Happy Birthday Chris Pine!

Happy Birthday Chris Pine!  One of Pine’s early roles was playing Nicholas Devereaux in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).  He begun the role of playing Kirk in the reboot Star Trek (2009).  He voiced the lead, Jack Forst, in Rise of the Guardians (2012), adaptating the William Joyce books. Pine returned as Kirk in Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).  He starred in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014).  Next, he was in the comedy, Horrible Bosses 2 (2014).  Pine was Cinderella’s Prince in the musical adaptation of Into the Woods (2014).  Then, Pine was Caleb, a new character, in the sci fi adpatation of the Richard O’Brien book, Z for Zachariah (2015).  Eric was played by Pine in the comedy series, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp (2015). 

In the true life drama, The Finest Hours (2016), Pine played Bernie Webber, part of the Coast Guard involved in a daring rescue.  Captain Kirk was again played by Pine in Star Trek Beyond (2016).  In 2017, Pine had the iconic role of Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman.  He was back as Eric in Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later (2017).  A Wrinkle in Time (2018) based on the Madeleine L’Engle novel starred Pine as Mr. Murray.  Pine was Robert Bruce, Earl of Carrick in the historical drama, Outlaw King (2018).  He voiced the Peter Parker Spider-Man in the animated film, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018).  Pine investigated the case of Fauna Hodel in the drama mini-series, I Am the Night, with some episodes directed by Patty Jenkins.  They collaborated again in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020). He has upcoming the Dungeons & Dragons, based on the fantasy role-playing game, out in 2023!  Happy Birthday Chris Pine!

#ChrisPine, #StarTrek, #IntoTheWoods, #TheFinestHours, #WonderWoman, #AWrinkleInTime, #OutlawKing, #SpiderManIntoTheSpiderVerse, #IAmTheNight, #WonderWoman1984.    

What If…, “The World Lost Its Mightiest Heroes?”, Review!

What If…? episode three focuses on deadly consequences for the formation of the Avengers in this alternate world!  It begins with the looming title, MONDAY”, and then a closeup of Nick Fury’s (Samuel L. Jackson) face.  He talks about the Avenger Initiative, but Fury is cut off by Black Widow (Lake Bell) in the car.  Bell voices Poison Ivy in the Harley Quinn animated series.  She points out Iron Man sitting on marquee at the Randy’s Donut from Iron Man 2 (2010).  Fury brings Stark (Mick Wingert) into the bakery.  Wingert voiced Iron Man in the 2017-2020 Spider-Man cartoon.  He is suffering from the poisoning of the palladium core that powers his suit.  Fury orders Black Widow to inject lithium dioxide to help with the poison, but Stark collapses!  Black Widow reports that he died!  The Watcher tells the story of one week where Iron Man faced Whiplash, the Hulk is first seen, and Thor arrives on Earth.  

Then, we get “TUESDAY”, Agent Coulson (Clark Gregg) reports to Fury about Mjolnir.  This is the first time since we’ve seen Coulson, outside of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., since The Avengers (2012).  Yes, it is a flashback and an alternate world, but still it’s nice that Coulson is back.  Fury tells Coulson to set a perimeter to block the locals and that he will be heading there. Brock Rumlow (Frank Grillo), last seen in Avengers: Endgame (2019), escorts Black Widow to Fury.  She is later to be taken to New York to see Alexander Pierce, Secretary of the World Security Council, he also appeared in Endgame.  Fury speaks to Black Widow confidentially and wants her to investigate the assassin who is inside S.H.I.E.L.D. and replaced the antidote.  She is taken away in a truck, Rumlow is in the front seat, and Black Widow easily takes down the agents.  The thumping is heard by Rumlow who has the truck stopped, he opens the cargo doors, and finds only unconscious agents.  

At the Puente Antiguo, New Mexico site, thunder rumbles from an incoming storm.  Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) debriefs Fury on what they know about the hammer.  A guard is tackled by a dark figure.  Fury wonders about who will come for it as more agents are taken down from the shadows.  It starts to rain, Coulson has found one of the agents, and sounds the alarm.  The intruder is seen by Coulson and he reports to Fury that he has “really great hair”, funny.  Hawkeye spots Thor from his bucket and agrees with Coulson.  Fury wants Hawkeye to wait, lightning crackles in the sky, and an arrow strikes Thor killing him!  Hawkeye repeats that he didn’t loose the arrow!  Agents target Hawkeye with laser sights from their rifles.  This should be very suspicious to Fury, two Avengers down, who both claim to be innocent of assassination.  Kinda sad we didn’t get Hemsworth’s voice.  The episode does remind me of the What If? comic book issue #3 (1977), "What If The Avengers Had Never Been?" 

Hawkeye goes over the events in his cell while Coulson and Fury watch from behind the privacy wall.  Fury says the blood tests on Thor read that he is a thousand years old and from another world.  He goes in to talk with Hawkeye.  The agent seems to be asleep, when Fury taps him with his boot, he collapses!  Hawkeye has also died and Coulson says they are running a tox screening.  If the first team falls, I think there may be replacements; Falcon, Agent 13, War Machine (if he can work out Stark’s tech), possibly Sif if they investigate Thor’s death, or Spider-Man (maybe too early)?  The others may be too early before they get powers or in distant outer pace.   “WEDNESDAY”, we shift to Culver University, Virginia, Dr. Elizabeth Ross (Stephanie Panisello) is walking when she is met by Natasha Romanoff.  Panisello takes over from Liv Tyler and is a voice artist working in video games and the Camp Halohead (2019) animated series.  Black Widow needs Betty’s help in examining the syringe that killed Stark.  Betty determines that it is clean, but suspects that a dart was sent from the needle.  

Natasha says that it may be nanotech.  Betty sends her away, but Natasha notices the Stanley’s Pizza Parlor hat on a table.  The same place Bruce Banner was working at in Incredible Hulk (2008), this really sets that movie into the MCU where we only saw glimpses of scenes in other movies.  Natasha gets a call from Fury that Clint Barton is dead, she wants to kill his murderer, Fury says that the assassin is targeting candidates on the Avengers Initative list.  The last candidates are Natasha and Bruce Banner.  She is about to enter a closet, but Betty tries to block her, and out comes Banner (Mark Ruffalo)!  This is the FIRST time, Ruffalo voiced Banner in a Hulk project outside of the Avengers movies!  Natasha wants them to leave hearing helicopters in the distance which is the arrival of General Ross and the army!  Coulson drives to the hammer location when a beam comes down from Asgard.  It is the arrival of an army of Asgardians carrying spears, the Warriors Three, Sif (Jaime Alexander), and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) with the Destroyer!  Loki has the Casket of Ancient Winters and wants the killer of his brother!  Natasha and Fury have to uncover the murderer before Loki brings down his army!  There are a few more cameos, but the ending really weakens a great episode of What If…?   

 

Four Lithium Dioxide Antidotes out of Five!  

#WhatIf, #WorldLostItsMightiestHeroes, #LakeBell, #Mick Wingert #StephaniePanisello

Fight Girls #2 Review!

 Frank Cho’s Fight Girls builds on the contest between six women (four were lost last issue!) to rule the Empire, but there may be a conspiracy behind it!  The first issue ended with the prime minister hiring an operative, Agent Matteo, to find out about Xandra Blackwater!  Issue #2 features a Cho cover with the eyepatch wearing 7, the backside of 3, and the head of a giant snapping turtle, above the dark haired 10.  The surviving contestants, we have lost 1, 5, 6, and 9, walk up to the teleport platform of the floating city, Grace Point One.  There is the close-up of short-haired contestant, 2, Jaxa Wyman, as they are transported to the desert with several buttes.  This is “Challenge 2: Desert”, there is a two page spread of the desert, contestants, with camera drones floating overhead, and a series of vertical panels.  Jaxa sees the teleport pad goal on a butte which she estimates to the eye-patched 7, Xandra Blackwater, to be 10 miles away.  Xandra reaches for a rock so Jaxa holds her back with her leg extended in a kick.  

Xandra explains that she was trying to warn Jaxa and throws the rock at the sand.  Two large worms burst out of the sand, they have splayed seven labrum at the edge of their mouths, and covered with small horns, Graboids!  The commentators call them Worms of White Sands and that the area is called Hell’s Sandbox.  Xandra starts to run while the others are stunned at the sight.  Jaxa stays behind and then uses her gymnastic skills to evade the worms.  The newscasters note she was the champion at the Pan-Continental Games.  She is able to outrun a worm.  Xandra smiles to 8, Rache Lauren,  admiting she did her survival training in the desert for the corps.  A military woman?  She has the advantage here.  At Helgrave, the City Hall Records department, Agent Mateo asks for the data on Xandra Blackwater, saying he works for Cat Fancy magazine.  The receptionist looks like a goofy version of Ed Grimley, I must say.  We see him scrolling through Xandra’s records, all of her family died due to a gas leak.  The records of the Blackwater family, suddenly includes Xandra, and then she is missing from the screen. 

He finds an address at Sector 14, moving to different suites, the receptionist contacts someone about the records check.  Jaxa and 8 are running, when a giant scorpion emerges from the sand, it’s tail tries to strike Jaxa, but she is too fast for it.  The commentators call it a King Crawler.  A slightly smaller sized scorpion than the one in Ray Harryhausen’s Clash of the Titans (1981). 8 and Jaxa run towards a canyon with the King Crawler following them.  Above the canyon, Xandra strains to push over a boulder, and it stomps the King Crawler.  Jaxa suspects that Xandra tried to kill them. They have reached the butte with the teleport pad.  Jaxa runs forward, not fearing any trap.  The Kaiju-sized turtle smashes upwards, sending Jaxa and Xandra flying while 8 can only watch.  Another Harryhausen creature was the giant turtle in One Million Years B.C. (1966).  It is called a Rock Turtle by the newscasters.  This may be an alien world, but turtles are aquatic, tortoises are land based.  Contestant #3, Kelsey Otu, is crushed by the Rock Turtle as 4, Tora Winter, takes cover.  The creature smashes the way to the teleport pad.  Above the Rock Turtle’s shell is Xandra and some others.  

They debate on what to do while Xandra gets a running start and leaps the distance to the teleport pad!  She smiles, but trips up Jaxa, Xandra pulls her down and gets 2 in a neck lock.  While they struggle, 10, Pondo Shen, and 8, Rache Lauren, run past them.  They are teleported back with Pondo reveling in her victory.  Xandra pushes away Jaxa and teleports away.  It looks like there is a rivalry with 7 and 2, which would be 9 times the fun.  Meanwhile, 4 is still trapped by the Rock Turtle, she throws a rock to distract it, and makes her run. This is actually up the turtle’s back to reach the teleport pad!  At Helgrave Sector 5, the Shady Pines Nursing Home, the operative is shown Gladys McSwiggin.  She suffers from a failing memory and apparently likes cats.  The man injects her with a neuro enhancer which will temporarily return her memory, but kills her!  He shows her picture of Xandra Blackwater, whom she does not recognize, she says Xandra died in a school fire!  Xandra has faked her identity?, so what is her plan, to finish off the contestants and disqualify herself?  The big question is who is McSwiggin?  A retired woman, owner of a pub, or an animal expert?  A nice tribute to Ray Harryhausen that is calling for a film adaptation!  Fight Girls keeps the action and mystery going with the McSwiggin mystery!  

Four Drones out of Five! 

#FightGirls, #FrankCho, #HellsSandbox, #WormsofWhiteSands, #KingCrawler, #RockTurtle

Wonder Woman #777 Review!

Diana has finally returned to Earth on her journey through the Afterworlds, but it is not the same Earth she remembers!  Wonder Woman #777 features a Travis Moore cover that has Wonder Woman, in her classic skirt, giving the beat down to muscle-bound man who wears the tiara and armored skirt of Wonder Woman, is this a cosplayer or something more?  The variant cover by Becky Cloonan has Wonder Woman standing on a rock with cape, shield, and sword!  “Afterworlds Part 8” features the continuing writing team of Michael W. Conrad and Becky Cloonan with art by Emanuela Lupacchino.  The artist worked on Wonder Woman from issue #56-57 (2018) and #63 (2019).  Diana had escaped from Elfhame, the world of the fairies, and exits from a subway station with Siegfried and Ratatosk.  She wears the skirt that was part of her early appearances.  Siegfried points out that Janus is still a danger in this place and Ratatosk still thinks they might be lost. Diana recognizes the Hall of Justice and says they will find allies there.   

Siegfried finds this world is clean, but blocks a car whose driver shouts at him and honks his horn, the regular time or world lost person running into the present problem!  They enter and Diana points out the statues of the Justice League, Ratatosk remarks that the Wonder Woman statue has no head, and she notices something very strange about the statues.  Floating above them in red uniform and blue cape is a Martian woman, Diana says she is Miss Martian, and the stranger says Diana wears the uniform of Dane of Elysium!  Wonder Woman asserts she’s not an imposter and the other woman says she isn’t Miss Martian, she’s Marsha, Marsha Manhunter!  In a title splash page, we see the statues in full including Superwoman, Marsha says Diana is on Earth-11.  This is a gender switched world of superheroes that first appeared in Superman/Batman #23 (2005). Then, we get Janus’ God Scraper opening the Earth-11 world at a prison of some kind.   

  

Janus enters the prison of the Exile and says she will help the prisoner if he joins her.  This man wants to destroy the Justice Guild and Janus gives him the magic lasso.  At the Hall of Justice, the Justice Guild is assembled at a large table.  Aquawoman says they determined that Wonder Woman is from a parallel dimension.  Diana explains the threat of Janus and Aquawoman commits the Justice Guild to help her.  Deadman appears and tells them that Janus is on Earth-11.  There is seems to be a connection with Diana and Janus besides looking somewhat alike.  There is an explosion at the window that tosses several heroes aside.  Superwoman recognizes the villain, it is Wonder Man!, the name does make me think of the Marvel hero, Simon Williams, introduced in The Avengers #9 (1964).  He  babbles about liberation for the oppressed men.  Wonder Man then strikes Superwoman and then Batwoman throws her batarangs at him.  He is going to kill her first.  Wonder Woman checks on Deadman and has Ratatosk watch over him.  

Diana joins the battle with Wonder Man taking on Superwoman and wrapping his lasso around Aquawoman’s trident.  The villain has contempt for Siegfried who takes on Wonder Man with his sword.  Siegfried takes on Misogynist Man who wields his gauntlet and Aquawoman’s trident.  Star Sapphire binds the villain while Superwoman has cleared the building.  Wonder Woman punches her male counterpart and then chokes him with her lasso.  It is interesting to see the battle of genders, Wonder Woman fights, but fights for peace.  Wonder Man seems to want to commit murder, Elysium Island must be full of killers.  She slams the villain down and Superwoman invites Siegfried to join the Justice Guild.  Janus then finally appears and battles Wonder Woman.  Star Sapphire and Batwoman bind up Wonder Man while the fight goes on.  Aquawoman and Superwoman get ready to join the battle when Wonder Woman gives the order.  The others have to contain Wonder Man while Janus admits to bringing over Dr. Psycho to Asgard.  Janus brings the blade of the God Scraper close to Diana’s face.  Siegfried turns from the battle to see Diana’s life is in danger!  

Who comes to her rescue?  Ratatosk!  Biting Janus’ hand as only a squirrel can!  She flings him away and Diana gives the order to bring the full might of the Justice Guild!  Superwoman sends Star Sapphire to use her power to save the squirrel!  Siegfried and Wonder Woman team up to take on Janus.  Diana wrests free the God Scraper, but is unable to use its power and Janus slashes her across the face with it!  Deadman gets Janus in a lock, but he is slammed into the ground by Janus.  She opens another portal with the God Scraper and Wonder Man feels betrayed that she left him behind.  Batwoman wants Wonder Woman to enter the portal to save the future.  I’m interested in seeing more of the Justice Guild in a special or limited series.  The portal starts to close, but Wonder Woman holds it open!  The Justice Guild struggle to keep Wonder Man down and as Wonder Woman steps into the portal.  It leads to a desolate world with the trio including a nice moment with Wonder Woman and squirrel!  The back up, “Truth Hurts” has Young Diana confronting Hippolyta and she explains that it was about protecting her sister Antiope.  Her story starts at the beginning from the Cavern of Souls and the Amazons betrayal by Herakles and Theseus!  Wonder Woman #777 is a fun story about counterparts, Earth-11 and Diana facing Janus, the only thing missing is more of the Justice Guild!

Four Lassos of Truth out of Five! 

#WonderWoman, #EmanuelaLupacchino, #Earth11, #WonderMan, #MarshaManhunter, #Aquawoman, #Superwoman, #Batwoman, #StarSapphire

Happy Birthday Ray Bradbury!

Happy Birthday Ray Bradbury! Ray Bradbury was a prolific writer who made a mark in fantastic fiction and gave a hopeful vision of the future.  His first story, “Hollerbochen’s Dilemma” (1938) was printed in Forrest J. Ackman’s Imagination!   Ackerman helped pay for Bradbury to attend New York’s First World Science Fiction Convetion in 1939.  He was also invited by Ackerman to join the Los Angeles Science-Fiction Society.  Bradbury’s first story collection was Dark Carnival (1947).  The Martian Chronicles based on his 1950 collecting his Martian stories was made into a miniseries in 1980.  It is screaming for a film adaptation especially with The Martian (2011) and of course planned flights to Mars!  One of his short story, “A Sound of Thunder” (1952) inspired many adaptations.  It was a 1989 episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater.  A Sound of Thunder (2005) was released in theaters, but twisted the original story and failed at the box office.  

The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953) had a scene out of Bradbury’s story, “The Fog Horn” (1951) which made a life long friendship with Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen.   Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 novel was made into a film in 1966 directed by Francois Truffaut, but featured Julie Christie more than focusing on the theme from Ray Bradbury’s highly regarded novel.  There is a recent film in 2018 starring Michael B. Jordan starring as the fireman tasked to destroy books.  Bradbury worked on the screenplay for John Huston’s adaptation of Moby Dick (1956).  His play was turned into a film, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit (1998), based on a 1958 short story.  It had an incredible cast that went direct to video.  The 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone, “I Sing The Body Electric”, was written by Ray Bradbury.  He later adapted it into a short story in 1969.  Fahrenheit 451 is a 1953 novel was made into a film in 1966 directed by Francois Truffaut.  There is a recent film starring Michael B. Jordan starring as the fireman tasked to destroy books. 

In 1962, he wrote the novel, Something Wicked This Way Comes.  It was adapted into a 1983 Disney film.  He consulted with Disney on the American Pavilion for the 1964 World’s Fair.  Bradbury also consulted on Spaceship Earth at EPCOT.  There was a television series, The Ray Bradbury Theater, which ran from 1985 to 1992.  One of Ray Bradbury’s book that was most influential to me is Zen in the Art of Writing (1990), I highly recommitted it to any creative person.  In 1993, Topps Comics produced a comic series, Ray Bradbury Comics printed EC reprints and original adaptations.  An animated television film, narrated by Ray Bradbury, was made of The Halloween Tree in 1993 which won him the Emmy Award.  In 2007, he was awarded the Pulitzer Citation for his work.  We lost Ray Bradbury in 2012 with “Author of Fahrenheit 451” on his headstone, but he lives on in his writing.  Happy Birthday Ray Bradbury!   

#RayBradbury, #TheMartianChronicles, #ASoundofThunder, #Fahrenheit451, #ZenInTheArtOfWriting.  

Batman `89 #1 Review!

Batman `89 Returns with the screenwriter, Sam Hamm, and art by Joe Quinones!  There was an adaptation of movie by Dennis O’Neil and Jerry Ordway.  All of the other Batman films were adapted up to Batman Begins The Official Movie Adaptation (2005) by Scott Beatty and Kilian Plunkett.  There was a mini-comics found in cereals with General Mills Presents Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice #1-4 (2016).  The comic book that brought back tv and now movie heroes is Batman `66 written by Jeff Parker.  Wonder Woman `77 #1-4 (2016) were specials written by Marc Andreyko and other writers.  Eventually, this led to the limited series, Batman `66 Meets Wonder Woman `77 #1-6 (2017) with writing duties handled by Marc Andreyko and Jeff Parker.  Hopefully, the new movie series will cross-over!  Batman `89 #1 is part of a six issue limited series.  There are a number of variant covers including one by Jerry Ordway. 

Sam Hamm was the screenwriter of the Tim Burton movie and also wrote the Batman: Blind Justice storyline in Detective Comics #598-600 (1989).  Artist Joe Quinones worked on a few issues of Batman including Batman `66 #3 (2013).  Quinones provides the cover that has Batman in the movie’s classic pose with his cape spread out like a bat as he descends into a Gotham City’s alley.  “Shadows” opens in Gotham City on October 31st, Halloween.  It is night and we focus on a building with an angel statue at the top and the Janus restaurant.  A couple is having drinks, one is Harvey Dent, this is the Billy Dee Williams’ character from the first movie, it is a loss that we never got to see Dent in the Batman sequel or potential sequels.  Two-Face as of course in Batman Forever (1995) so it looks like we finally get Billy Dee Williams as the villain!  

The woman is Barbara, whom we later find is the daughter of Commissoner Gordon, Batgirl!  The first time we see her in the Tim Burton Batmanverse.  She was introduced in Batman and Robin (1997) with Joel Schumacher’s version.  Of course, we have a Two Face reference with the name of the restaurant, the two-faced Roman god.  Harvey is looking to be state attorney general, but Barbara is disturbed at something moving outside of the window.  We see the silhouette of the Dark Knight at a building edge.  A news reporter (not Vicki Vale, unnamed), is noting three days without violence, but the mayor (unnamed) has said Halloween is not safe kids.  Out on the streets, there are cameos of characters from other Tim Burton films.  A man in a fedora with a clown nose is counting down while we also see Harvey taking out a ring.  To help with Barbara’s decision, he has her flip a coin which she notices has two heads on each side.  Another Two Face hint.  

They are interrupted by an explosion.  Um, Batman is checking on Dent, rather than the criminals setting up explosives?  Slappy with clown face, hard hat, and Joker (like the comics) button contacts his associates to keep the police busy.  Two women with orange wigs, clown make-up, and purple dresses shatter a window to start the riot.  This is kinda like the `66 Batman show with henchmen and henchwomen.  Batman contacts Commissoner Gordon on top of a roof.  Batman glides over a helicopter with his cape extended.  The helicopter hooks three bank vans.  Incorrect helicopter to lift such a load maybe a Chinook.  Batman lands on top of a bank van and fires a grappling hook from his gauntlet.  I’m not certain how a thin grappling line could affect a helicopter.  The helicopter is dragged down and explodes.  Some gunmen are also on the rooftop and start shooting at Batman, his suit deflects the bullets, what about his head?  The scene is a little confusing, you hear voices, and then next panel, "Ack, Ack, Ack", and bullets bouncing off Batman.  It is implied that there are guns.  

A rocket is fired at Batman, he dodges it, and it causes a giant penny to tip over.  This is a fixture of the Batcave in the comics, first appearing in World’s Finest #30 (1947), as a trophy from his battle with the Plunderer.  It starts rolling down and Batman uses it as cover like Indy and the gong in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984).  Batman voice activates the shields of the Batmobile and calls it in.  As the Batmobile streaks by, the police helicopter’s loudspeaker has the criminals scatter.  This is in front of Harvey and Barbara, a clown with a green mohawk runs past them, and Harvey chases after him.  He uses his watch around his fist to strike the thief.  Then, brings out a gun, he flips a coin to determine the punk’s fate.  Barbara runs up hearing gun shots and Harvey explains that he was just trying to scare the thief.  Morning, Alfred opens the curtains bringing sunlight and waking up Bruce Wayne.  Alfred informs him that he has a visitor, it’s Harvey, at his breakfast table.  He announces his engagement to Barbara Gordon.  Closeup of Bruce Wayne’s face as Harvey says he wants Bruce’s help to take down Batman!  

The reporter, again no name, points out the National Guard units brought in after the riot.  Harvey argues a point that Batman causes more destruction than he saves, doesn’t Wayne pay for building damages?  Bruce looks more like Reed Richards than Michael Keaton in one panel.  Harvey accuses Gordon of having Batman as a part of an elite squad disbeliving that Batman could be only one person.  These are serious charges, unconfirmed, that he is making against the potential father-in-law of the woman he wants to marry!  As Harvey drives away from Wayne Mansion, he calls Sgt. Barbara Gordon at her office.  She details the evidence they have on Batman and his weapons.  So Barbara is betraying her father checking on Batman?  It looks like Harvey is going for the Gotham City Council to remove Commissioner Gordon.  This all leads to the Burnside neighborhood where Harvey is working with a man named Mr. Otis.  Batman also encounters a new vigilante there.  Is this Batgirl or another vigilante?  The characters act a little off from the basic comic book characters and some panels are confusing, but it is great to see Batman `89 again!      

        

Four Batarangs out of Five!

#Batman89, #SamHamm, #JoeQuinones, #HarveyDent, #BarbaraGordon

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft!

Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft!  Lovecraft is an icon in horror faction published mainly in pulp magazines.  He followed in the footsteps of Edgar Allan Poe, but did not achieve Poe’s recognition.  Lovecraft was known for crafting the Cthulhu Mythos which was featured in his story “The Call of Cthulhu” (1928).  It was made into a film by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society  in 2005.  The Haunted Palace (1963) starring Vincent Price used elements of Poe, but based it’s plot on “The Case of Charles Dexter Ward.”  Lovecraft’s stories are guilty of overt racism and misogyny in a few stories, but his horror is unparalleled.  His story, “The Dunwich Horror” (1929) was made into a horror film with the same title in 1970.  Rod Serling’s television show, Night Gallery adapted “Cool Air” (1971) and “Pickman’s Model” (1971).  There was the horror movie Re-Animator (1985) based on the Lovecraft story, Herbert West - Reanimator (1922), it led to two sequels.  If you need a good book to get started I recommend The Annotated H.P. Lovecraft by S.T. Joshi (1997). 

                                            H.P. Lovecraft figure, Guillermo del Toro: At Home with Monsters exhibit, LACMA, 2016, photo by the author. 

In 2001, Stuart Gordon directed Dagon which is based on Lovecraft’s The Shadow over Innsmouth (1936), one of my favorites of his stories.  The film lapses into horror movie cliches, but is the movie that I think most captures the atmosphere of Lovecraft’s work.  One of his most brilliant works was the novel, At the Mountains of Madness (1931) which Guillermo del Toro has attempted to make into a film.  If you are interested in Lovecraft films check out The Lurker in the Lobby: A Guide to the Cinema of H.P. Lovecraft (2006) by Andrew Migliore and John Strysik. H.P. Lovecraft has influenced role-playing games with the Call of Cthulhu game.  Spinning out of the Arkham Horror game is The Dark Waters Trilogy with the first book Ghouls of the Miskatonic (2011) by Graham MacNeill.  In comic books, I found the best vision was by Esteban Maroto who collected his work in Lovecraft: The Myth of Cthulhu. Alan Moore wrote the limited series Providence (2015-2017) for Avatar Press which was an adult treatment of Lovecraft’s stores.  Matt Ruff wrote the novel, Lovecraft Country (2016) which was turned into an HBO series in 2020.  I always give the warning to be cautious reading Lovecraft, his dark world view can start to affect you, but his world building in horror fiction is incredible. Happy Birthday H.P. Lovecraft! 

#HPLovecraft, #TheCallOfCthulhu, #AtTheMountainsOfMadness, #LovecraftCountry 

The Outpost, “All We Do Is Say Goodbye”, Review!

Last episode, Janzo, Wren, and the others are looking for the key demanded by Falista. This episode is the return of Imogen Waterhouse to The Outpost, at least as director!  She directed the ninth episode of last season.  On the road to the Capital, guards are watching over the cart holding Zed and Talon.  He tries to use Zinj to command a guard to give him the key.  The other guards bring out their swords and Tobin says he warned the guards about Zed’s power.  Tobin and Falista think they are going to the Capital to give up their Zinjs.  Falista still believes that the demons have spoken to her and trusts them.  The green Zinj enters another coffin and wakens Sister Janya (Tamara Aleksic) her fellow demon speaks to her, Jaia uses her power to drain the lives of the people of the Capital, then she emerges with her staff.  At the Outpost, Wren is studying a book by the fireplace, Nedra wants Wren to teach the children.  She has taught the children how to survive in the Plane of Ashes.  Janzo wants her to research and not worry about the children?  

THE OUTPOST - - “All We Do Is Say Goodbye” - - JESSICA GREEN, MAEVE COURTIER-LILLY - - Photo: Aleksandar Letic/NBCU International -- 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

A cart reaches the Outpost, Luna has snuck in the hay stack of a wagon, and tries to move through the city with her hood hiding her identity.  She knocks on the door, but Talon is missing, and she sees the passageway down.  Janzo is searching the underground with a torch.  He sees a lever when Luna disturbs him.  She activates the lever and it blows a wind that activates lights in a massive chamber and lifts up a door!  Night, Wren hums the children asleep.  Nedra is frustrated over her love of Janzo.  Janzo and Luna explore the chamber.  Luna sees a symbol of the six.  Janzo gives her the update that Talon and Zed were taken away by Falista and Tobin.  Luna leaves the chamber.  Morning, Talon is asleep and Zed wants her to open a portal.  She asks about Nedra, they used to be friends.  Zed brings up that she should help bring more Blackbloods.  Garrett tries to argue with a guard while behind bars.  

Luna gives the guard two crystals and he leaves, but she swipes his cage key. She calls for the guard and knocks him out taking back her crystals.  Luna and Garret take horses and escape through the gate, poor security!  Wren returns to the lab and brings up the child, he is stunned, Janzo is offended at the Blackbloods’ perspective on their relationship.  He takes her to the chamber.  Wren is stunned at the sight and then Janzo points out the door and the symbols.  She sees a symbol of the Plane of Ashes.  A camp with Talon and Zed covered with blinds to a pole.  They found a hexagon stones and Wren points a dark panel covered with tree roots.  They pull out a stone coffin.  Janzo points out that there be a thousand coffins, a world of the Walking Dead?  Two guards at the camp are taken down by Garrett and Luna.  They move onto other guards and Garrett removes Talon’s blind fold. 

THE OUTPOST - - “All We Do Is Say Goodbye” - - ANAND DESAI-BAROCHIA, ADAM JOHNSON, IZUKA HOYLE - - Photo: Aleksandar Letic/NBCU International -- 2020 Outpost TV LLC. Courtesy of Electric Entertainment.

A guard walks and trips over a body, he starts to warn the camp, Talon throws a dagger, but the guard still warns them.  Tobin uses his Zinj and appears in the forest by Talon and Garret.  His power moves him around them, striking down Tobin, and then Garret.  Tobin holds his sword to Garret’s neck.  When Garret stands, he takes away the sword, and Tobin gives him his ring to lead The Outpost.  Tobin returns to Falista and she sees it as a failure of the mission.  Morning, Janzo, Munt, and Wren have brought the coffin to the lab, Munt checks the coffin which is a pod.  A hand falls out, they start to pull apart the pod, and there is a man who looks like the demons with dark bumps around his face, but with a more warm complexion.  The original Blackbloods?  In the forest, Garret and Talon meet with Zed and Luna with their horses.  Luna tells them about the symbol that she remembers from the sanctuary.  She wants to go with Luna to the sanctuary while Garret and Zed head back to The Outpost. 

He thinks they always say goodbye.  Janzo sees the demon is choking and wants to save him.  He chokes up black blood.  Janzo mixes up some liquid to help him breathe.  The creature spits up something at Wren.  She walks to the Blackbloods and wants to help all children.  Nedra wants to keep the bloodline pure and Wren defends their child which makes Janzo cry.  They kiss.  At the Capital gate, Falista sees the city looks empty, and walks with Tobin into the Capital.  They see the bodies of all of the citizens.  Falista still believes in the gods, but Tobin knows that they are not gods.  Vorta orders them to go to them.  At the woods, Talon explains to Luna that she is going with her because she was upset.  Luna smiles.  They have reached the sanctuary.  The wind is blowing wildly, but they walk to the tower with the bell chiming.  It is dark in this structure, Talon finds some skeletons, Luna says she hid there from the Prime Order.  She cries at the loss of her sister.  There is a danger to Falista and Tobin since Vorta wants to waken her people with the skelicor.  One of whom is brought back by Janzo, a threat?, or is this three controlling them?  The Outpost episode ramps up the threat of Vorta and friends!   

Four Daggers out of Five!  

#TheOutpost, #AllWeDoIsSayGoodbye, #Janya, #TamaraAleksic 

What If… “T’Challa Became a Star-Lord?” Review!

The Watcher looks out to the stars this time and checks on Morag, it is the planet where we first see Starlord in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and returned to the planet in Avengers: Endgame (2019).  The Watcher poses the question of destiny.  A very familiar helmet and outfit of Starlord walks towards the Orb, the purple Power Stone.  He takes out the triangular device to bring the Orb from its field.  We also see Korath (Djimon Housou) asking for the stone.  We hear a different voice and he removes the face shield from his helmet, it’s T’Challa!, best known the prime reality as Black Panther!  He is Star-Lord!  Korath is awe-struck and fan boys out.  His guards raise their rifles, but Korath thinks this is despectful.  He tells the guards that Star-Lord is famous from robbin from the rich and giving to the poor.  Housou turns in a comedic performance that I wish was in the movies.  T’Challa says he is not actually a lord, which Korath calls, “Classic Star Lord.”  Still, he is forced to take the Orb on Ronan’s orders. 

Korath considers it an honor to spar with Star Lord.  T’Challa tells him to use his rifle, dodges it, they fight and Korath gives him a punch to the nose.  T’Challa retreats as Korath tries to take a swing at him.  Korath ends up striking the field that contained the Orb which shocks him unconscious.  The guards open fire, Star Lord takes cover by the Orb column.  He tosses the device which knocks out the two guards.  Star Lord changes his mind and takes along Korath.  There are dozens of guards who have their rifles trained on him.  Star-Lord says,”A Ravager never flies solo.”  No answer.  He repeats it and the guard is confused.  There is some whistling as the Yaka arrow takes down the soldiers.  Then, it flies into the coat of Yondu (Michael Rooker).  They talk about the old days and Star Lord says he wants to use the Orb to save the sun of the Krylorians.  This is an alien people introduced in Incredible Hulk #269 (1982).  T’Challa has changed Yondu’s ways as a pirate.  The Ravager ship lands in a cloud of dust and flies them away seen by the Watcher.  

This flashes back to Wakanda in 1998.  The young T’Challa (Maddix Robinson) is restless staying in Wakanda.  Robinson provided voices in Frozen II (2019). His father, T’Chaka (John Kani) warns him about the wars and hate in the outside world.  At night, T’Challa throws his spear and runs through the force field dome protecting Wakanda.  He is suddenly spotlighted by the Ravager ship’s lights.  The Watcher explains that they were sent to find the son of the Celestial, Ego.  This is the character played by Kurt Russell in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017).  T’Challa happily is taken into the ship by Kraglin (Sean Gunn) and Taserface (Chris Sullivan), the latter was introduced in Vol. 2.  The captain, Yondu, is not happy that they had mistaken T’Challa for Peter Quill.  Kraglin tries to explain that they tracked high energy readings where they found him.  T’Challa says that his home was built over a Vibranium meterorite.  I always wondered, especially now that there is a space centered story, where did the Vibranium come from, and was it an accident that it struck Wakanda?  Yondu is surprised that the boy is not stunned by being captured by aliens, he kinda takes a liking to him.  He offers T’Challa the chance to explore other worlds.  The boy smiles.  

This shifts to “20 Years Later”, the Ravagers land on the planet to get some drinks.  Korath wants to know if Star Lord has a favorite Ravager, he is so desperate for approval, an ongoing, very funny character point. He goes over their adventures including when Star Lord stopped Thanos.  Then, the massive arm of Thanos (Josh Brolin) goes around Korath’s shoulder.  Star Lord had convinced him to be a Ravager!  Still, he thinks about his plan to take out half of the universe.  A funny Thanos!  It looks like this Star Lord is spreading hope across the universe more effective than Quill’s Guardians, but still a fun loving group.  Star Lord tries to pay for the drinks from the bartender, Drax (Fred Tatsciore), one of the few changes from the movies to the voice cast, but Tatsciore is a veteran voice artist.  He is currently voicing Lt. Shaxs in Star Trek: Lower Decks.  Then, Drax recognizes Star Lord, the one who saved his world and family!  He has a globe take their picture.  They are interrupted by Nebula (Karen Gillan), not bald and covered by cyborg parts like a Borg.  This is a Nebula with blond hair, she has locks covering her cyborg eye, and a gold dress, a stunning improvement over her movie counterpart.  Nebula's peek-a-boo hair style reminds me of classic beauty, Veronica Lake, who is in the Preston Sturges movie, Sullivan's Travels (1941).  

She calls him Cha Cha.  Star Lord shows Nebula the Orb and she asks what the “big guy”, her father, Thanos thinks of it.  T’Challa says he is now gardening.  Nebula looks at his Wakandan necklace, but Star Lord explains that Yondu found Wakanda destroyed.  She says since he lost his home, he saving others, and then brings up a new job.  Nebula shows him a hologram of the Embers of Genesis, cosmic dust that can transform dying worlds kinda like the Genesis Project in Star Trek.  T’Challa is excited that the Embers could eliminate hunger across the galaxy!  Korath is surprised that Nebula is Thanos’ daughter, they both say, “Adopted”, funny!  She then shows a hologram of Taneleer Tivan, The Collector who has taken Thanos’ place as the threat to the galaxy building a massive collection.  Yondu thinks The Collector the job is too dangerous.  Speaking privately, T’Challa says it is worth the risk, and convinces Yondu to steal from The Collector.  Nebula points out to Star Lord that the Embers are kept in The Collector’s museum at his base, Knowhere, which is the head of the Celestial seen in the first Guardians.  It first appeared in the comics in Nova #8 (2008).  

As the ship reaches Knowhere, Thanos debriefs the team that the Black Orders is acting as The Collector’s security.  Two teams are set for the job laid out by Nebula. Her team has herself and Yondu and they are met by Carina (Ophelia Lovibond).  They have brought a crate to carry the Orb, but really to sneak in Star Lord.  The Collector’s head of security is Proxima Midnight (Carrie Coon).  She is about to scan the crate when Korath volunteers for the distraction, getting into a fight with Thanos!  The security detail led by Corvus Glaive (Tatasciore) brings in all units to stop the riot. Ebony Maw is voiced by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor form the films.  Carina introduces Nebula and Yondu to The Collector (Benicio Del Toro). Star Lord is walking the museum and encounters Howard the Duck (Seth Green)!  He had voiced the duck in Vol. 2.  Somehow, Howard has to help Starlord find the Embers, take on the Black Order and The Collector, and we get what happened to Peter Quill plus some more cameos.  This episode is fitting tribute to Chadwick Boseman extending the Wakandan vision to the galaxy!  There is a dedication to him at the end of the episode.  What If…? seemlessly brings together Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy, not as repeats of the two movies, but a new world with T’Challa changing the universe!                

Five Orbs out of Five! 

#WhatIf, #TChallaBecameAStarLord, #ChadwickBoseman, #JohnKani, #DjimonHounsou, #MichaelRooker, #SeanGunn, #ChrisSullivan, #JoshBrolin, #KarenGillan, #FredTatsciore, #OpheliaLovibond, #SethGreen, #BenicioDetToro, #CarrieCoon, #TomVaughanLawlor