Happy Birthday Samuel L. Jackson!

Happy Birthday Samuel L. Jackson!  One of Jackson’s first movie roles was in the Spike Lee film, School Daze (1988).  Then, he played an unnamed robber foiled by Eddie Murphy’s Prince Akeem in the comedy Coming to America (1988).  Jackson played the dj, Mister Señor Love Daddy, in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing (1989).  He followed it up with Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues (1990).  His first genre picture was in The Exorcist III directed by William Peter Blatty.   He played Stacks Edwards in Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990).  Then, Jackson played Gator Purify in Jungle Fever directed by Spike Lee.  It was playing the computer technician, Arnold, in Jurassic Park (1993) that made Jackson’s lines memorable.  He reached icon status playing Jules Winnfield in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction (1994). Samuel J. Jackson played Zeus Carver in Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995). 

In Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (1997), Samuel L. Jackson played Ordell Robbie.  In 1999, Jackson played Jedi Master Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.  He played the criminal genius, Elijah Price, in Unbreakable (2000).  Jackson returned as Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002).  Agent Augustus Gibbons was played by Jackson in the action movie, xXx (2002).  Next, he played Rufus in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004) directed by Quentin Tarantino.  Jackson had another iconic role voicing Frozone in The Incredibles (2004).  He returned as Agent Augustus in xXx: State of the Union (2005) and then Mace Windu in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005).  Another film with memorable Samuel Jackson lines were in Snakes on a Plane (2006).  In 2007, he voiced the title character in the animated series Afro Samurai.  

Samuel L. Jackson entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe with his cameo as Nick Fury in Iron Man (2008). Later, he returned as Fury in Iron Man 2 (2010) and then Captain America: The First Avenger (2011). Nick Fury helped form the team in The Avengers (2012).  He worked again with Quentin Tarantino in Django Unchained (2012).  Jackson was back as Nick Fury in Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014).  He was the villain Valentine in Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014).  Then, returned as Fury in Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  He was Dolmedes in Spike Lee’s Chi-Raq (2015).  Then, Jackson worked again with Tarantino in the western The Hateful Eight (2015).  xXx: Return of Xander Cage (2017) was also the return of Augustus Gibbons.  

Lieutenant Colonel Preston Packard fought against the king of the kaiju in Kong: Skull Island (2017).  He had the role as hitman, Darius Kincaid, in The Hitman’s Bodyguard (2017).  Nick Fury has a cameo at the end of Avengers: Infinity War (2018).  He also reprised Frozone in The Incredibles 2 (2018).  Next year, he returns as Elijah Price in Glass.  Then, Jackson played a pre-eyepatch Nick Fury in Captain Marvel (2019).  Fury was also at the end with Avengers: Endgame (2019).  “He is a complicated man” in Shaft (2019). Jackson was in the horror sequel Spiral (2021).  Next, Jackson played Moody in the action picture, The Protege (2021).  Darius Kincaid returned played by Jackson in Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard (2021).  He voiced Nick Fury in four episodes of What If…? (2021).  Jackson has upcoming the Disney+ series Secret Invasion and is filming The Marvels (2023).  Happy Birthday Samuel L. Jackson!   

#SamuelLJackson, #SchoolDaze, #Goodfellas, #JurassicPark, #PulpFiction, #MaceWindu,#IronMan, #TheAvengers, #TheHatefulEight, #KongSkullIsland, #TheIncredibles2, #CaptainMarvel, #Shaft, #HitmansWifesBodyguard, #SecretInvasion.  

The Conclusion of Comic Con Revolution Ontario!

Sunday was the last day of Comic Con Revolution Ontario!  It was only a two day event full of wonderful panels and signings.  I was told that it was the perfect length of time for a con, not half-a week, it’s an attend and leave.  I also have to note that the con staff was exceptional, they were very patient with fans in the queues and getting their badge, and helpful in directions and suggestions.  I will also say they were particularly helpful to me when I lost a few items, I’ve been to many cons, but when your attention is distracted, in a rush, sometimes some things may slip past you.  The staff was helpful in recovering the items for me so big thanks to the staff at Comic Con Revolution Ontario!  

                                                               DC Comics Animation Mega Panel at Comic Con Revolution Ontario, photo by the author. 

More con tips.  Considerations for going to a con for another day; first is after a whole day of going to a con, you get a notion of who is there.  Yes, guests are usually listed, but not their full body of work, maybe there is something you are a fan of and realized you can bring something to get signed.  Which is the next part, finding those items that you did not carry with you the first day.  Plus, checking to see if your bag or backpack is too heavy, what do you need to bring?  Water, a snack, or charger?  Lastly, it was getting those pics that you missed the first day.  So that was my task to bring all of the items that I couldn’t find or didn’t know about on day two.  It was expensive to Lyft down to the con for another day, many times I got the suggestion that it would be cheaper to stay at a hotel, true, but I wanted to get those missing items. So warning another con day usually means you will spend more.  

So speaking of which, I went back to the booth of Steven Gordon, I’ve seen some of his artwork at his table. His CV is impressive; X-Men Evolution, which debuted X-23 well before the comics, and after that she appeared in the Logan (2017).  Also, Fire and Ice (1983), which is the ultimate Frank Frazetta barbarian movie.  If you are not familiar, Frank Frazetta is the inspiration for Conan the Barbarian (1982) and many covers for books and comic books.  Check out his site at: http://frankfrazetta.net.  Gordon worked on other Ralph Bakshi movies like Cool World (1992), Brad Pitt as a detective thrown into a cartoon world.  The other film Gordon worked on was The Swan Princess (1994), a charming, non-Disney animated princess.  It was great meeting Steven Gordon and picking up some artwork.  

                                                                                                DC Heroes Cosplayers, photo by the author. 

Panels!  The panel that I attended was the DC Comics Animation Mega Panel.  Diane Pershing said I should check it.  Panelists included George Newburn, Maria Canals-Barrera, Bobby Costanzo, Susan Eisenberg, and Nicholle Tom.  There were so many entertaining stories especially from Constanzo who got everyone laughing with one story.  It is apparent that there is a camaderie with all of the actors.  Pershing said about Poison Ivy, “She’s like Tinkerbell on hormones.”  Susan Eisenberg is working to return Justice League, it can happen like Young Justice with fan support, use the tag, #JLReunion.  Everyone is in place to bring back the Justice League magic so get out there and start trending!  The cosplayers were still impressing con goers. One group formed next to the voice actors, eight cosplayers playing Flash, he was in mid-running pose, Wonder Woman, and a Hawkman with spread wings. There was also a coplayer portraying Tiffany Valentine from the Bride of Chucky (1998) complete with a Chucky doll.  Another fantastic and exhausting con, can’t wait to see what the next Comic Con Revolution Ontario has in store!    

#ComicConRevolutionOntario, #StevenGordon, #DianePershing, #GeorgeNewbern, MariaCanalsBarrera, #BobbyCostanzo, #SusanEisenerg, #NicholleTom, #JLReunion 

Batman `89 #4 Review!

Batman `89 #4 reveals the start of Harvey Dent’s plans and the Robin partnership!  The comic book has a cover by Joe Quinones, also interior art, with the new Robin in yellow mask, black and red uniform with a feathered cape, and bo stick.  The Robin symbol for a signal? Is smashed with Batman watching him on a far corner of a building. “Shadows Chapter Four” also has Sam Hamm as writer.  There is a protest headed to city hall from Burnside.  We also have Lieutenant Harvey Bullock who wants to lead a police detail complete with ballistic shields.  He gets Jim Gordon on the walkie talkie and ignores his direct order.  An officer directs a van driver around the crowd, the drive has the bright orange Robin suit and his van also has the R symbol.  

A large bag outside of the rear of the van is lifted up.  Tensions increase with Bullock and the demonstrators.  Suddenly, massive liquid, paint, splashes down on a van.  A dark figure with a yellow cape throws the bag, it drops down next to the crowd, they find it is full of spray cans.  They use it on the riot soldiers.  The paint splattered Harvey tries to control the situation, but two canisters are thrown down to the police.  Police vans head down the street, a gasoline canister that has a lit fuse falls down at the van blowing it up.  Bullock has seen the situation out of his hands.  Gordon arrives and takes control.  He uses a bullhorn to give the order to stand down so the march can continue. This is seen by Robin, Drake, standing on a rooftop gargoyle against the moon, nice artwork, but he still wants everyone out of his house.  

Bruce Wayne in his Batman suit thanks Alfred for installing the giant penny from the first issue in the Batcave.  Alfred informs Bruce about the disturbance in Burnside which was handled by Gordon, but the butler says the mayor wants him to resign!  For defusing a potentially violent situation caused by an officer who went against his orders?  Gotham City is a strange place.  Alfred has discovered information on Drake Winston on microfilm.  Barbara talks to Harvey Dent in the hospital with bandages on one side of his face.  She wants to know about Bruce Wyane’s offer of reconstructive surgery.  Harvey grasps her arm looking for his coin to flip.  Barbara is horrified and calls Bruce.  In the darkened hallways of the hospital, Harvey emerges from an elevator, and strikes an orderly.  He takes his badge and begins using it to remove the bandages.  

Harvey looks in the mirror and sees the twisted, scarred right side of his face, the rest is in shadow, very cinematic.  Outside of the Burnside garage, Drake sees a robin on a Dead End sign.  Alfred drives up and Drake tells Mr. Otis he doesn’t want anyone to know where he was going.  Later, Alfred leads him into Wayne Mansion, then shows him around a hall with paintings.  Bruce Wayne meets with Drake who wants him to identify the arsonists that scarred Harvey Dent.  They go over their statements to the police, Drake wants him to admit to beating them, but Bruce admits it was Catwoman.  Drake laughs at Bruce, then shows him a flask of battery acid, but gets tossed around by Bruce.  Still, Drake throws the vial, it is of course not acid.  Alfred covers Drake with a taser.  The duo admit to their acts, Bruce taking down the thief at the fire escape, and Drake with the cops at the march.  

Barbara is at her office working on a computer when she is met by the computer expert, Selina Kyle!  Selina is there to deal with the Kitkat virus, must be set up by her, and Barbara notes that she started out at Shreck Enterprises.  This is the business from Batman Returns (1992).  They are interrupted by an officer who tells her that Harvey Dent is missing along with painkillers.  There might be a man covering his face at Barbara’s apartment.  Barbara stops by to see Selina who says she will check her hard drive. Harvey in a trench coat is checking Barbara’s laptop when officers search the apartment.  He uses the elevator to escape and then heads to the subway tunnels.  Harvey hears the gravelly Two Face voice, a split personality like Jekyll and Hyde.  This is his new headquarters away from people.  We also have the partnership of Drake and Bruce start to form.  Selina Kyle, Catwoman, is getting closer to this Batman story.  Two Face is just at the beginning of his operation.  Batman `89 continues the Tim Burton films bringing Robin and Two Face’s stories to a collison!     

Four Batarangs out of Five!

#Batman89, #SamHamm, #Joequinones, #SelinaKyle, #ShreckEnterprises   

Comic Con Revolution Ontario - Saturday!

Comic Con Revolution Ontario has returned and with a number of fun guests and experiences!  It ends tomorrow, you can buy tickets, $25 adults, at the con or at https://www.showclix.com/event/ccront-2021.  I’ve had a great time so I’m thinking of going tomorrow!  First, there was a line outside of the metal grilles, but it was not a long wait.  Plus, it is always great to share con experiences with other fans.  A con worker went by to check vaccination cards.  Then, there was the security check.  You then go into the con to scan your ticket, get a badge and lanyard, and also a small bottle of hand sanitizer.  

                                   The queue outside of the Ontario Convention Center with movie cars outside!, photo by the author. 

There was an exhibit hall, an autograph area, and rooms for panels.  Also, there was a cafe and another food area.  A nice Christmas tree was by the cafe and for some reason, at first, I didn’t notice Santa Claus was there.  Since it was a con, I asked him if he does a superhero pose which he did, Super Santa!  There is much walking to do, I would at least have a bottle of water and an energy bar.  Also, food trucks were right next to the convention center!  So entering the exhibit hall, I was drawn to the Top Cow booth, really because there was some Stjepan Šejić.  The fine artist is usually in Croatia and did go to New York Comic Con.  The material is usually adult in content, but he did great runs on Aquaman and Witchblade.  Check out their booth if you get a chance and meet Matt Hawkins, who worked on Think Tank, Swing, and Lady Pendragon.  

It was great to check out Artist’s Alley, I had a chat with Drew Johnson, but somehow didn’t get the comics he worked on; a run on Wonder Woman, Midnight Society, and the Godzilla: Aftershock graphic novel.  A special guest was John Cassaday, artist on the recent Star Wars Marvel comic book, a run on Captain America with chain mail armor, and Astonishing X-Men.  At the other hall, there were the autograph room, the longest line was for X-Men writer, Chris Claremont. I also saw Timothy Zahn who wrote Star Wars: Heir to the Empire and there was a 20th anniversary annotated edition with a new Thrawn story!  Sharing the Geekfest booth, it was great seeing again Jackie Falls.  The Avatar: The Last Airbender voice actors also had many fans.  

                                                                            Cosplayer Marty McFox!, the costume is awesome!, photo by the author.  

The DC animation actors I saw including George Newbern who also was in Friends, Scandal, and I was stunned to hear Adventures in Babysitting.  In voice acting, Newbern voiced Superman in Justice League animated series, also the Injustice 2 video game, and my jaw dropped to the floor to realize he voiced Ren in the Pirates of Dark Water, “Noy Jitat”!  There was also Nicholle Tom who was in an episode of the Gotham series, one of her early roles was in The Nanny, and voiced Supergirl in Justice League Unlimited.  

Gotta note that another fine voice artist is Diane Pershing known for voicing Poison Ivy in Batman: The Animated Series, Dale Arden in Defenders of the Earth, and Spinnerella in the original She-Ra: Princess of Power cartoon.  There were many interesting cosplayers, Angi Viper and the Los Angeles Ghostbusters, I saw Ani-Mia who was dressed as Angelique, the Cenobite, from Hellraiser.  She also had comics with cosplay covers including Bettie Page: The Curse of the Banshee and Archie #700 along with more than a dozen Cosplay Reflection books.  Hope you have or had fun at Comic Con Revolution Ontario!  If happen to miss it, don’t worry, I think the popularity of this con will make for a return!          

#ComicConRevolutionOntario, #DrewJohnson, #JohnCassaday, #TimothyZahn, #GeorgeNewbern, #DianePershing, #AniMia 

Hawkeye, “Ronin”, Review!

Hawkeye has brought the slow family drama to an Avengers threat level with this episode!  The reveal from last episode was that while Hawkeye thought he was fighting Echo on the rooftop, it turns out his mysterious opponent was not Echo, it was Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh)!  She of course appeared in the Black Widow (2020) movie, the adopted sister of Natasha Romanov, and trained in the Red Room as a Black Widow.  We hear in voice over Yelena talking about a “synthetic gas” that can counter the Red Room programming.  Then, the voice of Natasha (Scarlett Johansson) saying that Yelena should contact the Black Widows around the world.  So, we get the snowscape of trees and mountains in 2018.  Yelena and another agent, Sonya (Yssa Mei Panganiban), cross a rooftop and then enter the house where she greets Ana (Annie Hamilton).  The Black Widow takes on both former agents.  While Sonya holds Ana down, Yelena hits her with the red gas cartridge.  

They realize she is not under the programming and Sonya is stunned she can afford the expensive house.  Ana explains that she kills for money.  Later, Ana and Sonya bring up Natasha, Yelena goes to the bathroom to reflect.  Instead, she is dusted by the Snap, then returns to splash water on her face.  The room transforms and Yelena is surprised bringing up her Widow’s Sting.  She is stunned to see Ana with a family and doesn’t realize that time has passed for her.  We get the text, “5 Years Later”, Ana explains that she married and adopted her daughter three years ago.  Sonya had also left her old life behind her.  Yelena asks about Natasha.  Because of the involvement of a Black Widow, Clint ended his “partnership” with Kate Bishop.  She has returned to the mansion, battered and a bit sad, seeing her mother, Eleanor.  

Kate says that Clint had saved her and told her to go home.  We saw last episode that Eleanor made a mysterious call.  There is a mother daughter moment where Kate admits to having her dreams dashed, but superheroes don’t just give up, they keep on keeping on.  Kate says she and Clint have gotten evidence about Jack’s company Sloan Limited.  Eleanor promises to check on it.  The mystery is Eleanor’s part in all of this, she could bring in a Black Widow, maybe a former Black Widow herself?  Eleanor is involved with someone who has criminal ties, but may or may not be drawing him in.  Just like Kate and Eleanor, Maya’s wounds are checked on by Kazi.  He signs and whispers that she can admit that it is painful.  Maya brings up the other trained woman.  Kazi wants her to give up her revenge against Ronin.  

Kate enters her ruined apartment, her name is called, and she throws a bottle that is caught by Yelena.  She has made macaroni waiting for Kate Bishop, Yelena likes using her full name, but Kate is angry about the fight.  It is a clever moment with Yelena trying to make Kate feel comfortable in an uncomfortable situation.  Clint is walking to the apartment of Grills who lets him in.  Yelena is says that she is there on business.  Kate brings up Yelena using her full name and the former Black Widow mentions all of her details.  Yelena admits she is there to kill Clint and wonders why Kate is ignoring his time as Ronin. If it is not Eleanor, then it must be the “uncle” who wants to eliminate the Ronin.  Kate defends Clint.  Yelena saves it was Natasha who saved the world.  It looks like a little revenge is also part of her mission.  Also, that Clint will be in some trouble, this should have been brought in earlier.  Yelena leaves with a threat to Kate and falls out of the window.  

Clint gives Pizza Dog some pizza while Grills offers him a couch rather than a hotel.  Back at the mansion, Jack is being arrested for tax records.  Kate hugs her mother who admits that she checked on Sloan Limited.  Jack forgives her and says he will be back for the Christmas party.  Eleanor just stares at him.  We get a placard of the Avengers Memorial.  Clint stares at it, takes out his hearing aid, and then speaks to Natasha.  Clint says she was the bravest of the Avengers, he wants to live up to her sacrifice, and apologizes for his next action. The past for Clint can't be ignored or forgotten.  At her room, Kate tries to call Clint with several messages.  Ivan is driving the Trust a Bro truck when an arrow strikes the windshield, it has a message, for Maya to find Ronin at the first place they met.  Clint later calls up Laura to tell her the family is compromised, they have the watch, and he has to end the situation with Maya.  The confrontation in this episode of Hawkeye leads to more surprises, involving Yelena, Kazi, and Eleanor!  

Four Trick Arrows out of Five!  

#Hawkeye, #Ronin, #FlorencePugh, #YssaMeiPanganiban, #AnnieHamilton, #ScarlettJohnsson    

The R.I.G.H.T. Project #1 Review!

Wonder why comics are not as fun as the old days?  Wonder no longer with Tom DeFalco and Ron Frenz’s The R.I.G.H.T. Project!  This comic book was part of their Indiegogo fund raising and printed by Apex Comics Group.  The publisher is taking comic books to the next level with NFTs and digital collectibles.  Tom DeFalco during his time at Marvel Comics was part of the team that brought over Hasbro products like G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero and Transformers, developing them, and helping to produce comics.  He became Marvel’s editior-in-chief in 1987 until 1994.  He co-created with Ron Frenz,  Thunderstrike, Erik Masterson wielded the Asgardian mace introduced in Thor #391 (1988), then the New Warriors in Thor #412 (1989), and the very popular Spider-Girl who first appeared in What If #105 (1998).  

For Image Comics, DeFalco co-created with artist Ron Lim, Randy O’Donnell is the M@N #1 (2001) which also had a Mr. Right #0 back-up with Frenz.  The R.I.G.H.T. Project has a classic cover with the super hero, Mr. Right, looming on a tight rope above rooftops with armed gunmen on the right, left, and beneath him with the villain, Big Brother, raging at him.  Just pure action and some nifty dialogue.  The first story, “Do the R.I.G.H.T. Thing!”, opens with a Kirby inspired pose of the hero smashing into a crowd of tough guys!  The team of DeFalco and Frenz also features the inks of Sal Buscema, also a veteran inker and penciller from Marvel Comics.  The dialogue is from the shouts by Carlyn, a red-haired teen girl with glasses, to the boy, Jeff Lopez working on a lab’s computer.  It happens to be her uncle’s holo program.  He mentions that he copied it to a thumbdrive.  I think that must be some high data portable drive.  

Carlyn’s uncle, Dr. Dexter Click, has arrived into the lab with visitors.  This includes his assistant Apollo, Agent Honor Freeman, a government official from Washington, D.C., and a tall man in shades, Big Brother.  The project is in development and Big Brother notes that Dexter works for Hope Industries.  He notes that his nice lives at the lab and that Jeff is helpful. Dexter activates the Reality Integrated Gravitic Hologram Technology (R.I.G.H.T.) that forms a man with a red uniform and hat.  He tosses a tech sphere to the hologram who catches it, but then drops it.  Dexter can’t maintain the gravity with the hologram man.  Kinda like Star Trek's Holodeck with the safety protocols disable like in Star Trek: First Contact (1996).  Honor notes that the military use of the program could help develop the technology.  Dexter refuses and Big Brother orders a lockdown.  Instantly, armed, black ops soldiers enter the lab and orders all equipment to be secured.  

Honor argues with Big Brother, but he takes charge of the operation.  The kids manage to reach a storage room.  Jeff blames Hope for the takeover since he owns most of the city called New Hope. One of Big Brother’s men has checked the computer and notices that a copy was made of the program. Big Brother knows that it was the kids.  The black ops soldiers enter the room and rush past Carlyn, Jeff is headed up to the roof using the stairwell.  Jeff is desperately wanting R.I.G.H.T. to save him from the soldiers holding the control module.  Mr. Right suddenly appears and slams full body into five of the soldiers!  He is a super hero controlled by a kid!  This is a fun idea kinda like Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot mixed with Shazam!  Mr. Right goes into a somersault, the Digital Daredevil, and slams back into the soldiers!  He mentions that he has a connection, a psychic link, with Jeff whom he calls Player One.  

Mr. Right leaps over two more soldiers trying to grab him.  Another gets a lucky hit with his rifle butt to Mr. Right’s helmeted head.  Jeff feels the pain of the strike, but a right cross knocks down the gunman.  Jeff recovers and Mr. Right goes smashing into the lab window.  The hero flies into a kick that knocks soldiers holding computers.  Big Brother decides to go hand-to-hand, but ends up breaking more computers.  It looks like just a start of the super hero adventures.  There is another story focusing on a murder mystery at a wrestling ring at the Hardover Continental Wrestling Foundation put on by the owner Imperious Rex.  It involves a strange wrestler with two heads, Double-Trouble.  Jeff's mother, Sara, is a police detective given a tip about the crime.  Plus, a chance encounter with Randy O’Donnell is the M@N with art by Ron Lim.  The story and art is just the superhero The R.I.G.H.T. Project gives three, action packed stories of pure superhero fun!   

Five Control Modules out of Five! 

#TheRIGHTProject, #TomDeFalco, #RonFrenz, #SalBuscema, #RonLim, #JeffLopez, #Carlyn, #DexterClick, #BigBrother, #MrRight

Wheel of Time, “A Place of Safety”, Review!

Last episode, the villagers of Emond’s Field have traveled with Moiraine and Lan ending up at the cursed city of Shadar Logoth.  Moiraine has helped Egwene fulfill her potential as an Aes Sedai.  The, they had encountered the fanatic Whitecloaks with the Questioner, Eamon, saying he will remember them.  We also had Perrin having a bit of a bonding moment with wolves.  Perrin has found a dagger in Shadar Logoth.  Moiraine had been poisoned by the Trollocs and Lan ends up riding off with her when he can’t find the others.  The villagers end up separated; Perrin and Egwene and Rand and Mat.  Lan is with Moiraine when he has a blade by Nynaeve who wants to find the others!  The former Village Wisdom has survived!  

We hear muffled screams as a bashed up Nynaeve is being dragged by a Trolloc back in Emond’s Field at night.  The Trolloc drops Nynaeve out in the forest, he walks over to a wounded Trolloc, and then begins to tear it apart!  Nynaeve runs as the Trolloc begins to feed!  She finds the strength to run hearing the Trolloc roar behind her.  Nynaeve heads to the sacred cave of the Women’s Circle and slips into the pool as the Trolloc arrives!  It stabs its spear into the pool and then walks into it.  Nynaeve appears behind it, takes its sword, and stabs the Trolloc in the chest!  Blood spreads in the pool and then Nynaeve bursts out gasping for air.  A very cool catch up though I knew Nynaeve survived from the book.  We return to Nynaeve wanting to find her friends.  Lan says he doesn’t know and that the Dark One is looking for them.  

He wants Nynaeve’s help to heal Moiraine who is still fighting the poison. Lan easily reverses Nynaeve and gets a hold of her before knocking her out.  It is morning, Rand calls out for his friends on a rocky hilltop and Mat tells him that he can’t attract attention.  Mat wants to return to the village, but Rand trusts Moiraine who wanted them to go to the White Tower.  They continue on heading east.  On a plain, Perrin and Egwene walk while they hear wolves howling in the distance and walk against the strong winds.  Perrin has them take shelter in a patch of trees and tries to set a fire.  He is grinding his knife blade against a rock, but can’t get a good spark.  Egwene starts to concentrate wielding the One Power and a small flame starts in the branches. She says she thinks Rand will return to the village, but Perrin says Rand will go where he thinks Egwene would go, the White Tower.  

Nynaeve is gagged and bound to a tree while Lan checks on Moiraine.  He gives Nynaeve a drink from his canteen and wants to know if she will help Moiraine.  Nynaeve cuts a purple flower as Lan stands guard over her.  He wants to know how she tracked him to Shadar Logoth.  Nynaeve prepares the ointment and dresses Moiraine’s wound on her shoulder.  She says she knows his bond as a Warder and Moiraine as Aes Sedai.  Nynaeve presses the wound, pushing out the poison, Lan checks on Moiraine.  This is a debt he owes as Warder since Nynaeve saved Moiraine’s life.  Thunder wakens Perrin as he wakes up in his house as the rain pours down at night.  Nightmare.  He walks to the forge and then sees a wolf chewing on the intestine of his wife!  She turns and says, “I know.”  

He sees the face of the Dark One before Egwene shakes him awake.  Egwene says the wolves are close and they end up running in the forest.  The wolves are right behind them, but Perrin and Egwene break from the forest to the strong winds.  The wolves stop at the forest.  In the mountains, Mat complains about the walking, they end up at a ravine.  A village, Breen’s Spring, rests at the edge of a river below them.  They pass by a dead man in an iron cage with arrows piercing his body.  Mat and Rand walk by villagers at work or giving them a wary glance.  They enter the rowdy Four Kings tavern and Rand asks the owner of the tavern, Dana (Izuka Hoyle) about other strangers.  Hoyle seemed familiar, of course she was Wren in The Outpost!  She replies there is only a gleeman which is a bard or entertainer. 

Everyone is quiet as the gleeman takes the stage and picks up his guitar. The bearded man (Alexandre Willaume) starts to sing. He finishes his song about a man who cannot forget and the breaking of the world.  Dana gets the crowd cheering with more drinks.  Then, he walks into the crowd collecting coins.  The gleeman joins Rand and Mat’s table and Dana place his drink there.  She asks for three coppers, the gleeman gives her a coin, from Mat’s pouch!  He walks away with their donation to him!  Perrin and Egwene continue walking hearing the wolves.  They find sets of tracks, wagons of traders or Whitecloaks?, and Egwene thinks the wolves took them in that direction.  Rand takes Mat to see Dana to ask for a room.  Mat pleads his case of lack of funds and Dana takes them to piles of wood to cut with an axe. 

Perrin is uninterested in the work and says Egwene and Perrin are dead.  Influenced by the danger, his precious?  Rand sends him off.  Moiraine still seems endangered by the poison which Nynaeve says she is unfamiliar.  Lan rides away.  Egwene and Perrin meet with a nomadic group, the Tuatha’an.  Irish fairies are called the Tuatha Dé Danann.  They see the young member, Aram (Daryl McCormack), and leaders, Ila (Maria Doyle Kennedy), and Raen (Narinder Samra).  Dana gives Rand a place to stay in the shed.  Lan has found what he was looking for and needs Moiraine to ride.  Mat is at the caged body, he turns with a knife at the gleeman, he explains the dead man was an Aiel with red hair.  The villagers killed him because he was different.  He leaves Mat to steal from the body and then begins to bury the corpse. There is a deadly purpose to Dana, she takes Rand’s heron-marked sword, and the gleeman tells Mat that his name is Thom Merrilin.  The Wheel of Time turns out a great episode full of tension, mystery, and allies that may be threats!          

Five Ter’angreal out of Five! 

        

#WheelOfTime, #APlaceOfSafety, #ThomMerrilin, #AlexandreWillaume, #IzukaHoyle, #DarylMcCormack, #MariaDoyleKennedy, #NarinderSamra  

Happy Birthday John Buscema!

Happy Birthday Big John Buscema!  For Dell Comics, he provided art for Four Color Comics including movie adaptations of Helen of Troy #684 (1956), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, #944 (1958), and Spartacus, #1139 (1960).  A 1984 interview in Comics Feature, John Buscema said, “I think one of the best books I ever did was Sinbad the Sailor.”  John Buscema started at Marvel Comics with Strange Tales #150 (1966) providing finishes for Jack Kirby’s layouts!  He started a long time association on The Avengers starting with issue #41 (1967).  Buscema introduced the Dane Whitman Black Knight in Avengers #47 (1967).  Dane Whitman recently appeared in The Eternals (2021).  Avengers #55 (1968) was the first appearance of Ultron.  The robotic villain appeared in the MCU with Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015).  

Buscema co-created The Vision, in Avengers #57 (1968).  The synthezoid hero was also formed in Avengers: Age of Ultron and of course was featured in the MCU series, WandaVision.  The creative team of Roy Thomas and John Buscema would go on to introduce Valkyrie in Avengers #83 (1970).  She entered the MCU with Thor: Ragnarok (2017).  John Buscema had another iconic run starting with Conan the Barbarian #25 (1973).  He helped launch the magazine Savage Sword of Conan beginning with #1 (1974).  Buscema reportedly worked from memory to draw Marvel Treasury of oz Featuring The Marvelous Wizard of Oz #1 (1975).  He introduced Carol Danvers as a superhero in her own title, Ms. Marvel #1 (1977).  In 1978, there was How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way (1978) by Stan Lee and John Buscema.  He co-created the Jennifer Walters super hero in Savage She-Hulk #1 (1980).  She appears in live action with She-Hulk (2022).  

Buscema also worked on the epic crossover in Marvel Treasury Edition #28 (1981), “DC and Marvel Present Superman and Spider-Man.”  He also adapted Raiders of the Lost Ark in 1981.  The Arnold Schwarzenegger fantasy film was adapted by Buscema in Conan the Barbarian Movie Special #1-2 (1982).  He co-created Nebula in Avengers #257 (1985).  She made her MCU debut in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014).  Buscema was featured on the video of How to Draw Comics the Marvel Way (1988).  He launched the adamantium clawed X-Man’s first series with Wolverine #1 (1988).  Buscema drew a Batman Black and White back-up story in Batman: Gotham Knights #7 (2000).  He re-imagined the classic super hero with Stan Lee, Just Imagine Superman #1 (2000).  The Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame inducted John Buscema in 2002. His last work was working on Superman: Blood of My Ancestors #1 (2003).  John Buscema died in 2002, but as long as there are comics and comic artists, we will always have his art work.  Happy Birthday John Buscema!  

#JohnBuscema, #BlackKnight, #Ultron, #Vision, #ConanTheBarbarian, #SheHulk, #Nebula, #HowToDrawComicsTheMarvelWay, #SupermanBloodOfMyAncestors