick watches Nick (Kyle Mac), Anthony’s son meet him in custody.  The officer who let Dick watch the room camera says that Zucco is given a deal to take down the Maroni family.  Dick walks out angry at the leniency given to Zucco and his son hears him.    Anthony is driven in a police van.  Gas canisters drop from a bridge and Robin lands on the van roof! The van crashes and Anthony hears as the officers are taken down. Robin opens the van door and beats Anthony.  He presses him against a bridge wall and says he wants his parents back.  Robin takes out his staff to beat Anthony, but he is interrupted by gun shots, Anthony says it is the Maronis.  Robin takes cover by the van and Anthony pleads for help, Robin refuses, the prisoner is gunned down.  

THE TITANS -- “Jason Todd” -- Christos Kalohoridis/©2018 Warner Bros Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Dick tells Jason that it was the son of Anthony Zucco and that he shouldn’t be Robin, Batman’s weapon. He receives a text from the Melting Man of Clayton captured. Dick tells Jason that he has to rescue Clayton on his own.  Robin enters a warehouse at night.  Clayton is hung with a burning acid on a pipe above him.  Nick of course blames Robin for his vengeance.  The Maronis revenge killed Nick’s mother, sister, and fiancee. His face is half burned by acid.  Some acid burns Clayton’s shoulder.  Jason Todd’s Robin is there, Dick throws his wing ding to free Clayton, in the fight, Jason is shot by an acid bullet.  Dick takes out the Melting Man and then checks on Clayton.  Six police officers arrive to check on the gunfire.  Jason Todd’s Robin brutally takes down all of the officers.  Dick pulls Robin from beating up the unconscious officer.  Jason says he is beaten up by Gotham City officers and wants pay back.  He says Dick is carrying around his Robin suit.  Time to become Nightwing.  Later, Clayton is patched up, and wanted to be told Dick is Robin.  He tells him about being raised by Bruce Wayne, Dick replies, “He did the best he could.”  Dick calls up Kory and says that he has given up the Robin identity.  Kory wakes up Dr. Adamson and wants answers. He says he won’t talk about Rachel.  I really like this Dick Grayson centered episode.  We see the path of Robin through Jason Todd, where he was going with Batman, and why he needs to go his own way.  I also like that the Titans are still in the episode.  

Five Wing Dings out of Five! 

#TheTitans, #JasonTodd, #ClaytonWilliams, #AnthonyZucco 

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Review!

David Yates' first Harry Potter movie was Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), it was my favorite book in the series, but then his direction made the film seem lifeless and humdrum.  It was my fear with the first Fantastic Beasts movie, but that was quirky and fun. Yates’ Deathly Hallows films and The Legend of Tarzan (2016) were also great.  This sophomore movie for the Fantastic Beasts series returns to Yates’ work on Order of the Phoenix.  It’s characters you know, but are now uninterested in, doing something for some reason, and other things happen.  So this film is for fans of Harry Potter only.

There are new beasts, some effects, and new characters, but they may look interesting, but presented flat.  Heavy plot, it all seems random, and there is nothing compelling in any of it. J.K. Rowling continues scriptwriting, but I think the failure rests on Yates putting a cohesive story on film.  Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald picks up where the first film left off with Grindelwald held captive in the American Ministry of Magic.  It was revealed at the end that the true villain was Grindelwald played by Johnny Depp. He has pale hair and eyes with two colors.  His world view is that the Wizarding World has rules that are too constraining to everyone.  He is locked up for six months and it is said his tongue was taken out.  

The president of the Ministry, Seraphina Picquery (Carmen Ejogo) is turning over the custody of Grindelwald to Europe to face his crimes.  This is the part of film that makes sense, the magical prisoner transport, in a carriage pulled by thestrals (the magical horses who can only be seen by those who have seen death).  There is Abernathy (Kevin Guthrie) who takes Grindelwald’s place and helps in his escape.  We get three months later, Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) is at the British Ministry of Magic and watching Pickett, his green plant Bowtruckle friend, then Leta Lestrange (Zoe Kravitz) catches up to him.  She is the former girlfriend mentioned by Newt in the previous movie.  

Now, she engaged to Newt’s brother, Theseus Scamander (Callum Turner).  The relationship with Leta and Theseus is passing and confusing in how it happened and how their love bloomed to marriage.  No matter, Theseus is preparing his brother for his meeting.  Newt is trying to get permission for foreign travel, but the problem in America (from the first Fantastic Beasts) makes it difficult.  The solution is if Newt will become an Auror like his brother. He knows they want him to go after Credence (Ezra Miller), who had a destructive obscurus and now it’s power is inside him.  Newt does not want to work for an organization that is too formal.  Theseus hugs his brother and leaves him with a warning that he is being watched.  He uses his magic to bring winds that knock back an Auror and then sees a black glove.  Newt takes hold of the glove and apparates him to the top of a roof.  

There he meets Albus Dumbledore, now his younger form, played by Jude Law.  The part is more of a cameo.  His Dumbledore is dressed up in a suit rather than robes, we get a sense of what will be the later Dumbledore, but this is in name only.  Dumbledore sent, kind of, Newt to America.  He wants Newt to go to Paris to counter Grindelwald since he cannot take on the dark wizard.  At his flat, Newt goes to check on his beasts kept in his basement, his assistant, Bunty (Victoria Yeates) is trying to watch over them.  Newt has the Niffler babies, the black-furred platypus-like lil’ beasts, all put in their jewelry-filled safe.  He goes to take care of the vicious Kelpie, which is a sea serpent-like beast with seaweed covering.  The Fantastic Beasts are sprinkled throughout the movie, but not meaningful as the previous movie.  Newt returns to his kitchen to find visitors.  

This is his friends from the first movie; Queenie (Alison Sudol), and Jacob (Dan Fogler).  There is mysteries why both of them are in Newt’s London home.  Queenie gets angry at Jacob and leaves him.  Newt uses  the Mending Charm to assemble a torn card that says Tina will be in Paris.  In the City of Light, Grindelwald has his followers take over a home and his most loyal lieutenant, Linda Rosier (Poppy Corby-Tuech) shows her dedication to the cause.  Queenie’s sister, Tina (Katherine Waterson) is also in Paris trying to find Credence.  It would be interesting to see if she was assigned to Paris on the possible threat of Grindelwald on MACUSA, but she is just there.  She uses a magical entrance to the Paris magical world and finds Circus Arcanus.  It is run by Skender (Olafur Darri Olafsson) who is not the Greatest Showman.  At the circus is Credence and his friend, an Asian woman played by Claudia Kim named Nagini.  She is a Maledictus who can transform into a snake and we know later that Nagini ends up with Voldemort.  How did Credence end up in the circus?  A question that we have to pass up to get on the dense story.

Credence arranges for their escape with a Chinese Zouwu, a beast with a cat head, fangs, and a long, ruffled tail.  Strange how Skender loses his two biggest performers and doesn’t seem to mind.  Also, if Credence was showcased, then why is it difficult to find him?  Tina meets with another wizard looking for Credence, Yusuf Kama (William Nadylam).  Newt makes the crossing with Jacob to Paris using a Portkey.  My favorite scene is Newt using magic to trace Tina’s trail with the help of the Niffler.  They have to find Tina and also Credence.  So there are several storylines going on; Newt and Jacob, Credence who is trying to find his birth parents with Nagini, Queenie who is trying to find Tina, and Grindelwald and his plans.   We have a return to Hogwarts (seen in the trailer) and more secrets are revealed.  I like the actors and the characters, including the new characters, but the film gives them no place to go.  I will also say the costumes designed by Collen Atwood are brilliant and completely beautiful.  I like the Wizarding World though and this movie gives just enough spectacle for me.  

Three Wands out of Five! 

#FantasticBeasts, #ProtectTheSecrets, #ZoeKravitz, #ClaudiaKim  

Proposal for Harley Quinn: Year One!

Harley Quinn is of course the fan favorite character who first appeared in Batman: The Animated Series episode “Joker’s Favor” (1992) written by Paul Dini and her design is attributed to Bruce Timm.  She was voiced by Arleen Sorkin and also voiced Harley Quinn in the video games; Batman: Vengeance (2001) and Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009).  Harley Quinn first appeared in comics with The Batman Adventures #12 (1993).  Paul Dini and Bruce Timm gave her an origin in The Batman Adventures: Mad Love (1994) which features Dr. Harleen Quinzel twisted by the Joker.  Her first name, Harleen, is a nod to the voice actress?  It was adapted in the second season of The New Batman Adventures with a 1999 episode.  A colleague who worked with Dr. Quinzel was Dr. Joan Leland who who was in the episode “Harley’s Holiday (1994) voiced by Suzanne Stone.  

She first appeared in Batman Adventures Annual #1 (1994) from writer Paul Dini and artist Bruce Timm.  She showed up in the DCU with Batman: Harley Quinn #1 (1999).  There was a peek at her college days in Harley Quinn #8 (2001) with the creative team of Karl Kesel and Pete Woods.  In 2009, Harley Quinn helps Joker take over Arkham in the Batman: Arkham Asylum (2009) game from Rocksteady Studios.  Her family was seen in Gotham City Sirens #7 (2010) by Paul Dini and David Lopez.  Dr. Harleen Quinzel was seen in live action form in the Birds of Prey tv series played by Mia Sara.  Recently, Margot Robbie played Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad (2016).  Her action figure was in the Electrocutioner and Lady Shiva Arkham Origins set.  Of course seeing her in person at the Escape from Arkham Asylum house at Warner Bros. Horror Made Here was an inspiration.  This is a proposal for a six issue limited series that expands on her origin and focuses on Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s first year working at Arkham Asylum. 

Dr. Harleen Quinzel at Escape from Arkham, photo by the author.

The series is called “Dr. Harleen Quinzel’s Little Black Book” which of course is a nod to the series of one-shots Harley Quinn’s Little Black Book from Amanda Conner, Jimmy Palmiotti with various artists.  The first issue is titled “Down the Rabbit Hole”, by the way I dislike writers that use one title with part 3, etc., it just looks like it is meant for a trade paperback and not a comic book issue.  We see Arkham Asylum, formally named Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane, founded by Amadeus Arkham.  It is currently run by Dr. Jeremiah Arkham.  We see the peaked towers of Arkham Asylum and the forbidding gate.  It is morning and the sun peeks out from behind the towers as Dr. Quinzel walks up in her coat.  

The narration is by Dr. Harleen Quinzel who tells us it is February and it is her first day at Arkham.  Dr. Joan Leland meets her and gives her assignment, a standard evaluation of Jervis Tetch, the Mad Hatter.  She says he is a paranoid schizophrenic with an obsessive compulsive disorder and highly delusional.  Dr. Quinzel starts to write in her black book about her thoughts on the new job.  She thinks back to her days in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn at age 7.  Little Harleen is busy with a coloring book.  Her father, Nick, is drunk and cuffs her.  She cries to her mother, Sharon, who tells her to watch some television.  

Harleen leaves to watch television, a live action Punch and Judy show, Judy smashing Punch with her bat makes Harleen laugh.  This of course refers to Harley Quinn's weapon of choice.  Dr. Harleen Quinzel brings in the chart of Tetch to his cell.  He smiles and asks Alice if she has found the white rabbit.  Dr. Quinzel says she’s read that book.  Jervis says the door is now too small for her.  Dr. Quinzel asks general questions, how is he, his day, but Jervis responds with nonsense.  She is frustrated at the lack of progress and thinks back to her family going to the circus.  Young Harleen sees a woman clown in the red harlequin outfit.  She is struck by three clowns with foam bats.  The woman clown kicks one away and takes his bat to pummel the others.  Note: the Joker has told Dr. Harleen Quinzel that he visited the circus at age 7.  

Harleen claps at her triumph.  Dr. Quinzel smiles.  Later, Tetch is brought into the room and sees a table with a tea set and remarks, “Curious.”  He takes his seat and Dr. Quinzel enters.  She explains that she thought they would start with a little social formality.  Tech says, “Clever, but no room!”  He tries to shove her away.  She pours tea for the both of them.  He settles into his chair.  Dr. Quinzel holds up a chart and reads that when he was brought in, Batman was forceful even when Tetch pleaded for him to stop.  Tetch stares at her.  She adds that he can get more formalities with his cooperation.  Later, Dr. Quinzel walks in with the paperwork, Dr. Leland asks about the evaluation.  She hands over the completed evaluation and Dr. Leland congratulates her.  

Issue two, “Little Girl Lost”, a regular title for television including the 1962 Twilight Zone episode.  Dr. Harleen Quinzel notes that is April and starting to find her place at Arkham Asylum.  Her new patient is Arnold Wesker, known as the Ventriloquist, who developed a dissociative identity disorder when his mother was killed.  He vents his aggression through his dummy called Scarface.  She is assigned to administer 1.25 mg of the medication risperidone to Wesker.  He is in a room, a humble looking, bald man with glasses, with a guard.  Dr. Quinzel brings in a cart with the needles and medication.  Wesker looks at the needles and is frightened.  Harleen says she doesn’t like shots.  

The guard, Aaron Cash, is a burly man with a crop top of dark hair, asks if she needs help with Wesker.  She tells him she will be fine.  Harlan flashes back to her teenage years at age 15.  She attends New Korova High School and is friends with Alexis Romano.  Teen Harleen has two pony tails on the side of her head and wears a red jacket.  They pass another friend, Georgie, and she holds the side of his face and gives him a quick kiss after saying hello.  Alexis tells Harleen that she has to meet with Mrs. Drew.  Harleen says, “Yeah, anothah appointment, see ya toots!”  At Mrs. Drew’s counselor office, Harleen slouches into a chair, Mrs. Drew, her long, dark hair parted with glasses, greets her.  She says Harleen has complaints from all of her teachers, three fights with students, and broken clocks and tables.  Harleen is proud of her record.   Mrs. Drew says that she still sees potential in Harleen especially her performance in gymnastics.  Harleen says she might as well join the circus.  

Dr. Harleen Quinzel is working with the guard Cash as Wesker struggles.  Cash puts pressure on Wesker who gasps in pain.  Dr. Quinzel tells him to stop.  She tells Wesker she understands   releasing his aggression.  Teen Harleen is playing softball and is at bat.  Georgie pitches a fast ball that zips past her.  Harleen sneers.  The next pitch, she swings and there is a crack as the base ball flies away.  She taps the bat in her hand.  Later, school is finished and Harleen is joined by Alexis, Georgie, Antonia Robinson, and Erica Lee.  They all have bats and Harleen swings her bat smashing a beer bottle on top of a post office box.  

She calls her gang the Drew-oogs, the others laugh and begin smashing everything around them.  A police officer starts to chase after them and the gang scatters.  He catches hold of Harleen’s jacket, there is fear in her eyes, but she flips away in a roundoff gymnastics move.  Cash leans against the wall and says that the usual procedure is to force Wesker to take his medicine.  Dr. Quinzel she knows all too well about giving in to aggression.  Wesker gives her a questioning look.  Teen Harleen is at school in her red leotard for gymnastics class.  Alexis, Antonia, and Erica are also waiting.  Harleen is up and then runs into a Yurchenko Vault off a vaulting horse.  Mrs. Drew walks up to Harleen as she finishes and tells her college scouts have been watching her.  Harleen may have a chance for a full scholarship and leave for some other city.  

Dr. Quinzel says to Wesker that there is a way out of the pain for him.  Wesker nods and Dr. Quinzel administers the drug.  Cash says, "Nice work, doc."  Dr. Leland sees her later in the hall and notes that Dr. Quinzel is making great progress at Arkham.  The major part of this series is tracking how a girl from a broken home could have the dedication to become a psychiatric doctor.  Also, that the inspirations for her super villain time are found in her early life.  The other point is that she has female mentors at most parts of her life.  Her teen years are of course inspired by A Clockwork Orange.  This is something I saw teaching high school and it is of course the perfect teenage rebellion story.  Note that her teenage gang is of course a nod to the Gang of Harleys that she later forms.  The point was whatever Joker put her through regresses Harley to this point in her life.  The dedication and intelligence she has to become a doctor is still in there somewhere.  This covers the first two issues, if you would like to read the other four, like and leave a comment!  

#HarleyQuinnYearOne, #DrHarleenQuinzel, #PaulDini, #BatmanAdventuresMadLove 

Re:tro Re:view - Nausicaa and the Valley of the Wind!

This is an adaptation by Hayao Miyazaki based on his manga. There is something incredibly personal to Miyazaki-san and this film also contains many of the themes that show up in his Studio Ghibli movies. It is one of the few post-apocalyptic movies that actually has a point. The premise is not the world as gone to hell and all you can do is survive (which seems to be all that the post-apocalyptic movies like Mad Max: Fury Road can bring), instead there is something deeper about sacrifice, the Earth, and man’s part in all of it. The film begins in the Toxic Jungle, a seemingly ravaged world that is something far beyond Dagobah or the swamp in Dark Crystal. 

It is a place that is dangerous and yet surprisingly beautiful. Riding through it is a mysterious figure riding a Horseclaw, blue-feathered, large bird mounts which reminds me a bit of the prehistoric Terror Birds. He can see a house ruined by the poisonous forest.  We switch then to the blue skies where a girl is riding a long winged Mehve, a glider with an engine, this is Nausicaa. Her name has an origin in The Odyssey as a princess that helps Odysseus to get a ship to finally take him home. Nausicaa finds her way in the Toxic Jungle and is respectful to it’s insectoid inhabitants which reminds me of Kira in Dark Crystal. She is voiced by Alison Lohman who has all of the strength and kindness of the princess. 

Nausicaa takes a dome-like eye from a dead Ohmu, this is a massive insect with segmented plates and when living, several appendages from it’s mouth area. They are later identified as guardians of the forest and destroy cities in swarms that attack or harm Toxic Jungle creatures. As spelt, this could be the physicist unit of electrical resistance or as pronounced the sacred word used in yoga. Nausicaa hears an explosion and climbs up to a vantage point. She sees more explosions in the trees and knows that the Ohmu may be after the person. Nausicaa boards her Mehve and flies over to the other side. The rider on the Horseclaw flees while an Ohmu shatters through the forest and into the desert. 

Nausicaa tries to plead for the red-eyed Ohmu to return and then uses flash grenades and a twirled charm to calm the Ohmu and send it back. The person she has saved is Lord Yupa, voiced by Patrick Stewart, he is a thick mustached man with a floppy hat known as the greatest swordsman. Stewart, of course, is well known for his many genre roles and gives gravitas to the part. He has rescued a Fox-squirrel from the Ohmu and it jumps on Nausicaa’s shoulder. She calms it down and the beastie plunges it’s fangs into her finger until she is able to calm it. Nausicaa gives Lord Yupa the Ohmu eye and heads back to the valley on her Mehve. Yup, "She’s a Valley Girl, Okay, fine fer sure, fer sure.” Lord Yupa returns to the Valley of the Wind which has many windmills churning to keep out the toxins from the poisonous jungle. It is really the wind from the sea that blows away the poisons. There are not many people left on this world except the pastoral valley and a few others. 

Yupa sees that Nausicaa has returned and is busy patching up a windmill sail. This practicality, hard work, and scientific mind that is kind, while also having the strength to be a warrior, but choosing not to fight, makes Nausicaa my favorite princess, Disney, Themyscira or any other place or time. She was helping out Mito, an older warrior who has an eyepatch and is her retainer. He is voiced by Edward James Olmos.  Nausicaa’s father, King Jihl (Mark Silverman), is bedridden with an illness. Later, he emerges from the bed wielding a sword, his strength as a kind ruler is seen there!  The interesting part is the old blind woman, Obaba, voice vet Tress MacNeille voices her. 

She is the voice of wisdom and belief in a prophecy that a man in blue will walk a golden field to save everyone. Nausicaa is later on the roof observing an airship, a long winged transport like a Steampunk nightmare, about to crash. Nausicaa takes her Mehve to try to help guide the airship, but it clips the canyon wall and crashes down to the valley to explode. The airship is from Tolmeika, an aggressive nation, and the only survivor is a prisoner, Lastelle (Emily Bauer), from another country, Pejite. She tells Nausicaa to destroy the ship’s cargo before passing. The cargo happens to be an embryonic form of a Giant Warrior, the giant, shadowy forms that ravaged the world in the Seven Days of Fire. The Ohmu were swarming on the airship and one survives the crash. Nausicaa uses her charm to calm it and lead it back to the Toxic Jungle. 

The Tomeikan gun ships land to occupy the Valley of the Wind. Their leader is Princess Kushana, who is Furiosa if she was the leader of an army. Kurshana is voiced by Uma Thurman who makes her complex, but driven. As a princess, she is the dark reflection of Nausicaa, a possible path she might fall in. Her second-in-command is Kurotawa (Chris Sarandon), an aristocratic military leader, who is easily defeated by Nausicaa. She also goes into a rage when her father is killed and takes down several soldiers until stopped by Yupa, her blade sinks into his arm. His blood shocks Nausicaa and makes her regret her rage. She calms down her people and becomes a hostage taken back to the Tolmeikan capital by Kushana. The Tolmeikan gunships are attacked by a Pejite interceptor with a young pilot. 

They are destroyed and the gunship with Kushana, Nausicaa, and the other hostages crash into the Toxic Jungle. The Pejite pilot is Asbel voiced by Shia Labeouf. This was early in his career just after leaving Disney. Nausicaa tries to save Asbel and they fall through the sand to the underground of the Toxic Jungle. Nausicaa has to somehow find out the plans of Tolmeik and Pejite especially the sinister plans of Mayor of Pejite voiced by Mark Hamill. Nausicaa is caught between these forces and must somehow find peace between all of them. The movie has an epic pace, there was some in the audience shifting and yawning, but it really pays off in terms of the animated grandeur and sweep of the story.  This film was not part of this year’s Studio Ghibli Fest, but of course is available on Blu Ray.  

Five Horseclaws out of Five!

#NausicaaandtheValleyoftheWind, #HayaoMiyazaki, #AlisonLohman, #PatrickStewart, #MarkSherman, #UmaThurman, #ChrisSarandon, #MarkHamill 

Re:tro Re:view - Castle in the Sky!

Studio Ghibli Fest 2018 continues with Castle in the Sky, it will be in theaters, check Fathom Events on November 18th and 20th!  It is written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki with another great score by Joe Hisaishi.  This is really not one to miss, it is most in line with Western sensibilities, with young protagonists and action.  One realization is that this is the ultimate Steampunk movie! It is set around 1868, offers steam-powered locomotive as the most advanced tech, and airships, but also has technology that is far advanced than our time. Really the designs and sheer beauty of the animated landscapes are far beyond anything in Disney animation.

We get an airship carrying the young girl Sheeta voiced by Anna Paquin. She of course is known for True Blood and playing Rogue in the X-Men films. Sheeta is an innocent caught up in this conflict between an army and pirates. Above the airship is the Tiger Moth, a flying contraption that looks like the head of a rooster (the cockpit) mixed with zeppelin back and wings with giant propellers! It contains pirates led by Captain Dola masterfully voiced by Cloris Leachman. There is a brazenness to her character, absolutely driven for treasure, yet there is a softness to her that later shows up. The pirates have flapter ornithopter vehicles that have dragonfly wings to raid the airship. They use gas cartridges to take down the airship’s security detail. Dola desperately wants the crystal that Sheeta has in her possession.

During the battle, Sheeta uses a bottle to knock out her captor, Colonel Muska, who is voiced by Mark Hamill. This was six years before he voiced The Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and Hamill brings an aristocratic air and manipulation to the villain. Once he is unleashed, he has a maniac laugh that brings shades of The Joker. Sheeta tries to climb out to the side of the airship. A pirate tries to reach out for her and Sheeta plunges from the sky! We get credits until there is the mining town in a place called Slag Ravine. The plunky Pazu works there getting food for his boss at the mine. Pazu is voiced by James Van Der Beek who of course is known for Dawson’s Creek. He is resourceful, but also just driven to save Sheeta. All of Miyazaki-san’s characters are perfect.

Pazu is about to return when he sees something glowing in the sky. This is the crystal that the unconscious Sheeta wears and has slowed her descent until she floats slowly to the Earth! Pazu races to see the glow and finds that it is a girl. She is slowly headed to the mine shaft and Pazu is able to bring her in from a platform, but once the crystal rests against Sheeta, her full weight has him straining to rescue her. Pazu can’t get his boss to take notice of Sheeta so he brings her back home. Sheeta is wakened by Pazu playing his trumpet on the roof. She discovers that Pazu’s father took a picture of the floating city of Laputa in the clouds.  

Pazu relates that it was difficult for his father to fly through two alternating wind currents, but his find was dismissed by others so it is a life long quest to find Laputa.The flying island was introduced by Jonathan Swift in Gulliver’s Travels. It was really a chance for Swift to satire the ridiculous and ultimately pointless scientific experiments. Captain Dola’s crew, really her sons, are searching the town for Sheeta. Pazu tries to hide her in a coat and hat, but the hat comes loose and the pirates see her braids. The pirates chase them until Pazu reaches his friend’s house.

A pirate threatens them by ripping his shirt with his muscles and Pazu’s mining friend does the same, this is hilarious! Pazu and Sheeta try to escape on a small, mining train, but Captain Dola pursues them in a car that rips apart the railway track.  There is another complication with the military’s tank that fires on the pirates. Pazu holds onto a piece of the broken track with Sheeta, but they both fall and are saved by the crystal, this is later explained as aetherium, crystals that power Laputa. The duo has to escape Muska, who has captured a bit of Laputa technology that fell, a robot with long, telescoping arms, and team up with the pirates. They have to somehow reach the mysterious castle in the sky and find out it’s mysteries which will change the course of their world.

Five Aetherium crystals out of Five!

#CastleintheSky, #HayaoMiyazaki, #JoeHisaishi, #StudioGhibliFest

Star Wars: Resistance, “Signal from Sector Six”, Review!

Morning on Colossus Base, Neeku and Kaz are sleeping in their bunks, Yeager wakes Kaz.  Bucket blares a wake-up call.  Neeku is left out of this episode.  Tam watches them, she’s a real nosy character, that checks on everyone else’s business, but doesn’t seem to work on her own.  Yeager says they are going on a salvaging job.  Kaz tries to get a morning drink and keeps pressing the button and Tam fills it and walks away.  Kaz yawns and falls asleep in the ship as it pulls away.  He sees the sun and wakes up.  An X-Wing fighter appears with blue stripes, Poe Dameron, who misses his droid.  Yeager tells Kaz that he is going to have a mission off-world.  He has an X-Wing for Kaz!  He has to air jump from the shuttle to his X-Wing.  BB-8 bumps him into the cockpit.  His astro droid is CB-23, same model as BB-8 with red coloration and a conclave dome.  BB-8 jumps into Poe’s X-Wing.  They break atmosphere, the first time since the pilot, and Kaz updates Poe on the First Order.  

STAR WARS: RESISTANCE -- “Signal from Sector Six” -- Disney/Lucasfilm. 

Poe sights an astroid field so they go racing with Poe showing Kaz the backward tail slide.  Kaz attempts it, but bangs into the asteroids.  They get a distress signal and fly towards it.  They find a freighter and BB-8 detects survivors.  Poe pulls open a door and he walks with his blaster.  CB-23 bangs into BB-8.  Alien crew members are attacked by some creature. Something scurries across the corridor.  A Kowakian lizard monkey hops over the droids and into a hatch, then launches at Kaz’s face.  The same snarky lackey that was at Jabba’s side.  Poe fires his blaster at it as the monkey lizard runs away.  Two Kowakian lizard monkeys (voiced by Dave Filoni and David Acord) open a steam vent on Kaz.  One steals Poe’s blaster and runs away.  Poe throws a crate that makes the lizard monkey drop his blaster.  The lizard monkey bashes Kaz and runs away, then he hears a growl.  Kaz trips over BB-8, then sees the lizard monkeys taking on the droids.  BB-8 catches hold of one lizard monkey and begins spinning it around, very funny.  Poe catches up to them.  

CB-23 finds containers which hold a pink-skinned alien woman.  Kaz carries her as Poe faces the creature taking hold of a door and opening it to roar!  The creature, a giant lizard monkey?, stomps after them.  Poe fires on the beast, but is just able to escape it.  Poe and Kaz carry the woman away and they escape in their X-Wings.  They get warnings that three pirate ships are attacking.  Kaz flies towards the asteroid and is able to pull off the maneuver smashing the pursuing pirate ship into it.  They head to see Yeager’s shuttle.  Poe wants her taken to a med droid and then sent on her way. Poe says farewell to BB-8.  CB-23 flies the X-Wing.  The woman revives and socks Kaz.  She says her name is Synara (Nazneen Contractor) and locked herself into a crate when the lizard monkey broke loose.  Her species is Mirialan, the same as the Jedi Luminara Umduli, which I didn't recognize.  They land on the Colossus.  Kaz registers her and then leaves.  Yeager is wary about her.  Synara gets a hologram of Kragan, the pirate from the first episode.  So the station doesn't have any records of the pirates?   This is strange, more a Star Trek episode, investigating a freighter, alien creatures, than a Star Wars story.  A Poe Dameron adventure is welcome, especially an off-planet mission, but the story of the Resistance, the spy, and the First Order seems to be lost.      

Three Lightsabers out of Five!   

#StarWarsResistance, #SignalfromSectorSix, #CB23, #Synara

A Tribute to Stan Lee

It is strange to get the report that Stan Lee has died this morning at age 95.  He seemed vibrant and full of energy.  I’ve seen him many times.  I think the first was at San Diego Comic Con years ago, he was signing comic books, and I brought up an issue of Fantastic Four.  It is stunning that there is such high prices for his signature now and long lines.  Everyone, fans and creative people, light up when he showed up.  I was working at a comic convention and happened to see Stan resting back stage.  It was interesting to see him not on stage.  One of memorable times that I saw him was on September 9th, 2014.  It was a Blu Ray signing with the directors of Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Joe and Anthony Russo.  I noticed Stan’s arrival outside and thought he would be just dropping in to say hi. I was right about to get my Blu Ray signed when the Russo Brothers announced Stan to tremendous applause.  Stan signed the Blu Ray, it was promoted as only the directors, so the people who were ahead of me did not get Stan’s signature!  He was at the D23 Expo, last year, honored as a Disney Legend.  I saw Stan last year working the press event Extraordinary Stan Lee.   

Stan Lee, Joe and Anthony Russo, at Amoeba Records, 2014, photo by the author. 

Stan Lee is such a fixture of Marvel Comics and their characters.  His cameos are always a welcome surprise in Marvel Cinematic Universe films.  He started as an assistant in 1939 at Timely Comics which later became Marvel Comics.  Stan’s first comic story was in a back-up feature of Captain America #5 (1941).  The revolution came with Fantastic Four #1 (1961) with art by Jack Kirby.  There was a wealth of characters created from that moment.  Stan created a Marvel icon who was closely identified with the company working with Steve Ditko with the first appearance of Spider-Man in Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962).  The collaboration with Jack Kirby resulted in The Incredible Hulk #1 (1962), the first appearance of Thor in Journey into Mystery #83 (1962), Iron Man with Tales of Suspense #39 (1963), all of whom grouped together in Avengers #1 (1963). He also teamed with Kirby to create X-Men with The X-Men #1 (1963).  Then, Stan worked with Steve Ditko to create Doctor Strange in Strange Tales #110 (1963).  He later teamed with artist Bill Everett to create Daredevil with his first issue in 1964.  Stan was a great promoter for Marvel Comics with his feature, “Stan’s Soapbox”, and messages with the Merry Marvel Marching Society.  

There were so many innovative characters during the Lee and Kirby run on Fantastic Four with the introduction of Black Panther in Fantastic Four #52 (1966).  Also, there was the “Galactus Trilogy” that started with Fantastic Four #48 (1966) and introduced Silver Surfer.  Stan narrated a number of animated series for Marvel Productions starting with Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends (1981-1983).  He made a cameo as a jury foreman in the television movie The Trial of the Incredible Hulk (1989). One of the surprises was Stan writing the DC Comics series Just Imagine… reimagining DC heroes in 2001. He started making cameos in super hero films with X-Men (2000). We may remember Stan showing up in The Big Bang Theory with “The Excelsior Acquisition” (2010) playing himself.  Stan hosted the show, Stan Lee’s Superhumans, from 2010 to 2014. One of his funniest cameos was at the end of Big Hero 6 (2014) and he reprised the role in Big Hero 6 The Series.  Stan wrote about comics with Origins of Marvel Comics (1974), How To Draw Comics The Marvel Way (1984) with John Buscema, and Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics (2010).  He wrote novels as well including Dunn’s Conundrum (1985), co-wrote with Bill McCay Stan Lee’s Riftworld: Odyssey (1996), and was one of the writers in The Zodiac Legacy: Convergence (2015).  Recently, we saw Stan’s cameo in this year’s Venom.  Stan will always be there with superheroes in popular culture. Excelsior! 

#StanLee, #MarvelComics, #FantasticFour, #SpiderMan.   

Doctor Who, “Demons of the Punjab”, Review!

This episode was written by Vinjay Patel who was known for the BBC drama, Murdered By My Father (2016), and this story focuses on the Indian Partition after the British left and it was divided into India and Pakistan.  At the apartment of Yaz is the birthday of her grandmother, Nani Umbreen (Leena Dhingra).  She doesn’t want the celebration and says she’s the first woman married in Pakistan and the first Muslim woman to work in a textile mill in South Yorkshire.  She gives gifts to everyone and a watch to Yaz that is broken.  Her grandmother keeps her secrets.  Yaz wants to use the Tardis to see her grandmother.  The Doctor in a welding mask is given a destination by Yaz.  She is going to use the watch for the Tardis to read telepathically.  In the hills of Punjab, the Tardis appears!  The Doctor leads the others and then is suddenly struck by something.  A cart driver with oxen, Prem (Shane Zaza), almost runs them over.  Yaz is looking for Umbreen as family friends and the cart driver takes them.  A Holy Man walks up.  Watching them is a dark figure!  

DOCTOR WHO -- “Demons of the Punjab” -- Ben Blackall/ BBC Studios. 

They are taken to a house where the cart driver brings flowers to Umbreen (Amita Suman), Yaz’s grandmother now young, and hugs her!  She introduces everyone and the driver says they should not tell everyone they are from England.  There is going to a wedding between Prem and Umbreen!  Carl hugs his younger brother, Manish (Hamza Jeetooa), and on his arm is a working watch.  Yaz doesn’t want to leave with questions believing Prim is not her grandfather.  They listen to the radio. Prem says it is 1947.  The Doctor informs Team Tardis about the dangers of the Partition.  Manish sets a marker for the border between the countries.  This strikes the Doctor with pain from the armored demons.  They see demons and the Doctor scans them with her sonic screwdriver.  She starts to the run into the forest and she is knocked back by the demon, Prem fires his rifle at them, and they see the Holy Man Prem has seen the demons as a solder in World War I.  There is some strange mist on the Holy Man.  The Doctor says it’s a “dormant octonic engine.” Umbri wants to join the Doctor and she warns Yaz about interfering with her history, the Doc Brown Principle!   

The Doctor, Ryan, and Prem walk in the forest.  Prem notes that working out country boundaries in six weeks is too soon. The Doctor finds a structure that teleports them inside a structure and Prem is ready with his rifle.  She uses the sonic screwdriver to activate the demon console, a Vajarian hive!  Ancient assassins that were targeting Yardu.  Prem goes over meeting them in World War 2, he saw them in the mist, over his older brother’s body.  He runs with the evacuation alarms.  Ryan notices a capsule with the pink mist.  The hive demons appear.  The Doctor tells them the planet is under her protection!  They return to the forest and the Doctor snatches the transfer lock they placed on trees.  Umbreen wants to know about Prem.  Yardu was the only one to marry Prem and Umbreen, but she isn’t giving up. Yaz is outside the house when Graham walks over to her and tries to console her.  He is amazed at their adventures.  Ryan and Prem run up saying they lost the Doctor.  She runs over and sets the transfer lock with her sonic screwdriver.  The demons appear, multiple black eyes with long fangs, hideous.  She uses the transfer lock to send them away.  Prem and Umbreen need to be married in twelve hours.  The Doctor is desperate to save Yaz, “We can’t have a universe with no Yaz!”  

DOCTOR WHO -- “Demons of the Punjab” -- Ben Blackall/ BBC Studios. 

The Doctor gives them a list of items including a biscuit and has set up a chemistry set.  Umbreen wants them to prepare for the wedding!   The demons try to decipher the transfer lock used by the Doctor.  They are getting henna tattoos on their hands which the Doctor loves.  Yaz asks Umbreen who says she grew up with Prem.  She says the Doctor can marry them and she remarks that she also married Einstein.  Prem, Manish are playing cards with Ryan and Graham.  Prem is worried about his brother who sees everything as changed.  At the chemistry set, the Doctor has found dense materials, the transfer lock is broken, and the Doctor is taken away.  They say they are not assassins, they are witnesses, the mist is the dust of their world.  The Thijarians are there to watch over the dead who die alone to remember them and the millions who will die in the Partition.  The image of Prem is seen.  They did not kill the Holy Man.  The Doctor suddenly appears and tells them Prem dies.  The episode works out with a twist is so sobering for a character just introduced.  A beautiful morning as the radio reports come in.  Graham gives a flower wreath on Prem. The groom worries about the conflict from people who lived together all of their lives.  Graham hugs Prem saying he is a good man, emotions. 

At the river, Umbreen says she is the first woman to be married in Pakistan, the Doctor officiates the wedding.  Tears here.  These two people are so beautiful.  Umbreen takes up the rope from the river and has Yaz tying them together in Hindu fashion.  The bride says Manish helped them through the drought.  She is about to feed him, but Manish says his work was for his brothers.  The Doctor goes to talk to Manish.  Prem gives Umbreen his watch, but it falls and breaks.  She says the oaken watch is “their moment in time.”  Manish picks up his rifle and the Doctor knows he killed the Holy Man.  He leaves when they hear horse riders galloping in with weapons.  The Doctor tells them that Manish is leading them.  Manish walks up to the horse riders.  Yaz goes with Umbreen to a map which she randomly chose Sheffield.  Prem goes to talk to his brother and kisses his bride.  Umbreen and her mother run to safety.  Team Tardis witnesses Prem walk to the gunmen.  One of them points his rifle at Prem who recognizes him from the war.  The Thijarians appear in front of Team Tardis.  They walk away as the rifle shot is heard.  The Thijarians transport to their ship which has the ghostly images of all of the lonely dead.  In the Tardis, Yaz asks the Doctor about her grandmother.  At the apartment, the older Umbreen looks at the henna tattoo and dislikes it.  She loves Sheffield for the home it gave to her family.  This is a powerful episode, unexpected, with great aliens and such personal history.  Thanks to Team Tardis for this story!     

Five Sonic Screwdrivers out of Five!     

#DoctorWho, #DemonsofthePunjab, #ShaneZaza, #AmitaSuman