Strolling Through The (Theme) Park One Day: Lunar New Year DCA!

It is the last weekend of the Lunar New Year Celebration at Disney’s California Adventure! First, it was a nice chat with the Buena Vista Street citizens; Donna the Dog Lady, her dog was named Lady, and Officer Calvin Blue. I hope everyone stops by to talk with the citizens before going on to the rest of the park. Then, it was a walk though the Lunar New Year arch with the Year of the Dragon banner! I checked out the new store, Avengers Vault, in the building with the Quinjet. There is a life size Iron Man Mark III statue for the low, low price of $8650, does it have working jet boots! There were also hat, costumes, shirts, and toys for Spider-Man and other characters. 

WEB SLINGERS just opened so I went to the walk up line that said it was 30 min. long. It was a bit more. I think I’m understanding pulling with the web shooting, the items to pull, and just a normal arm extension and then movement. I don’t know about the buttons to push. I rushed over to Pixar Pier to ride Toy Story Mania. I was concentrating on the high scoring targets that I didn’t shoot the others. Still, I was famished and walked over to the Longevity Noodle Co. booth for the Garlic Noodles, $8.00 for a cup with long noodles in Garlic Butter with a sprinkle of Parmesan on top. I was still hungry and went to Paradise Garden Grill. 

Lunar New Year: Year of the Dragon!, Disney’s California Adventure, author’s photo.  

I ordered Korean-style BBQ Chicken, $17.99 which had half a chicken, delicious! Then, I went to see Goofy in his Lunar New Year red and gold robe and gold helmet. At the Paradise Gardens bandstand was Melody of China, a group that played traditional instruments, I watched two of their shows. Next, there was Mulan’s Lunar New Year Procession, a parade of colorful costumes and dancing, dragons, and a float with Mulan and Mushu followed by Chip n’ Dale! Afterwards, I checked one of the vendor booths, Lady Fortunes, there were fortune cookies with vanilla, ginger, and cinnamon. I also picked up a Year of the Dragon Postcard Cookie with a beautiful print of a dragon. 

Plus I had to get the Magical Foodies Custom Marshmallow Dragon Egg. Check out all of the treats at www.ladyfortunes.com! There is a Raya Meet and Greet at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail. I brought the Raya: Warrior of Kumandra Lorcana card to get signed. I also got to see a performance by Vocal Seoul at the Sonoma Terrace. They are an a capella group, I will admit they are the reason that I went to the Lunar New Year celebration - to see a new singing group. I love their mix of traditional Korean songs with of course Blackpink and BTS. They got a little girl dancing with her father. I like all of the singers that perform at Festival of Holidays, it’s like getting free concerts. 

Vocal Seoul, Disney’s California Adventure, photo by the author. 

New for the Lunar New Year was the appearance of the characters from Turning Red (2022). Meilin was there with red panda ears and tail! Her mother, Ming, was in her green jacket and blue dress. Unfortunately, there was a line that filled up for two and a half hours! At the Lunar New Year Wishing Wall, you can write your wish and attach it to the strings of hundreds of wishes! Also at the Wishing Wall there is the calligraphy which is something special that is a must. This year, it was the incredible artistry of Cindy Chang, who painted the letters for a New Year message. Next to the Wishing Well is the meet and greet place now with Mickey and Minnie. I had them sign Mickey Mouse: True Friend and Minnie Mouse: Beloved Princess. 

Bulgogi Pizza and Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake, the perfect combo!, author’s photo. 

Since it is in Paradise Gardens, I went to Boardwalk Pizza & Pasta, since I was recommended food by a cast member. First was Bulgogi Pizza, $9.49,  Marinated Beef with Spicy Corn Cheese, this was right out of the oven. I haven’t had much luck with Disney pizza, but this was delicious! Also, Milk Tea Taro Cheesecake, $6.79, this was so good I hope that both return as regular food items. Then, it was The Little Mermaid - Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, it did make me want to see again the live action The Little Mermaid (2023). The jalopy driving around Carthay Circle had the lively Five & Dime group. They get out to go to the bandstand to sing the swingest tunes! It’s time to jump and jive listening to “It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing)”! I finished the day with a trip on Soarin’ Around The World. The Lunar New Year celebration finishes this weekend! If you might miss it, I hope that it returns to Disney’s California Adventure next year, with more new food items, singing groups, and activities! 

#LunarNewYearCelebration, #DisneysCaliforniaAdventure, #BuenaVistaStreetCitizens, #DonaTheDogLady, #OfficerCalvinBlue, #AvengersVault, #WEBSLINGERS, #ToyStoryMania, #LongevityNoodleCo, #GarlicNoodles, #ParadiseGardenGrill, 

#KoreanStyleBBQChicken, #MelodyOfChina, #TurningRed, #MulansNewYearProcession, #LadyFortunes, #YearOfTheDragonPostcardCookie, #MagicalFoodiesCustomMarshmallowDragonEgg, #Raya, #VocalSeoul, #TurningRed, 

#Meilin, #Ming #LunarNewYearWishingWall, #CindyChang, #MickeyMouse, #MinnieMouse, #BoardwalkPizzaAndPasta, #BulgogiPizza, #MilkTeaTaroCheesecake, #TheLittleMermaidArielsUnderseaAdventure, #FiveAndDime, #SoarinAroundTheWorld 

Ultimate Spider-Man #1 Review!

The Ultimate Spider-Man has relaunched with Peter Parker on the path to his destiny. The Ultimate Invasion limited series by Jonathan Hickman and Bryan Hitch set up a new universe. The Maker, the Reed Richards of the Ultimates univese prevented the creation of superheroes. The Legion of Doom tried to stop the origin of the greatest heroes in “Secret Origins of the Super Friends” (1978). Tony Stark discovered this conspiracy. The Maker’s Council made up of well known figures from around the world attacked New York. They framed Stark for the attack. Peter Parker is unaware of all of these events. The cover for the first issue is by Marco Checchetto who also provides interior art of Spidey web-slinging in a wintry New York. 

The title is written by Hickman with Checchetto’s artwork. The artist previously worked on the Daredevil 2022-2023 series. The comic opens with snow falling on Manhattan moving to a building and then the cinematic title card, “January”, which is characteristic of Hickman. We see the older Peter Parker, bearded with glasses remarking that he is getting older. As he puts on his shirt, we see a screen showing the snowfall, Jan 31-Feb 3, 2021, setting the year? In a series of closups, we have Peter getting ready, putting on his wedding ring, and then walking to see his family, son, Richard, with green sweater and younger daughter, May, with pigtails. Both with red hair and freckles. I really like the names of both kids, Richard, named after Peter’s father, and May, after Aunt May, and hints at Mayday Parker who became Spider-Girl in What If #105 (1998). 

A very good domestic scene where Richard distracted with his book points out the bacon and coffee left for his father. This leads to the introduction of Mary Jane with long pony tail, sensible black shirt and green jeans, and a cup of coffee. Peter admits that he didn’t sleep. She knows that he is troubled about the day’s event. May is looking at a sphere, but Peter takes it away. He heads out to the office. It is snowing outside of the Daily Bugle. Peter arrives in his tan trenchcoat greeting Betty Brant when the familiar yell of J. Jonah Jameson is heard, “Parker!” He passes by Peter and continues yelling, nice touch. J. Jonah barges into the office of Ben Parker, on his door is Managing Editor. The older Ben Parker is in the purple suit comfortably sitting at his desk.  

They have discussion over Jonah’s yelling, he brings up he yells because Ben is old, kinda funny. I like the rapport between them. It was never clear what was Uncle Ben’s occupation so I really like him as an editor. Of course it is great to have him back like Gwen Stacy. Jonah needs Ben at a meeting and then Peter shows up. His uncle is not happy that Peter showed up late. Jonah is more friendly to Peter and later gives him his tie. They discuss Ben who is very stubborn. On the street, Peter starts a conversation with his uncle. Ben doesn’t like Peter’s careful asking about him, he’s a straight to the point man, he brings up that Peter’s parents died when he was 15. Also, that his wife, May, tried to raise him, but it is hinted that she died. He misses all of them. These are all great character scenes. 

We see a crowd gathering at a square. This is a memorial to all of the people who died in the attack. There is a closeup of May Parker’s name. There is also Norman Osborn. The speaker is Father Murdock, Matt Murdock, who is not Daredevil. I like this change since it seems to be in line with the early direction of Frank Miller. Similar to his mother, Maggie, who became a nun. We see Peter with all of his family listening and a closeup of Ben with a tear at the mention of the departed. Father Murdock brings up Norman Osbourne and brings up his son, Harry. He brings up when he was seven playing catch with his father. Harry then brings up the people they lost and then the attack. He can’t forgive what happened which we see from panels of Harry at the podium and then in closeups. I like the snow and the grey clouds. 

Afterwards, we see Ben and Harry meet as Peter talks about his uncle interviewing Norman Osbourne. Ben had never gotten to know Norman and Mary Jane mentions what is known like his ownership of Oscorp Industries. He tells the family that he has to go. At the Daily Bugle, everyone’s attention is turned to a board meeting, Peter is surprised next to Ben. Jonah is angry at the meeting and leave it saying that he quits! The rest of the staff tries to pretend to go back to business. Jonah eyes Ben before he passes him. Then, Ben enters the board meeting, and talks with Robbie Robertson. In the 616 Marvel Universe, Robbie was an editor, friend to Jonah, and supportive of Peter. Robbie explains that there is going to be editorial changes with the investigation of the attack. 

Robbie mentions that they are moving away from the coverage with the ownership, he turns, and we see a shadow on the table. We see a worm’s eye perspective looking up at the owner, Wilson Fisk, the Kingpin! He offers Ben to run the paper if he will follow the board’s direction. Everyone in the room turns quietly to look at Ben Parker. Closeup, he smiles, and walks out to join Jonah at the elevator! They both grin as Ben asks what are they going to do next and the elevator door closes. At night, on the street, the eye-patched henchman opens the door for Fisk and then the car explodes! We see in a large panel, an armored Green Goblin on his glider. Kingpin’s gunmen step forward, the bodyguard looks up, and sees the helmet of this Green Goblin! A great intro of one of Spidey’s greatest villains. It must be Harry Osbourne, but how does Kingpin play into his parents’ deaths? 

At the Bar with No Name, Ben and Jonah take a corner table to discuss the plan for a new paper. Nice layout of the bar with patrons, jukebox, and ads. Ben brings up what else they can do besides journalism, Jonah says nothing else, but Ben adds he had another job in the past. Jonah says he was in the news buisness for thirty years. Ben says their job is to tell the truth. This makes Jonah burst out laughing that fills the bar! Jonah says “there’s no truth in the news and no news in the truth”, wise words. Instead, Jonah says that they promise not to lie. Peter enters and Jonah offers a job for him, but no plans for payment. Jonah leaves and Peter asks Ben how he could give up his life at the Daily Bugle. Ben says with his wife dead, Peter grown up with a family, he didn’t want to live a life of compromise. Peter doesn’t want to give up everything with his family. He says that he feels that something is wrong with himself, Peter feels his destiny calling. Ben says he can’t go through life half-asleep, he should wake up. It is time for Peter Parker to become Spider-Man! Ultimate Spider-Man #1 gives us an older Peter Parker as a family man who becomes the Spider-Man  we need. 

Five Webs out of Five! 

#UltimateSpiderMan, #MarcoChecchetto, #PeterParker, #RichardParker, #MayParker, #MaryJaneParker, #JJonahJameson, #BenParker, #FatherMurdock, #RobbieRobertson, #WilsonFisk, #GreenGoblin 

Madame Web Review!

Madame Web is one of the finest Spider films which focuses not on superhero action, but on supernatural tension! The movie is directed by S.J. Clarkson who directed episodes of Jessica Jones and The Defenders. It has a story by Kerem Sanga, Matt Sazama, Burke Sharpless with a screenplay by S.J. Clarkson, Claire Parker, Sazama and Sharpless. Sanga is the writer and director of the drama, The Violent Heart (2020). Sazama and Sharpless were the writers for the comic book horror movie, Morbius (2022). Parker was the producer for the thriller mini-series, Anatomy of a Scandal. This is the fourth film in Sony’s Spider-Man Universe that started with Venom (2018). 

Madame Web is based on the character created by Denny O’Neil and John Romita, Jr. She first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #210 (1980). We hear the sounds of the jungle as it opens to “The Peruvian Amazon, 1973.” This is surprising setting for what may be a superhero movie. There is a closeup of a spider-web before there is a focus on photographer, Constance (Kerry Bishé). Sister Molly Finister was played by Bishé in the dark fantasy series, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels. The spider and jungle brings to mind the horror film, Arachnophobia (1990). Behind her, a man, Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim) opens a red umbrella. Rahim starred in the historical drama, Napoleon (2023).

Ezekiel was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #30 (2001) by J. Michael Staczynski and John Romita, Jr. Their conversation brings up Las Arañas, a “mythical spider people.” Constance is searching for the peptides, a string of amino acids used for biochemical functions, that may be in a rare spider. She is stuck by pains from her pregnant belly. Ezekiel walks back to the camp and begins going through Constance’s journal taking photos of her spider research. Constance returns triumphantly with the spider in a jar. Ezekiel shoots two members of the reseach team! He grabs for the jar and in the struggle the gun goes off! 

The trees shake with movement, shades of the Predator (1987), Ezekiel runs off at disturbance. The Las Arañas, vines wrap around them like webs, appear from the trees and take away Constance! She is taken to a cave pool and the leader, Santiago (José María Yazplk) has a spider crawl from his arm to Constance! It bites Constance and she is not saved, but her baby is lifted from the water. The baby's cries shifts to honking of car horns in “2003, New York”, thirty years later. Cassie Webb, played by Dakota Johnson, is an ambulance driver taking a patient through traffic. Johnson was in the horror remake, Suspiria (2018). Her partner, Ben Parker (Adam Scott), struggles to watch over the patient. Scott stars as Mark in the sci fi workplace drama, Severence. 

Ben Parker may be better known as Uncle Ben, the uncle of Peter Parker, from Amazing Fantasy #15 (1962) by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. This is of course a much younger version of the character. Cassie jokes that he must have been homesick for the army. I really like the subtle connections to Spider-Man, but non-comic readers may not pick up on how important is the character since we have not seen him in the current films. Cassie continues to charge towards the hospital, a young skateboarder, Mattie Franklin (Celeste O’Connor) is nearly struck by the ambulance! O’Connor faced a serial killer in the horror comedy, Freaky (2020). Mattie was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man #5 (1999) by Howard Mackie and John Byrne. 

At the hospital, Cassie and Ben check in, and told that the patient is stable. A boy (Yuma Feldman) presents a drawing to Cassie as thanks. Cassie is awkward in accepting the drawing and the boy’s step sister, Julia Cornwall, played by Sydney Sweeney, brings him back to the family. Sweeney is currently in the comedy film, Anyone But You. It is intersting since the last name of her comic character was Carpenter. Her first appearance was in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #6 (1984), created by Jim Shooter and Mike Zeck. At a break room, Cassie tries to make excuses to Ben, and get out of a barbeque. Ben brings up that he has started a relationship. Comics fan know that this is May, later Aunt May! Cassie reads her fortune which only has, “You will - ”, before fading to black. Interesting touch. 

Cassie returns to her apartment, now wearing her red leather jacket, she sees by the entrance, the super is stopped at the door of Anya Corazón. She is played by Isabela Merced. Fiona Avery and Mark Brooks created her character in Amazing Fantasy #1 (2004).  Anya makes excuses for the rent. At her apartment, Cassie pours some milk for a cat that enters through her window. She opens a suitcase to put in the boy’s picture, inside is her birth certificate, and a photograph of her mother. Cassie gets an emergency call with an accident at a bridge! A car is upside down by the edge of the bridge. Cassie calms the driver while she cuts his seatbelt. Ben is able to pull him out. Suddenly, the car plunges down with Cassie trapped inside! Cassie is floating in the darkness with webbing like threads of fate spreading from her. 

She hears voices along the threads and sees images when she is revived by Ben. He says she was underwater for three minutes until he pulled her out. Ben checks her oxygen levels at the ambulance. Cassie takes off the blood pressure cuff and Ben says, “You need a real doctor.” This repeats and Cassie already knows her oxygen level. She says she just wants to go home. At an opera, Ezekiel walks in dressed in a tuxedo. He finds a woman in a black dress. Ezekiel takes her to his apartment where we also see a leaf covered slab that has a circular glass tank. It holds the spider! Later, he has dreams, images of himself with white hair, and facing Mattie, Julia, and Anaya as superheroes! In comics, Julia took the identity of Spider-Woman. Mattie also appeared as Spider-Woman and was seen in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023).

Anaya was known as Araña. Madame Web had gathered Mattie and Julia together in Spider-Woman #1 (1999) by John Byrne and Bart Sears. Ezekiel wakes from his nightmare and tells the woman, "they took my spider" which hints at their origin. He says that he “will find them and kill them first”! Ezekiel just needs the facial recognition systems from the National Security Agency where the woman works. At the barbeque, Cassie’s fire department colleague, O’Neill (Mike Epps) is at the grill. Epps was in the video game horror film, Resident Evil: Extinction (2007). Ben is there and they both send Cassie inside to see Mary Parker (Emma Roberts) for her baby shower. Roberts starred in the series, American Horror Story. Mary Parker was introduced in Amazing Spider-Man Annual #5 (1968) from the creative team of Stan Lee and Larry Leiber. 

She is only seen, but comic readers found out about Mary Parker in the limited series, Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business (2014). She is the mother of Peter Parker! Mary says her husband, Richard in the comics, is in Mumbai or Shanghai. Mary asks her guests about the planned name of the baby. No mention of Peter as his name! The game moves to mothers and Cassie admits that her mother died giving birth to her. It gets awkward. A balloon pops! Loud noise or dialogue begins Cassie’s clairvoyance episodes. The situation repeats, Cassie thinks it is deja vu, but then they get an alarm fire at the docks. Cassie is giving CPR to a victim. She gets a vision of he bloody hands! The fire chief tells O'Neil that he is needed at triage. Cassie asks to drive the ambulance, but O'Neil refuses and starts to drive away. 

Cassie gets a vision of he bloody hands! The fire chief tells O'Neil that he is needed at triage. Cassie asks to drive the ambulance, but O'Neil refuses and starts to drive away. Cassie is walking  when a truck slams into the ambulance! She starts to use CPR on O'Neil and finds her hands are bloody! Ezekiel in his office has the spider crawl along his knuckles. There is a woman, Amaria (Zosia Mamet) checking the screens identifying the three girls. She notes that they are teens and this is before they get their powers. Her character is not developed and just a tech. Cassie is getting her eyes checked confused by her visions. The doctor recommends her to take a week off. She later watches the 1951 Scrooge movie while her voice message catches Ben telling her about the funeral for O’Neil. Cassie sees the movie and says, “You can’t change anything.” 

Five Webs out of Five! 

#MadameWeb, #SJClarkson, #ClaireParker, #KeremSanga, #MattSazama, #BurkSharpless,#DakotaJohnson, #SydneySweeney, #CelesteOConnor, #IsabelaMerced, #TaharRahim, #AdamScott, #EmmaRoberts, #KerryBishe, #JoseMariaYazplk, #MikeEpps, #ZosiaMamet, #YumaFeldman 

Re:tro Re:view - Power Girl #3!

Power Girl #3 has the aftermath of the last issue, Power Girl left alone at the Fortress of Solitude, and bonding with the Kryptonian lion! Re:cap - “Work Trip”, Power Girl has been establishing herself as a new hero and identity as Dr. Paige Stetler. She works alongside fellow hero, Omen, Lilith Clay, who has psionic powers. The alien smuggler, Amalak, has taken an organic “artifact” that reacted to Power Girl at an auction. It has corrupted him. Paige returns to the Daily Planet to meet with her boss, Lois Lane! She is sent to the Fortress of Solitude in Bermuda. Paige contacts a man she had met at the auction, Axel Gust, he works for an unknown organization. 

Axel is seen as an operative about to recover an artifact! She has been writing about artificial intelligence for her article and has been having nightmares of the symbioship that took her to Earth! Power Girl heads to the Bahamas and investigates the Kryptonian virus that is a danger to the world. She gets into a battle with Amalak, now possessed, appears to be familiar with Power Girl. He is defeated by Power Girl and comes to his senses warning her that “he” is after her. Shockingly, Amalak shoves his spike into his head and falls into the sea! The cover by Gary Frank has the Kryptonian lion Paige had met in issue #2, growling above her with red eyes! 

“The Last Lion Dies Alone” is by Leah Williams and Eduardo Pansica. Somber panels as Paige explains that she had searched for Amalak to Superman at the Fortress of Solitude. She mentions that the symbioship that brought her to Earth is involved. Superman says that they dismantled the ship and she is safe in the Fortress. He explains this as we see inside the containment unit of the Kryptonian lion. Superman wonders why she wanted to meet him there. Paige thinks that she has been spending time with the lion, last of his kind, and doesn’t want him to be alone. Strong dramatic moments in the comic! Great expressions and character work by Pansica. 

Before he flies away, Superman tells her to talk to Omen. In Metropolis, we hear Lilith’s voice message, she is skating when a man throws a Molotov cocktail! She throws a psionic shield to protect innocents! This is while we hear Paige’s awkward message to her. Lilith reassures a mother with her baby in a stroller and then in a large panel uses her full power to stop the anti-alien rioters. The rioters pause, their eyes green with Lilith’s psionic power, and drop their crowbars and spray cans. Lilith gives them the command to tell her their identity. One man says they are Blue Earth, the alien hate group, and tell her that the Kryptonian virus is killing humans. 

Lillith rises above them and has the rioters on their knees forgetting about the iot. A very Men in Black Neuralyzer technique! Power Girl is sitting next to the Kryptonian lion enclosure texting to Lilith. She dubs the lion Hamlet! Power Girl wonders why the virus is only infecting one person at a time instead of spreading like a virus. Paige thinks it’s a parasite. She examined the first victim and found a high white blood cell count! I love quiet moments, but also working out a mystery. Her phone buzzes as Hamlet falls asleep. Paige is asleep and thinks that Omen would say she empathizes with Hamlet because of its  loneliness. 

We see the lion step away and then Power Girl wakes up to find that he is gone!  She flies around the fortress, various panels showing the Fortress, as Power Girl races around it. Hamlet is out on a cliff edge looking into the sky. He turns to her with a wounded look. Power Girl thinks Hamlet has left because he is about to die! She walks up to the lion and says she will catch Hamlet if he jumps. The lion yawns and Paig sits next to him as he sleeps. There is tears as Paige sees that Hamlet has died. Wow, great emotion with a comic book! 

She leaves and calls for Kelex, the robot monitor of the Fortress. Suddenly, she realizes that Hamlet is gone! She tells Kelex to contact Superman and then begins scanning the alien zoo. Did the symbioship take over Kelex’s programming? There is bloody vegetation, she sees the lion print, and then Hamlet leaps at her!, red crystals around his head and claws! Paige screams! Power Girl #3 has some intense dramatic moments, pulling Omen in the mystery, and the last of the Kryptonian lion we knew as Hamlet!    

Five Eyeglasses out of Five! 

#PowerGirl, #TheLastLionDiesAlone, #LeahWilliams, #EduardoPansica, #PaigeStetler, #LilithClay, #Omen, #Superman, #KryptonianLion, #Hamlet, #Symbioship, #Kelex 

Shōgun Special Presentation at the El Capitan!

Last night, the El Capitan Theatre was packed for the presentation of the first episode of Shōgun! It was free offered to D23 members a few days ago, on February 8th. The mini-series is set to debut on Hulu and Disney+ on February 27th. It is of course based on the James Clavell 1975 novel. This was his first novel in his Asian Saga, a six book series that finished with Whirlwind (1979). 

It was recently published as Shōgun Part 1 (699 pages!) and Shōgun Part 2 (856 pages!) tying into the mini-series. The book led to a mini-series in 1980 that won the Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series. It starred Richard Chamberlain as John Blackthorne, Japanese acting legend, Toshirō Mifune, played Lord Toranaga, and John Rhys-Davies starred as Vasco Rodrigues. The night started with a performance by Taikoproject, the group of musicians led by Bryan Yamami and Masato Baba. Info on the group is at: https://taikoproject.org. It was an energetic performance with the taiko drums that is my favorite thunder making instrument. 

Next, a panel of the Shōgun cast and crew walked on stage; co-creators and writers, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks, Anna Sawai who plays Mariko, the actor who portrays John Blackthorne, Cosmo Jarvis, and finally the actor for Lord Toranaga, Hiroyuki Sanada. The first actor to speak was Sanada who was asked about working on the limited series, he is also a producer for it, “We had a long, long journey and worked together, East meets West, dream team, created this show. We tried to make it as authentic as much possible. We could hire Japanese actors from Japan and also Japanese crew who had experience creating samurai drama.” The next speaker was Cosmo Jarvis who said, “Firstly, I hope people will become acquainted with a vast array of very endearing characters across the board and they will serve as a catalyst to explore Japanese history for which there is a lot.” The last part got some laughs from the audience. 

Hiroyuki Sanada, Cosmo Jarvis, Anna Sawai, Rachel Kondo, and Justin Marks on stage at the El Capitan Theatre, author’s photo. 

Sawai spoke a challenging part of filming, “I think something specific to this show is that we are obviously wearing period garment, kimonos, at times I would be wearing seven layers of clothing and that’s a lot of weight when added with a long wig. The higher rank you were, the longer hair you had, and Mariko is pretty up there. I was carrying so much weight and by the end of the show I really had muscular shoulders.” Her last comment also had some laughs. The first episode was screened. It begins with Blackthorne, Pilot-Major of the ship, Erasmus. 

The ship ends up in Japan which is divided with the death of the ruler. Lord Toranaga is now captive to the Council of Regents, his rivals, while the heir is at his castle. The novel was told entirely from Blackthorne’s perspective so this opens up the wider political landscape in Japan. The politics and adult content makes me think it is Game of Thrones meets The Last Samurai (2003). The mini-series has some incredible production design from the sets, costumes, and also the stunning cinematography. Shōgun is a powerful look at Japan of the 16th century adapting Clavell's novel with stunning visuals and acting! 

#Shogun, #ElCapitanTheatre, #Hulu, #DisneyPlus, #JamesClavell, #RichardChamberlain, #ToshiroMifune, #JohnRhysDavies, #Taikoproject, #RachelKondo, #JustinMarks, #AnnaSawai, #CosmoJarvis, #HiroyukiSanada

Re:tro Re:view - Captain America #3!

Captain America #3 enters dark territory with the killer, Cavenaugh, but Steve Rogers shows his mettle! Re:cap - issue #2: Steve questioned the speaker of the American Bund rally and then faced two bullies. Mr. Lane’s private island in the Pacific had cutting edge computer systems installed and kills the contractor. In the past, Steve encounters the woman, Tiffany, and offers to be a handyman. At the island base, a computer tech finds strange magical symbols in the programs. Then, he leaps to his death! In the past, there was a meeting between Baron Zemo and Baron Strucker! Steve encounters the bullies threatening two Jewish men. Tiffany with the other women in the apartments throw buckets on them of what is not exactly water! 

Stevensville, Montana, Travis Lane sees Henry Cavenaugh enter a house in his workman fatigues. He knows that there are fourteen people buried by the serial killer, Cavenaugh!  Lane tells Cavenaugh to look in the window at the demonic Asmoday possessing him!Asmoday wants to stop Captain America from being a “change agent” forever! Captain America #3 sports a cover by Jesus Saiz with cards spread on a table; Captain America and Asmoday as Aces, Steve Rogers and Rolf with a card down, an Ace?, possible Full House? There are four candles smoking around the cards. “Stand” is by J. Michael Straczynski with artists, Saiz and Lan Medina. This issue is very gruesome so pay attention to the T+ rating! 

It begins with flashbacks of Cap emerging from the ice, looking at his apartment, his mother giving birth to him, and being transformed into Captain America! Steve is thinking back to his thoughts on time being a man out of time. He mentions the other Avengers and finally that he is about to die facing to shadowy persons with his steel-gray shield! Cap thinks back to meeting Misty Knight at a Booklyn Heights apartment. Knight is the hero with a bionic arm and now working for the Aberrant Crimes Division. She first appeared in Marvel Premiere #21 (1975) and appeared in the Netflix Marvel shows played by Simone Missick. Mystic symbols are written along the walls. Also a burned body that was wrapped in bandages to the wall! 

Misty says that there were eight murders and this was the first one outside of Europe. It flashes back to Cavenaugh in a black and red uniform. Time shifts from the present to the victim talking to Cavenaugh. This is clever, very cinematic, and surreal. The killer has a spray can and tells about the Shadow Equations that determined the man is important to stopping a war! Misty has brought Cap in because he has dealt with A.I.M. A sister of a A.I.M. researcher sent some of the codes seen on the wall. Misty continues that the woman killed herself walking off a pier with a weighted rock! She says the same has happned to two code-breakers and the codes are supernatural. Misty places a figure of Doctor Strange and says the magic words, “There’s no place like home”, funny! 

Strange communicates by the figure through astral projection. We see Cavenaugh lay out blades on a table. In the future, we have Strange say that the symbols are for summoning circles to trap human spirits! Cavenaugh has his hand against the wall of symbols like the much smaller astral form of Doctor Strange. He takes out a long knife mentioning he usually takes souvenirs from bodies. Cavenaugh’s twisted trophies didn’t give him the moment of his victim’s death. Misty explains that the man was a peace advocate who was about to speak at a rally. 

This shifts to Cavenaugh calls himself The Emissary. We see a closeup of him, almost smiling as he checks the blade. His eyes suddenly blazes and the man screams as he starts to burn! From the body, Cavenaugh takes an intriguing pink crystal. He admires the screaming that he feels from the crystal and puts it in his box of a total of twelve crystals! Strange tells Misty about the other part of the mystery, a wall section blow the window, a symbol of the shield, Cap is next! We see a closeup of Steve Rogers, different art, it must be Medina. He is at another American Bund rally driving up hatred of immigrants and noting the alliance of “corporations and banks” to the Reich. 

Steve questions the speaker, Fritz Kuhn, saying that diversity makes steel strong and iron with only one element is weak. Love this comparison! Steve is pointed out to Meyer Lansky, a gang leader. Steve walks away to the crowd throwing bottles and trash at him. Lansky’s car pulls up to Steve and takes him to his home. He is impressed at Steve standing up and says he was weak, but could outhink his bullies. Steve says he defies the bullies because they are cowards. He says wearing the same uniforms, forming groups, makes them think they are strong, Lansky says they have something planned called Operation Garden and needs Steve’s help. This part is so powerful that it almost saves the violent, supernatural beginning. Captain America #3 opens the mystery seen with Cavenaugh's victim and contrasts it with Steve Rogers’ strength! 

Four Shields out of Five! 

#CaptainAmerica, #Stand, #JMichaelStraczynski, #JesusSaiz, #LanMedina, #HenryCavenaugh, #MistyKnight, #DoctorStrange, #MeyerLansky, #FritzKuhn 

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 Review!

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 is a great tribute to the show, characters, the actors, and fans! The show has been running since its debut in 1993 and it also has been continuing in comics form by Boom! Studios. There has been excellent explorations with the fan favorite characters, introducing new characters, and other parts of the Power Rangers universe. The Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 30th Anniversary Special #1 introduced the alternate world with “Re-Imagine” by Amy Jo Johnson, who played Pink Ranger, and Matt Hotson with art by Francesco Mortarino. It starts with the premiere, “Day of the Dumpster”, and the formation of the Power Rangers. 

This is the original team of Billy Cranston, Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, and Kimberly Hart given the Power Coins to transform them into Power Rangers! Tommy Oliver, the new Ranger, is introduced in the seventeenth ep of season one. A year later, Lord Zedd arrives in “The Mutiny” (1994). Almost mirroring Tommy and Kimberly’s relationship, he falls for Rita. Another year and we get the fateful change. In “The Power Transfer” (1994), Jason, Zack, and Trini are chosen to go to the Peace Conference in Switzerland. Their powers are transferred to Rocky, Adam, and Aisha. Billy brings up that they can teleport from anywhere in the world. Kimberly is happy that the team is staying together. 

Five years later, Kimberly and Tommy marry. Zedd and Rita marry in second season’s “The Wedding” (1995). Rita and Zedd use a Serpentera to destroy the Command Center along with Zordon and Alpha! Tommy says they should attack the Moon Palace base for Rita and Zedd! This shifts to the present with a familiar looking Emma Phillips about to take a flight with a shattered moon above her. Chapter One of The Return, is entitled “No More Power Rangers”, a nice twist on the theme song. It is by the writing team of Johnson and Hotson with Nico Leon providing the art. Leon worked on the Catwoman title to issue #58 (2023). The cover by Goni Montes has a very somber Kimberly dressed in a black coat, the Power Rangers around her and a closeup of her Pink Ranger helmet with the kiss with Tommy. 

The opening has the moon as we are told that about the defeat of Rita and Zedd by the Power Rangers, “twenty-two years ago”! We see their colors streak from the moon and then the location of the Moon Palace shattering the moon as we are told the team broke up! “Today” at the deserted Command Center, we hear the fall of a dark figure onto a console. There is some panting as he assembles his Blade Blaster and the Red Power Ranger with poncho and belt starts shooting! The blasts are a great visual. A portal is formed and he is struck down. There is a mysterious figure who looks down on him as his Power Coin lifts from his Power Morpher! The bearded, scarred Jason wonders about this powerful villain. He is told that this person comes from the past and is the future! Leon's artwork reminds me of the simple pencil lines of artist, Brian Stelfreeze. 

This goes to the Angel Grove celebration in the day of the Trini Kwan Memorial Park and Youth Center. It is presented by the older Billy who mentions she was the High Commissioner of Human Rights for the United Nations. Also the mayor of Angel Grove, incredible tributes to Trini and also actress, Thuy Trang, who died in 2001. I like this outcome more than what was in the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Once and Always (2023) film. Still, this is an alternate world so both versions can exist! In the audience is Kimberly. Also there is Ernie, owner of the juice bar that was the usual hang out, and the goofy bully duo of Skull and Bulk. Billy looks over to see Zack and turns over the presentation to him. The crowd cheers the Black Ranger, but Kimberly withdraws. 

She walks over and smiles seeing a photo of herself and Trini in 1994. Kimberly thinks back to the moment learning kung fu from Trini. Tommy leaps kicks over Jason, all in red, with Billy learning dance moves from Zack behind them. I like the color coordinated outfits. We also see to the side, Bulk blindfolded with Skull behind him, also with Ernie. Jason and Tommy are busy lifting barbells as Kimberly and Trini decide to leave for other places. There is a closeup of Kimberley’s eyes as she says she misses her friend. We see the cloudy skies as Kimberly is holding flowers in a cemetery. Zack walks up to her and she notes the cheering for the “famous Power Ranger.” He asks her to a restaurant with Billy and himself.

Kimberly places the flowers at a gravestone as she corrects Zack on how many times she saved him. She agrees to the restaurant, but wants him to call her Emma Phillips. Then, we see the gravestone of Tommy Oliver, and the saying, “His spirit lives on.” This is another tribute, a way for fans to say farewell to Jason David Frank whom we lost in 2022. Could the hooded man who Jason encountered be the return of Tommy? There is laughing at Chet’s diner. There is a Chet, owner of Astro Alley, in Power Rangers Astro Voyage. The conversation turns to the time since Kimberly was with them. Billy adds that “she”, Trini, missed her. Zack struggles that everyone should know about Trini and her heroism as a Power Ranger. Kimberly is stern with Zack about his tell-all book. 

 

Zack says that the agreement was to tell that he was Angel Grove’s only Ranger and the others were from the rest of the world. Kimberly comes back with if anyone else was revealed to be a Ranger, then all of their identies would be discovered. A tense scene. Zack says the publicity could Billy’s telecom company and Kimberly is in Canada as Emma. It seems like Johnson is putting in some of her own life into her character. Kimberly slams her fist on the table which disturbs a customer and waitress! Billy changes the subject mentioning that Zack’s book led to his Clean Power Hip Hop Kido Festival. We see the festival which looks great that was in Tulum, Mexico with djs, dances, and martial artists! 

The stage also has screens in the diamond shapes of the Ranger uniforms. Clever design. Billy starts to talk about his company, we see a closeup of Billy setting his glasses with a finger, a great character detail. He brings up his secret project. He used Alpha-5’s databankds, we see Alpha’s head on a pedestal with a white rose, the small touches are incredible. Billy has been working on making “safe teleportation.” He says it could be used to transport food to the hungry and move people from hurricanes. Billy mentions teleporting hurricanes, that is dangerous tampering with weather. We see a closeup of his Power Morpher. He brings up that he could have teleported away sick cells from a person. Trini died from an illness and Kimberly tries to reassure Billy. Then, she realizes he was tapping into the Morphin Grid thinking he broke the agreement from twenty-two years ago. 

Billy clarifies he hasn’t morphed and just used the Power Coin like Zack using it for his clean energy festival. Zack grabs his forehead, funny! Kimberly brings up Jason. Billy explains that he worked as a firefighter and then there was an arson. A destructive crime, the hooded person must have started the fire setting up the events. Jason agonizes next to a fire truck as a body is taken away. Jason morphed as the Red Ranger, Zack said to help people at first, we see him rescue people from a fire, then fighting crime, to finally counter-terrorism. Billy tells Kimberly that Jason wanted to use Morphin Grid to permanently become the Red Ranger! We see Jason in his Red Ranger uniform altred with poncho, patches, and belts. Billy says that the Morphin Grid was used by someone else. Billy thought it was Kimberly, but now Zack says they have to find Jason as Power Rangers. I love the mystery and the surprise ending! Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Return #1 takes the Tokusatsu action show premise and focuses on character moments that are dramatic! 

Five Power Coins out of Five! 

#MightyMorphinPowerRangersTheReturn, #NoMorePowerRangers, #AmyJoJohnson, #MattHotson, #NicoLeon, #KimberlyHart, Billy Cranston, Jason Lee Scott, Trini Kwan, Zack Taylor, #RitaRepulsa, #LordZedd, #Ernie, #Bulk, #Skull