Batwoman, “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two”, Review!

The episode opens with Sara Lance (White Canary) pouring a drink in honor of Oliver Queen’s death along with Kara Danvers (Supergirl) and Kate Kane (Batwoman). His last battle was enough a delay to evacuate a billion more people from Earth-38, the world of Supergirl. Kate wants to get back to the business of saving the multiverse which is really down to Earth-1. Kara wants to find somehow to reverse everything kinda like Thanos’ snap. A bright light announces the appearance of Harbinger. Monitor walks in Atom and they mention need of the Waverider, the ship of the Legends of Tomorrow. Sara notes that the Legends don’t want to leave their time traveling reality.  Harbinger notes that there are many Waveriders and transports to Earth-74 to find an abandoned version. She finds that the ship’s voice, Leonard, activates. This is of course Leonard Snart, Captain Cold, played by Wentworth Miller. He brings in another Legend, Mick Rory known as Heatwave (Dominic Purcell), who wields flame and frost guns. Harbinger notes that the Legends retired on this Earth. Mick says he took over the ship and Leonard says he is attempting to be a romance writer, funny. She promises him beer and he agrees for use of the Waverider. 

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” --  RUBY ROSE -- Dean Buscher/The CW. 

The Monitor on the bridge of the Waverider tries to explain about seven heroes, but baby Jonathan is crying. He is passed from Lois to Clark, then Kara, Kate declines to hold the baby, so she passes it to Mick! Purcell really sells these sweet scenes with his toughness. The Monitor continues about the seven heroes called Paragons. He found about it in the Book of Destiny. Barry Allen says that it was destroyed, but The Monitor saved it. He identifies Kara as the Paragon of Hope, she’s not feeling hopeful, and The Paragon of Destiny is Sara Lance. The Monitor knows that another Superman is the Paragon of Truth, Atom asks about the other Paragon, funny, it is the Paragon of Courage. He says it is the Bat of the Future. His power is weakening. The Monitor explains that Felicity Smoak found the Book of the Guardians which identified Supergirl and White Canary. The future Bruce Wayne is in Earth-99. Kate smiles since she already knows Bruce Wayne. Kara looks at a panel showing the path of the Anti-Matter Wave destroying Earth-38. She turns to see Lex Luthor played by Jon Cryer. He started playing Luthor in the Supergirl episode, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” in March.  

Supergirl is stunned since she saw his sister, Lena Luthor, kill him, but he was saved by The Monitor. Her eyes flare with heat vision, but The Monitor says he has a part to play. In the comics, there was an Alexander Luthor, who as a child was sent away in the first issue, mirroring the escape pod of Jonathan Kent. He becomes pivotal in the Crisis story and the Cryer’s Luthor seems to take that place. Kara walks away from The Monitor. Kate threatens Luthor and then tells Supergirl they should go save the universe! World’s Finest. The New 52 Worlds' Finest featured the duo of Power Girl and Huntress. Harbinger stumbles down the corridor, hearing voices, “Stop him, before he finds the book!” She confronts Luthor who opens the Book of Destiny, he opens a portal, and steps in. Harbinger tells The Monitor that he is going to kill Superman! He says, “As I said everyone has a part to play.” We next get Barry hugging his wife, Iris West-Allen, they married in the Legends of Tomorrow crossover episode, “Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4” (2017). Barry wants to revive Oliver in a Lazarus Pit which were destroyed on Earth-1, but there are other Earths. Iris explains that The Monitor wants her on the mission to find the other Superman.  

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” --  KEVIN CONROY -- Dean Buscher/The CW. 

Mia says to Sara that she is going to revive her father in a Lazarus Pit. Sara was revived in one and went insane for a time until she was able to recover. We get Earth-99, Gotham City, Wayne Mansion at night that looks like it is fell into a horror movie, the music adds to it. Kate and Kara are there, she knocks on the door, the door is answered by Luke Fox (Camrus Johnson) without glasses.  Very funny, Kate is stunned by his abs, he doesn’t accept that she is Bruce’s cousin and closes the door. Kara kicks it in. Luke has a gun on them and then there is a voice I don’t think I would ever hear in live action, “Don’t be so rude, Luke.” Down the steps is a Bruce Wayne in a suit and mechanical servos. He is played by Kevin Conroy, the voice of Batman: The Animated Series, perfect casting! Bruce is surprised to see Kate and in turn she is in turn can’t believe it’s an older Bruce! As Luke walks with Kara, Bruce explains to Kate that she died five years ago. Earth-75, Metropolis, Lois tells Clark that Iris is calling warning them about Lex’s plan. They look up to see the headline, “Breaking News - Superman Dead!” with Lois over the body of Superman with the red Superman flag. The classic image from the Death of Superman comics storyline. 

John Constantine (Matt Ryan) tells Sara and Mia about the dangers of Lazarus Pits and Barry is impatient. He is the fan favorite sorcerer huckster introduced in Swamp Thing #37 (1985) by Alan Moore and John Totleben. Matt Ryan played him in the Constantine NBC series in 2014-2015 and the character was brought into the Arrowverse with the Arrow epsiode “Haunted” (2015), before joining the Legends of Tomorrow. He uses spells to find an Earth with a working Lazarus Pit. Mia and Barry leave and Sara has Constantine promise that he has to bring back Oliver’s soul. Next, we get the Daily Planet headlines, “Caped Wonder Stuns City”, the Superman film series brought into canon! It is Earth-167 and we get a look at a Smallville farm. Clark Kent (Tom Welling) is cutting wood with an axe. Welling is the Clark Kent from Smallville (2001-2011) with a little gray, but still Superman. This is right out of the Kingdom Come comic series. A flash brings Iris, Clark, and Lois.  The Earth-1 Superman is compared to this Superman by Lois as the “buff guy on the paper towel rolls”, funny, but also Welling looks like he can pull a tractor.

BATWOMAN -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two” -- BRANDON ROUTH -- Katie Yu/The CW. 

Our heroes are flashed out and Lex Luthor appears with the Book of Destiny. He threatens Clark who disbelieves he’s Luthor. Then, Luthor takes out a Kryptonite crystal, Clark approaches him and tosses it away. He explains that he gave up his powers and hits Luthor. Lois (Erica Durance) walks up, it feels like Smallville again, the show that kept comic books going when there wasn’t any on television. She thinks he is joking and they head back to see their daughters. Conroy’s Bruce Wayne laughs at Kate telling him that he is the Paragon of Courage. He shows her the newspaper that reads “Batman’s Reign of Terror is Over”, this Batman has become a killer, sounds familiar!  Kate offers him a chance to be a hero again. Baby Jonathan cries in Mick’s arms with Ray frustrated since he is working on a Paragon Detector for The Monitor. Mick is reading the baby his novel, Caged Passion, more funny!  

This moves to Earth-96, Metropolis with Clark, Lois, and Iris at the Daily Planet.  Lois bumps into a very familiar Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) in glasses with slight gray. Of course, Routh played Clark in Superman Returns (2006), the best part of that movie. John Williams’ “Can You Read My Mind” plays as Lois talks with Clark.  Iris brings up that he looks like Ray Palmer. This one doesn’t hit as hard.  Kara is taken to a room by Luke and see bloody glasses. Luke tells her that Superman’s death also caused Bruce’s injury. At the Daily Planet, Lois notices a wall of plaques with her name, Perry White, and others.  Clark explains that a “reject from Gotham” caused “Planet Attacked”, I’m stunned since this is from the video game Injustice! Iris explains the multiverse attack and Clark shifts into the Superman suit with the black symbol from Kingdom Come. Earth-1 Clark slips into his Superman suit without the curl, uh, not really Superman.  We get some of John Williams’ Superman theme when Luthor walks in. He uses the open Book of Destiny to get Earth-96 Superman enraged to attack Earth-1 Superman! The battle of Supermen is a dream.  

Superman-96 decides to make him feel like he does and kill his loved ones. Lois takes care of Luthor and tries to use the Book of Destiny with Iris. Doesn’t this make her the Paragon of Destiny?  Then, we get Earth-18 North Dakota, Constantine has taken the group to a mine. Barry and Constantine portal to get Oliver’s body. Mia and Sara are met by Jonah Hex (Johnathon Schaech) without scars. He is the comic book Western hero that appeared in Legends of Tomorrow.  Supergirl faces Bruce Wayne who has the weapon that defeated his Superman. Kate knocks him back with a kick electrocuting his suit. Bruce says to Kate, “There is no hope.” Clark-96 meets with his doppelganger, Ray Palmer, as Luthor taunts from behind a force field. He sees Jonathan Kent who Clark says looks like his son Jason. Kate Kane finds her destiny and Supergirl is convinced she can bring Earth-38 back with the Book of Destiny! Harbinger has an even more difficult revealation!  A very good episode, mostly in regular clothes not uniforms, still with some incredible moments!  

Four Quantum Towers out of Five! 

#Batwoman, #CrisisonInfiniteEarths, #DominicPurcell, #JonCryer, #CamrusJohnson, #KevinConroy, #TomWelling, #EricaDurance

Supergirl, “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One”, Review!

The "Crisis on Infinite Earths" storyline begins with the voice of the Monitor (LaMonica Garrett). In a way he works like the Marvel Universe’s Watcher, but more active, and more human. The Monitor first appeared in The New Teen Titans #21 (1982). He appeared in the Arrow episode, “Unmasked” (2018) and was a part of the "Elseworlds" arc for the Arrowverse. The Monitor explains the Multiverse; the parallel worlds that exist in the universe, until we get the Age of Heroes. Then, we see the superheroes in action, and the Monitor says they have found each other. This moves to Earth-89, Gotham City!, sitting on a bench is a reader of the Gotham City Gazette headline, “Batman Captures Joker.”  We then see it is reporter, Alexander Knox (Robert Wuhl) from Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) complete with Danny Elfman’s theme.  He looks up to see the red skies and the bat signal. The red skies were a part of the Crisis on Infinite Earths series from Marv Wolfman and George Perez. It was hinted at the first season of the Flash when he saw “Flash Missing Vanishes In Crisis” headline. This shifts to Earth-9, San Francisco, we see Dove (Alan Ritchson) and Robin (Curran Walters) from The Titans DC streaming series. Next, The Ray (Russel Tovey) flying and seeing the danger. He was introduced in The Flash episode, “Crisis on Earth X, part 3” (2017).

SUPERGIRL -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One” -- GRANT GUSTIN, MELISSA BENOIST, TYLER HOECHLIN, RUBY ROSE, BRANDON ROUTH -- Dean Buscher/The CW.  

The red skies destroy a city. Next, Earth-66, Gotham City, an older Dick Grayson (Burt Ward) is walking his dog when he shouts, “Holy Crimson Skies of Death!” These nods to our favorite shows and movies are a treat. The Batman cameos are a dream to Batfans. We turn to Earth-38, National City with the Catco building, the setting of Supergirl. A Doomsday Protestor screams out warnings with his sign, I just recognized Wil Wheaton, not bad cameo. He pauses as blasts of fire rain down from a dragon, but Supergirl blocks its flame breath from hurting the protestor. She sends Wil Wheaton running off and deals with Spike, the dragon of the girl, Alana. They were in the season 4 episode “Call to Action” (2018). Supergirl touches the dragon’s head and it shifts back to a harmless iguana. She flies back to the Department of Extra-Normal Operations. Supergirl hands off Spike and talks to her sister, Director Alex Danvers (Chyler Leigh), and Brainiac-5 (Jesse Rath) explains that an earthquake is striking the world!  He is from the future of the Legion of Super-Heroes, a super-genius that comes from the mold of the Superman villain, but now part of the Supergirl cast.   

They are met by the human form of J’onn J’onzz, the Martian Manhunter (David Harewood), he explains to them that he is being tested by The Monitor. Brainiac-5 shows the wave that he says will reach the end of the universe and then return to destroy everything. He maps out the wave’s path about to hit Argo City which has Superman, Lois Lane, and Supergirl’s mother, Alura Zor-El.  Brainiac-5 tries to communicate with them. Lois (Elizabeth Tulloch) makes fun of Clark Kent (Tyler Hoechlin) facing a great task, changing the diapers of their son, Jonathan. The child first appeared in the Convergence: Superman #2 (2015) limited series and has gone on to become Superboy. He notes that he has no powers with Argo’s red sun. They have a moment before seeing the flicking hologram of Supergirl. She warns them to leave Argo when the skies turn red. The Argo citizens panic as Lois and Clark see Alura (Erica Durance). She takes them to an escape pod to place lil’ Jonathan to send to Earth, love the Superman origin nod, Argo City is destroyed. We get the faces of Supergirl and Alex, J’onn puts a reassuring hand on Supergirl’s shoulder. Brainiac-5 fears they are next in the path of the wave. 

SUPERGIRL -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One” - - TYLER HOECHLIN, ELIZABETH TULLOCH - - Katie Yu/The CW.

It moves to Earth-1, Lian Yu, the island of Green Arrow. Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell) confesses about his anger to his tearful daughter, Mia Smoak (Katherine McNamara). They look up to see the red sky. I like the little moments, characteristic of the CW shows, dramatic pauses before getting into the action. A bright flash before the appearance of Lyla Michaels (Audrey Marie Anderson) in a blue uniform, she tells them it is the beginning of the Crisis. Harbinger is the woman filled with cosmic power key to the Crisis. She first appeared in New Teen Titans annual #2 (1983), but became Harbinger in the first issue of Crisis. Anderson played Lyla Michaels as a long running character in Arrow. Then, it shifts to Central City, Earth-1, with the Flash racing through Central City. He loses contact with Cisco and then sees Lyla who says she is now Harbinger and works for The Monitor. Barry Allen says he is ready for the Crisis and she takes him away. Next, we get Gotham City on Earth-1, under the red sky. The Wonderland gang is taking bags of money in a bank truck. They are the gang working for Batwoman’s nemesis, Alice, first appearing in the Batwoman series.  

This is the world of Batwoman who was introduced in The Flash, “Elseworlds: Part One” (2018) episode. She has continued in her own series this year. Then, Batwoman (Ruby Rose) is there and defeats them, she wants to know where is Alice, when Harbinger arrives. Harbinger transports her too. Star City, Earth-1, at a bar is Sara Lance (Caity Lotz), leader of the Legends of Tomorrow, and Ray Palmer (Brandon Routh), having drinks. Harbinger flashes in and takes the heroes away. Back at the DEO, Alex calls for action for her agents, Harbinger flashes in. Alex draws her gun, Supergirl is angry, but the other heroes and of course Lois and Mia also appear. Superman explains that Jonathan was sent in an escape pod, but Alura died.  Batwoman strikes Harbinger. Supergirl says she trusts everyone there. Batwoman takes off her mask and red wig. Love Oliver’s comment, “Yeah, yeah, that makes a lotta sense.” Harbinger has a conference with all of the heroes explaining the wave of anti-matter and that The Monitor wanted them to make their stand on Earth-38.  She has sent The Flash and the Legends to do reconaissance and leaves to check on them.  

SUPERGIRL -- “Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part One” -- STEPHEN AMELL -- Katie Yu/The CW.

Supergirl asks Brainiac-5 to track Jonathan’s pod. A tower strikes the city. The reconnaissance group appears. The Atom says it is a quantum tower. Harbinger says it is the only thing that can save the world! The heroes divide into teams, Superman, Supergirl, Flash, Green Arrow and Mia, in her new uniform, to protect the tower that is stopping the anti-matter wave. Another group is made up of; Sara Lance, Lois Lane, Brainiac-5, and Atom to find baby Jonathan lost in a wormhole to Earth-16, 2046. Alex begins the evacuation of Earth with J’onn, Dreamer (Nicole Maines), and Kelly Olsen (Azie Tesfai) may need the help of Lena Luthor (Katie McGrath). Green Arrow has to face his destiny. We also have a brief appearance of Harrison Wells who now serves the Anti-Monitor as Pariah. The character was introduced in Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (1985). A great beginning to the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over. with enough time given to characters and importance to the title show characters’ actions to the Crisis on Infinite Earths cross-over.   

Five Quantum Towers out of Five! 

#Supergirl, #CrisisonInfiniteEarths, #MelissaBenoist, #ChylerLeigh, #JesseRath, #StephenAmell, #GrantGustin, #TylerHoechlin, #RubyRose, #LaMonicaGarrett 

Re:tro Re:view - Big Hero 6!

Big Hero 6 is the fulfillment of the potential of Marvel Comics and superhero comic books into Disney animation! One of the most obscure comic book teams, they were set to make their debut in Alpha Flight #17 (1998) by Steven T. Seagle and Duncan Rouleau, the talented chaps that are part of Man of Action with Joe Casey and Joe Kelly. Still, there was a mini-series, Sunfire and the Big Hero 6 from the duo of Scott Lobdell and Gus Vazquez, that is technically their first appearance. 

The name Big Hero 6 sounds like a nod to super sentai, Japanese super teams. The limited series was little known and was in the bargain bin for some time, but now they go for top dollar, lesson: get comics for fun not as investments! The superhero team was sanctioned by the Japanese government and brought on 13-year old Hiro Takachiho who builds the robot Baymax that can transform into a “Battle-Dragon.” There was a 2008 limited series by Chris Claremont and David Nakahyama that introduced Wasabi-No Ginger and Fred who can shift into Kaiju form.  

Big Hero 6 has the directing team of Don Hall, who also co-directed the Winnie the Pooh (2011) film, and Chris Williams, the co-director of Bolt (2008). The screenplay was by Jordan Roberts, who wrote and directed the drama, You’re Not You (2012), Robert L. Baird, he co-wrote the screenplay of Monsters University (2013) along with Daniel Gerson. The talented group took the comic book, made the superhero team multicultural and changed their designs, and set it in an amalgam setting, San Fransokyo.  

It opens with the night falling on the bridge of San Fransokyo to the Port of San Fransokyo, both landmarks of San Francisco, but I like the Tokyo touches. There are floating koi lights and several trains. The interesting part of the setting was that it was previewed at D23 Expo. There was a video of a cable car going down a San Fransokyo street. Then, there were multi-colored outlines of the characters, since they were different than the comic book, I struggled to identify all of them. The music by Henry Jackman perfectly captures the action and drama of the story.  

The other part is that Marvel doesn’t have many fictional American cities. It “feels” like a real city, but a place I would like to live. We get to a seedy part of town with a dark alleyway. A light flares on and then we get robots bashing each other. The magenta-haired girl controller is facing off with a large man whose robots demolishes her bot.  

The Ringleader (Charlotte Gulezian) with an eyepatch announces the winner, Yama (Paul Briggs).  He voiced Marshmallow in Frozen (2013), but also works as a story artist. Yama is a massive bully in a track suit. He boasts about his robot, Little Yama, when he hears a timid voice volunteering to bot fight. This is Hiro Hamada voiced by Ryan Potter who is currently in the Titans streaming series. Hiro has the floppy hair of anime heroes and carries his bot, made of hexagonal pieces like Tinkertoys.  

The crowd laughs at him, but Hiro pulls out a handful of bills. Hiro’s bot clunks over to fight Little Yama with the round body, samurai helmet, and clawed hands. His bot is sliced into pieces. Hiro asks for a rematch taking out a roll of bills. He has Megabot switch from his happy face to angry face, love it!, and assembles the pieces to tear Little Yama apart. Hiro is now smug and confident collecting the money.  

This is exactly the matches that Peter Parker was competing in before he became Spider-Man.  Yama feels hustled and takes Megabot away while his men close in on Hiro. His brother, Tadashi (Daniel Henney), uses his moped to make their escape down the alley. Henney was Agent Zero in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). Tadashi is tireless in his dedication to his project and his brother. He wears a ballcap with the San Fransokyo Ninjas team logo. Yama holds up Megabot who switches to angry face, strikes him, and slides away.  

Tadashi mentions Hiro graduated from high school at 13 and that he shouldn’t compete in illegal bot fighting. Hiro loves the thrill and holds out a handful of his winnings until Tadashi stops in front of several police cars! Hiro is alone in his cell while Tadashi is crushed against another cell of prisoners! They walk out of the station while Aunt Cass (Maya Rudolph) waits outside. Rudolph is of course known from Saturday Night Live, but she was also in Idiocracy (2006). 

Aunt Cass runs her own business, Lucky Cat Café, and is supportive and honest with her nephews, very funny. She drives them back to her cafe. Hiro is still intent on bot fighting and Tadashi decides to take him. He is instead taken to the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology which Hiro calls “Nerd School.” Tadashi heads to the robotics lab and Hiro is almost run over by the electro-magnetic bike of Go Go (Jamie Chung). The action series, Samurai Girl, starred Chung as the lead Heaven Kogo. She is the jock of the group, short hair with a purple streak, wearing black leather.  

Then, Hiro is cautioned by Wasabi (Damon Wayan, Jr.) who wears a green sweater. Wayans, Jr. was brilliant in the comedy series, Happy Endings, as Brad Williams. Wasabi is very precise and almost OCD which makes for some funny lines. Wasabi throws an apple that is cut by plasma into paper thin slices! Then, Honey Lemon (Genesis Rodriguez) rolls in a black ball of tungsten carbide, compound of tungsten and carbon, twice the density of steel. Rodriguez is in the drama Hours (2013).  

Honey Lemon is upbeat, single focused, and the most supportive of the group with blond hair and glasses.  Hiro identifes all of the experiments.  She has a chemistry set of tubes and uses the solution to spray the ball pink before popping it like a balloon with a touch.  Tadashi notes that they all have nicknames from Fred (T.J. Miller) who shows up in his lizard man mascot uniform.  Miller starred as Erlich Bachman in Silicon Valley.  Fred is obsessed about comic books, giving the group nicknames, and loves science though he is not a student.  He has a lanky body with skater wear and a green beanie.  This is an interesting, multicultural group.  

Tadashi brings Hiro to his lab, he applies duct tape to his brother’s arm, and then rips it off! He shouts in pain and this activates the best robot; a bulky robot with an inflatable, Pillsbury Doughboy-ish, “huggable” shape.  Baymax is voiced by Scott Adsit who was Greg Hart on Veep.  The “personal healthcare assistant” hobbles over with his stubby, little feet. His voice is sincere, innocent, and perfect. Tadashi has programmed Baymax, it is interesting that he doesn’t have any medical consultation, but Baymax can scan and analyze patients. Baymax is also super strong. His programming is in a chip with a smiling doctor’s face that can be accessed through the port in his heart area. 

Hiro is impressed.  Baymax deactivates when the patients say they are satisfied with their care. He has a charging port that folds him up into a red, chibi box. They are interrupted by Robert Callahan voiced by James Cromwell. He has some incredible genre work including I, Robot (2004). Tadashi notes that Callahan is the inventor of laws of robotics. He looks Hiro’s robot and finds that his school is more challenging. Hiro is now obsessed with entering the school. This is the strongest message for young people learning science, not depicting them as strange like in Big Bang Theory, but improving the world through science. 

At their room, Tadashi explains the school’s SFIT Showcase, the annual event features inventions and the one that impresses Callahan admits that person to the school. Hiro tries, but hits a wall, very funny, but his brother backs him. Inspired, Hiro starts to fill refuse bins in his garage with the help of everyone. The showcase is full of impressive tech, all of the friends back him, it is so inspiring. Tadashi finds that Hiro is worried about his presentation. He puts on his neuro-transmitter headband and shows the tiny micro-bot that looks like a limb of Megabot.  

The bins drop and swarms of the microbots form into architectural and various shapes. The entire hall is impressed by Hiro’s invention. The group’s celebration is paused while Alistar Krei (Alan Tudyk) walks up to them. Tudyk is of course known for his voice work and is currently Mr. Nobody in the Doom Patrol series. Krei is the lead of Krei Tech and an ambitious industrialist. He offers Hiro to bring the microbots to Krei Tech. Callahan is angry at Krei’s “cutting corners”, but Hiro refuses him. Callahan gives Hiro the admission letter.  

Aunt Cass offers dinner to all of the group. Tadashi walks with his brother to see the school at night where he welcomes Hiro to “Nerd School.” They hear an alarm and Tadashi rushes into the building to help Callahan when the building explodes. This is incredibly sad for a Disney and superhero movie and the very HEART of superhero stories. A part that is ignored by the MCU.  Hiro stays in his room, he is caught between returning to his bot fighting, and ignoring school registration. Of course, there is the superhero call through his accidental dropping of Megabot on his foot.  Baymax is activated. A very funny sequence with Hiro brushing off Baymax and finding a microbot.  

This is a mystery that leads to Hiro following Baymax seeing the direction of the microbot in a petri dish. It ends at a warehouse where they see swarms of microbots under the control of a villain in a Kabuki mask called Yōkai, a sort of Japanese ghost, in the promotions. Hiro must use his genius to uncover the mystery of why his invention is being used, training Baymax into a martial arts, mecha superhero, and then giving the rest of his friends super suits. The Fall Out Boy "Immortals" song is great, "Every hero needs a theme song." A great mix of comedy, action, friendship, and behind it all the heart of superhero stories, the theme of being a hero for the right reasons. Big Hero 6: The Series airs on the Disney Channel and streams on Disney+. We all need Baymax and Big Hero 6 in our lives!   

Five Microbots out of Five! 

#BigHero6, #DonHall, #ChrisWilliams, #RyanPotter, #ScottAdsit, #JamieChung, #DamonWayansJr, #GenesisRodriguez, #TJMiller 

Happy Birthday Matt Baker!

Happy Birthday Matt Baker!  I first heard of Matt Baker in a Dave Stevens interview where he noted his influences.  He was a successful African-American comic book artist and pictures of Baker has him as very dapper.  His artwork is very distinctive, I can identify a Baker cover.  Baker was an incredible good girl artist starting with Sheena, Queen of the Jungle in Jumbo Comics #69 (1944).  One of the super heroines he is closely identified with is Phantom Lady.  She is Sandra Knight who fought crime in Washington D.C. with her “black light projector.”  Phantom Lady first appeared in Police Comics #1 (1941).  Matt Baker was the artist on her own title with Phantom Lady #13 (1947).  The cover of Phantom Lady #17 where the heroine was tied up was used by Frederick Wertham in Seduction of the Innocent (1954).  She appeared in the DCU with Justice League of America #107 (1973).  

There is a new version of Phantom Lady in a 2012-2013 limited series by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Cat Staggs. He was the artist for the Classic Comics #32 adaptation of Lorna Doone.  Baker created the jungle hero Voodah protector of an African tribe in Crown Comics #3 (1945).  Twenty-one years before Jack Kirby and Stan Lee created Black Panther.  Voodah later had his ethnicity changed.  Baker was the artist of the “picture novel”, It Rhymes with Lust (1950) with a story by Arnold Drake and Leslie Waller.  Matt Baker died on August 11, 1959, but his artwork will always be remembered by fans.  He was inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 2009.  An excellent magazine Alter Ego #47 (2005) focused on Matt Baker.  There is a highly recommended book, Matt Baker: The Art of Glamour (2012) by Jim Amash and Eric Nolen-Weathington.  A great overview of his artwork and life.  Happy Birthday Matt Baker!  

#MattBaker, #Phantom Lady, #Voodah, #MattBakerTheArtofGlamour. 

Light Up The Season with D23!

`Tis the season for celebrating Light Up The Season at Disney Studios, Burbank on Sunday, December 8th.  This is the annual event with the Disney membership club, D23, check out: https://d23.com.  There was some rain while guests were patiently waiting in a studio building.  Then, everyone was taken next to the Mixed-ish building when the event started.  I was told the places to go were the stores, a line already started at the Employee Center, and I instead went to the Studio Store.  They offered some usual Disney merch, but I did pick up the hardcover One Day at Disney since the authors would be signing.  Next, there was a lane of tented retailers with some fun items.  One tent had free hot chocolate which was very much needed at the end of the cold night!  The next area was Springfield, of course brought in with the Fox purchase, and there was a photo op with Homer and Marge carrying baby Maggie.  There were rows of tents with free carnival-type games and free popcorn.  It was fun to play games and strangely, the most difficult games were winnable.  At the Disney Legends plaza, was the Santa Paws Lane Pet Adoption with many adorable dogs.  I will say that the husky walked up to my hand and it was bonding time.  The TDA, Michael D. Eisner Building, featured statues of the Seven Dwarfs with Dopey sporting a Santa hat.  

Seasons greetings from Santa Goofy, photo by the author.

At the lobby, there was a chance to meet Santa Goofy, complete with giant, comfy chair and Christmas tree.  Next to the Buena Vista Holiday Park was the Christmas tree photo op.  Of course, by that time, I was hungry and went to the Commissary.  The event offered $6 off at the Commissary.  The most delicious item was Walt’s Chili, it was very heart with black and pinto beans.  It was interesting to see cast members, Nontra Null, who works in product development, she pointed out that all of the shirts and other merch in the Studio Store she worked on!, also Leah Buono who is Executive Director of Casting for Disney Channel, So the last part of the night was the hours long line to the Employee Center.  I stopped in at Studio 2 which featured Disney VoluntEars Holidays.  There I donated some toys to the fine Marines for Toys for Tots.  There was a carousel, singers, and some photo ops including a chance to be a Marvel Superheroes action figure!  Remember to donate a toy or make a donation at: https://www.toysfortots.org.  The Employee Center was full of shopping opportunities since I was reminded by a cast member that the items could only be found there.  This includes an exclusive Rise of Skywalker pin and shirts, Marvel, and Lucasfilm sweatshirts and caps.  I hope everyone takes the time to give a little these holidays!  

Springfield Carnival at Disney Studios, photo by the author.

#LightUpTheSeason, #D23, #TheSimpsons, #SantaGoofy 

Empire Con - Saturday!

Empire Con has its first convention this weekend, the show presenters also bring the London Film & Comic Con, this is more a simple hotel event without the hassle of Star Wars Celebration.  You can check info at: https://empireconla.com.  It ends tomorrow, Sunday, December 8th at the Marriot LAX.  There were wanted posters of various bounties to be collected with selfies for raffle tickets to the Peter Mayhew Foundation around the convention area.  It is an escalator ride to Empire Con and this is the only event I have ever attended that gave me two autographs when I got my lanyard.  

Empire Con, photo by the author.

There were a number of tables along the hall.  Later, there was Tait Fletcher and Sala Baker.  On the other side of the hall was Charlie Bailey and Mike Quinn.  Inside the main room was Frazer Diamond and the Peter Mayhew Foundation table with the Chewbacca mask and posters.  Check out: http://petermayhewfoundation.org.  There was the groups like Rebel Legion, the 501st, and Mandalorian Mercs.  On the side were tables for Angela Staines and Alan Fernandes. Then, some rooms for panels like “Talk to the Hand” with Mike Quinn and David Barclay, and Voices of The Force with Jim Cummings, Jennifer Hale, James Arnold Taylor, Christopher Sean, and Daniel Roebuck.  

Tait Fletcher may be imposing, he said I was like I was at my first convention(!), and he was Alpha Trawler, who gets into a fight with The Mandalorian in the first episode, and Paz Vizla, wielding the heavy gun in Chapter 3!  He has also been in Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), an episode of Westworld, and John Wick (2014).  Also sharing his table is Sala Baker, he was the Klatooinian Raider Captain in Chapter 4, he played Sauron in Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and in the other Lord of the Rings films.  Sala is a stunt performer in Deadpool 2 (2018) and Captain America: Civil War (2016).  It was great to see both actors.  

Sala Baker aka Klatooinian Raider Captain, photo by the author. 

Mike Quinn was on the other side of the Tough Guy Table, but he has been in some epic movies!  Quinn is of course Nien Nunb in The Force Awakens (2015), ShekNa the Slave Master in Dark Crystal (1982), and was one of the Helping Hands in Labyrinth (1986).  Check out his work at Quinn Zone Studios at www.quinnzonestudios.com.  Frazer Diamond also met with Star Warriors, he was the Jawa in the Sandcrawler where C-3PO goes, “No, don’t shoot!”  Diamond was 7 when he played a Jawa.  I was impressed since he is the son of Peter Diamond who worked on stunts with Doctor Who, stunt coordinator for the original trilogy, and arranged stunts for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).  He died in 2004.  It was really cool to see Frazer, “Utinni!”  

Another interesting person I met was Kevin Thompson who played Chukha-Trok in The Ewok Adventure (1984).  He was also the Bear in Blade Runner (1982).  Thompson was donating some of his proceeds to the Peter Mayhew Foundation.  At the Peter Mayhew Foundation table was Christopher Sean.  He plays Kaz Xiono in Star Wars: Resistance.  On the panel, he mentioned how important it was to have Asian representation in Star Wars.  I mentioned that Akira Kurosawa’s Hidden Fortress (1958) was influential for Star Wars (1977).  I also met James Arnold Taylor and noted his hosting jobs at Celebration.  He hosts the Talking to Myself The Podcast on Youtube if you want to learn about voice acting, character acting as the panel members described it.  

Peter Mayhew Foundation table, photo by the author.

Jim Cummings voices Hondo Ohnaka, now in Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Galaxy’s Edge, but he is also the voice of Winnie-the-Pooh and played him in Christopher Robin (2018).  There were a number of artists at Empire Con including Matt Busch, Cat Staggs, and Tom Hodges.  A limited print of Baby Yoda was offered by Hodges.  There was also rooms of posters and memorabilia.  I met Mara Jade, the former Emperor’s Hand, in the form of Katherine Winchell part of the Rebel Legion.  This was an exciting opportunity to meet personalities from the Star Wars films and television programs especially with The Mandalorian and soon Rise of Skywalker!  

#EmpireCon, #MikeQuinn, #SalaBaker, #PeterMayhewFoundation 

Natural History of Horror at NHLA!

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles (NHLA) has a new exhibit on horror!  It started on October 10th, but I was only able to visit yesterday, December 4th since I was also at another event in the area.  It is free with paid museum admission and ends on April 19, 2020.  I went on a Tuesday which is free, but I made a donation and got a dinosaur stuffie and seeds. If you love horror or Universal Monsters, then it is worth a visit!  

The exhibit is in a corner room of the museum.  Once you turn a corner, there is a full sized recreation of the Creature from the Black Lagoon!  I would love to see the original that I think is in Florida, but I just love seeing any form of the Creature.  A small kid was pleading with his mother not to continue the exhibit when he saw the Gill Man!  There is a bust of the Gill Man’s head and then a wall with the coelacanth, the prehistoric fish that inspired the Creature from the Black Lagoon.  Review of the 1954 classic here: http://geektruth.blogspot.com/2018/10/retro-review-creature-from-black-lagoon.html

Bust of the Gill Man, Natural History Museum L.A., photo by the author.

There was a large screen showing the films and to the left side was a section for Frankenstein.  A table that features a switch and a pale, real frog’s leg, throw the switch and “It’s alive!”  The twitching leg is really gruesome.  Also on display is the shackles from the original movie.  Frankenstein is compelling as a modern narrative, bringing back to life what was dead, and Mary Shelley’s novel is a hallmark of science fiction literature.  It also stands out as the most brilliant work of cinema with James Whale’s direction. His life was made into the film Gods and Monsters (1998).  

Next, there is a door that opens up to the baleful stare of Karloff as The Mummy!  There is props of a vase and the mummy’s wrappings from the 1932 film as well as various Egyptian artifacts from the museum’s collection.  There were modern remakes of the classic, but the original is still powerful.  Finally, there is the bat prop from Dracula and actual bats and a bat skull.  Dracula is a moody horror classic, it is so difficult to separate the original from the Bela Lugosi imitations, but the vampire craze all started with the 1931 film. Lastly, there were foley props to recreate thunder (some visitors may have been surprised when I used it!), creaking doors, and bat wings flapping!  There is always great memories from horror classics and see some of the best at Natural History of Horror!  Don’t miss it!   

Frankenstein display, frog leg on the bottom!, photo by the author.

#NMLA, #NaturalHistoryofHorror, #CreaturefromtheBlackLagoon, #Frankenstein, #TheMummy, #Dracula 

The Mandalorian, “Chapter 4: Sanctuary”, Review!

After the showdown with what seems like every bounty hunter, Chapter Four, directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, opens with a crustaceans swimming in a serene pond.  The story is again by Jon Favreau.  Villagers sweep them up in a wicker baskets.  A mother, Omera (Julia Jones) watches her daughter, Winta (Isla Farris), chase after a frog.  They are all disturbed by a rumbling that scatters birds.  Winta screams for her mother as blaster bolts rain down!  Alien raiders, Klatooinians, attack the village while Omera cleverly uses the basket to cover herself and her daughter in the water.  Klatooinians are dog-faced, green aliens who were seen in Return of the Jedi (1983). 

It reminds me of the Marauders attacking the Ewok village in Ewoks: Battle for Endor (1985) except no Teek!  The leader of the raiders is played by Sala Baker who played Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).  The raiders take the bowls of blue crustaceans and head back to the mist.  Omera pulls off the basket when they are gone and sees the destruction to the village.  I sense a Seven Samurai Situation!  I get the raiders, but why attack a remote village?, the shrimp don't look difficult to catch, the raiders are so lazy they can't get baskets and pluck them out?  The Mandalorian’s Razorcrest bursts from hyperspace and we have inside The Mandalorian and Cub.  Baby Yoda starts hitting buttons, a little Baby Groot, so the former bounty hunter takes him on his lap.  He scans and finds the planet Sorgan, the first planet identified on the show.  The Razorcrest descends and streaks past Omera and the village.  It soars over forests and the rivers before landing.   

The Mandalorian sets Baby Yoda in a seat while he goes out to check the area.  The hatch drops and Baby Yoda is at his side!  They reach the village where food is served, a bowl of noodles, I would like to visit this place more than Galaxy’s Edge.  Baby Yoda shuffles along and a Loth-cat growls at him.  The cats, native to Lothal of course, first appeared in the Star Wars: Rebels episode, “Rise of the Old Masters” (2014).  Then, we get a woman in armor, Cara Dune (Gina Carrano) watching him.  He orders a broth for Baby Yoda and asks about the woman’s business.  The Mandalorian is told by the waitress she has been there for a week.  He finds the woman is gone and heads to track her, using his visor to check the heat of her footprints.  

The tracks suddenly end and The Mandalorian is caught in a fight.  I’m not certain how she can beat someone in beskar steel armor, her face is not protected, I get that it is Gina Carrano, but still the effectiveness of fighting someone in full armor is questionable.  They find themselves with blasters at each other as Baby Yoda watches sipping his drink!  He offers her soup and later she explains that she is an ex-Rebel shock trooper hunting Imperial warlords after Endor.  Cara was given peace keeping jobs, but decided to retire to Sorgan.  She doesn’t want The Mandalorian there.  I was expecting Cara to be a favorite, but she is overpowered, punching a metal helmet?, but she may develop as a character later on.  

Night, villagers look at the Razorcrest with The Mandalorian working on it, they go up to him telling about the raiders.  The villagers recognize The Mandalorian, Stoke (Eugene Cordero) and offer all of their money to take on the raiders, exactly like Seven Samurai (1954).  The classic by Akira Kurosawa is a brilliant piece of cinema with veteran samurai, Kambei (Takashi Shimura) assemble a group of samurai including Toshiro Mifune’s Kikuchiyo to defend a village from bandits.  When the villagers mention the farm “in the middle of nowhere”, they traveled a day to get there, he accepts their credits.  Cara is alone in the forest with a fire going when The Mandalorian asks about round two and gives her all of the credits.  They go along on a boat and by morning reach the village.  The village kids all gather around Baby Yoda.  

The mother is setting up The Mandalorian’s hut when he enters.  He whirls and draws when the daughter walks up.  They give him some space and later bring food.  Winta goes out with Baby Yoda to play.  He explains that he never removed his helmet in front of anyone since he was a foundling.  She leaves and he removes his helmet to eat the tray of food while watching Baby Yoda and villagers.  Night starts to fall and Cara with The Mandalorian walk into the forest.  He is using heat vision to track the raiders.  The Mandalorian spots “something big”, the track Cara identifies as an AT-ST!  The All Terrain Scout Transport first appeared on Hoth in Empire Strikes Back (1980), but was effective in the Moon of Endor forests in Return of the Jedi (1983). It is mysterious and deadly unlike the appearances of trilogy vehicles in Star Wars: Rebels.  

Cara Dume's costume at D23 Expo, photo by the author.

The Mandalorian tells the village that they have to leave.  Cara argues with the villagers that the AT-ST and The Mandalorian says they can train the villagers.  Two Samurai!  Cara lays out the plan with a pit to trap the walker and barricades from trees to draw it in.  Omera raises her hand to The Mandalorian’s question of who knows how to use a blaster.  They hand out blasters and blaster rifles.  Cara trains a line-up of villagers with staves.  The Mandalorian tells Omera that they are leaving to draw out the raiders.  Night, they sneak over to the raider’s camp and take down two of them drinking day glow blue juice.  They enter an empty tent filled with two tanks (of the crustaceans?) and The Mandalorian sets a charge.  Cara warns about two raiders entering, then they face more raiders until escaping with the charge set off.  Then they see the red eyes of the Scout Walker!  Very threatening and not a chicken walker at all.  The hints of the AT-ST works like Jaws (1975); the sound, the tracks, and then just the viewports.  

They start to run as the AT-ST lumbers after them firing.  It doesn’t seem like there would be operators in the AT-ST night and day.  The villagers ready their weapons as Baby Yoda waits with the children in hiding.  The AT-ST like a Troll from Lord of the Rings bursts from the forest, but hesistates at the edge of the trap.  It activates a searchlight and scans the barricades.  The scout walker fires on the village, but Omera and Cara tell the villagers to stay.  Then, the raiders come running from under the legs of the AT-ST!  They have to face the raiders and The Mandalorian hopes to settle Baby Yoda there, but there is a greater threat.  This is a good episode, but I’ve seen it more effectively told in the Clone Wars episode, “Bounty Hunters” (2010) which had Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Ahsoka team up with four bounty hunters, seven, to protect farmers from Hondo Ohnaka. The addition of the monstrous AT-ST and of course Baby Yoda is great, but it is just a shade from a perfect episode.   

Four Bars of Beskar Steel out of Five! 

#TheMandalorian, #Sanctuary, #GinaCarrano, #JuliaJones.