Jurassic World: Rebirth Review!

The Jurassic films have been formulaic, Jurassic World: Rebirth, has some twists to the Dino DNA! It all started with Steven Spielberg’s classic, Jurassic Park (1993) with David Koepp adapting Michael Crichton’s 1990 novel. Koepp returned to adapt Crichton’s 1995 sequel for The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). The sequels were fine, they have moments, but maybe it is Koepp who knew the formula. It took 18 years before the park finally opened with Jurassic World (2015) with director/co-writer Colin Trevorrow. I liked the volcano destroying Isla Nubar in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) directed by J.A. Bayona. Then, the dinos were loose in the world. The series seemed to fizzle out especially losing interest in dinos and instead focus on locusts(?) with Jurassic World: Dominion (2022). 

It brought together casts from both Jurassic trilogies and just forced to bring all the stories to a finish. Instead, Rebirth is more of a refresh. Gareth Edwards is the director of Jurassic World: Rebirth. He is the director and co-writer of the visionary sci fi film, The Creator (2023), Godzilla (2014) launching the MonsterVerse franchise, and wrote and directed the original sci fi kaiju film, Monsters (2010). Koepp takes the script reigns here. It begins “Seventeen years ago”, five years before Jurassic World, 2010. There is a rumbling as a helicopter comes to land at an InGen facility at Ile Saint-Hubert, 226 miles east of French Guiana. InGen is the bioengineering facility that we saw from the first Jurassic Park. Finally, we see the lab that was the beginning of the dino trouble.  

We see a scientist, Williams (Adam Loxley) passes a large specimen container labeled Mutadon. It has strange mutant pterosaur in green fluid. This is similar to the containers in Aliens (1986).  He goes up to a lab door, marked D-rex, and meets with a colleague, DeSanto (Niamh Finlay) on the as he gets his environmental suit on. Williams is also fumbling with a candy bar wrapper. They do the three-two-one countdown with fingers before turning lab keys. Williams enters the lab, but of course there is an unforeseen complication. He joins colleagues when there is a containment failure! The system shorts out and then begins a reboot. Someone screams, “It’s loose!” The others are able to escape before the lab door closes! DeSanto tries to reach the door with the lab key, but she pauses, shocked at what is behind Williams in the red mist!  

The Distortus rex has the domed head of the Alien xenomorph mixed with a Tyrannosaur that has two tiny limbs like the Alien Queen. The accident at the beginning is a standard for Jurassic films. Weak security if there are dangerous animals around. “Shoot her!” We see a roll up explaining that five years after the last Jurassic World movie, the environment has become hostile to dinosaurs with the climate and disease. They can only survive in the tropical band around the equator which is forbidden to enter. Martin Krebs (Rupert Friend) is stuck in traffic. Friend is also in this year’s Wes Anderson film, The Phoenician Scheme. He hears from the radio about the last surviving sauropod in North America. It is seen being covered with tarps and about to be lifted by crane. Martin says the dino should have died already and finds that Zora Bennett played by Scarlett Johansson is in the car! Johansson also stars in The Phoenician Scheme as Cousin Hilda. She also  directed her first film, the drama, Eleanor the Great.  

Her specialization is retrival and extractions. They walk over to a dock and Martin who works for ParkerGenix says, “We have very deep pockets." He offers a payment with ten and six zeroes, ten million. The mission to collect Dino DNA may have a cure for coronary disease. Martin brings up her mother’s death. He also says, “We’re bringing a civilian.” Of course on this mission, Martin is also a civilian, a corporate representative like Carter Burke in Aliens. This shifts to a museum a painting of a hadrosaur is covered up with white paint. A cartoon mentions the Neo Jurassic Age, a term from Dr. Ian Malcolm in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. The "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" banner falls. This references the first movie and also the terrific 1970 caveman and dinosaur movie. The museum is mostly empty with only dinosaur skeletons on display and the construction crew breaking down the exhibits. They meet with Dr. Henry Loomis played by Jonathan Bailey. Lord Anthony Bridgerton was played by Bailey in season four of Bridgerton. He also reprises his part as Fiyero in Wicked: For Good. 

Henry is an academic seen with the glasses and he is the consultant for the mission. Henry explains that the DNA is best found in the largest Dinos in land, sea, and air. These include the Mosasaurus which we saw in Jurassic World. Then, a new dino, a sauropod, Titanosaurus, and Quetzalcoalus, a massive pterosaur which was in Jurassic World: Dominion. The DNA needs to be extracted from living dinosaurs and of course they are only found in the forbidden zone. Martin tells Henry that they are bringing him along. He is surprised to go out in the field and his decision leads to the funniest part of the movie! This moves to Suriname, 322 miles from the equator, and we get the John Williams, the classic score is used only a few times, to connect with the franchise, but the tension and action of this brilliant score is by composer, Alexandre Desplat. He worked with Edwards on the music for Godzilla. This superior to just variations on Williams' music. A prehistoric fish, a Dunkleosteus is hauled up to a dock. Duncan Kincaid played by Mahershala Ali takes all of the winnings of his card game. Ali is a distinguished actor with his role in Moonlight (2016) as Juan winning him the Best Supporting Actor Academy award. He was also in the thriller, Leave the World Behind. 

Five darts out of Five! 

#JurassicWorldRebirth, #GarethEdwards, #DavidKoepp, #AlexandreDesplat, #ScarlettJohansson, #JonathanBailey, #MahershalaAli, #ManuelGarciaRulfo, #AudrinaMiranda, #LunaBlaise, #BechirSylvain, #DavidIacono, #PhillipineVelge, #RupertFriend, #EdSkrein, #AdamLoxley, #NiamhFinlay  

Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #1 Review!

The daughter of Wonder Woman launches in her own title which gets to why reading comics is fun! She first appeared in Wonder Woman #800 (2023) created by Tom King and Daniel Sampere. There was a Trinity Special #1 (2024) that collected three parts of the back-up with her first appearance and a new story, “Mothers and Daughters” by King and Sampere. The “World’s Finest” back-ups, part 4 to 9, were completed in Trinity Special: World’s Finest #1 (2024). Trinity was introduced alongside her brothers and wards, Damian Wayne, son of Batman and Talia al Ghul, and Jon Kent, son of the post-Crisis Superman and Lois Lane. The duo met as Superboy and Robin in Superman #10 (2017). “In the Name of the Father: World’s Smallest Part 1” is by Peter Tomasi and Patrick Gleason. 

The Super Sons team starred in a 2017 limited series. Confusingly, Jon spent time with Jor-El (?) in Superman #8 (2019) before being trapped on Earth-3, he returned to his Earth only to find himself aged up? DC has been retconning all the time, this should be erased since Jon has always been similar to Damian. Jon took the mantle of Superman and had his own title, Superman: Son of Kal-El starting in 2021. So the only hero without a solo title is Damian Wayne. Trinity: Daughter of Wonder Woman #1 has a great cover by Belén Ortega of Trinity holding her gold and silver lassos with a red, blue, and gold star in the background. Also funny is Wonder Robin cover by Lucas Mayer cover parodying the classic Crisis on Infinite Earths #7 (1985). It has her carrying a Super Corgi winking as Corgis behind them watch them! 

“Crisis of Infinite Corgis” is by King and Ortega. Ortega first worked on Wonder Woman with Sensational Wonder Woman #11 (2021). She crafted the story of Lizzie Prince with “Trinity: World’s Finest” running as back-ups starting with Wonder Woman #3 (2024). The comic begins with the floating green cloak of Pariah. He was the character introduced in DC’s multiverse event, Crisis on Infinite Earths #1 (1985). We see him revealed with mad eyes monologuing about witnessing a civilization of ten thousand years is about to be lost. He is swallowed by a white light as of the multiverse is destroyed. His despair becomes almost absurd. A splash page as Superman and Green Lantern blast a white event, crowds watch or run from it, while Wonder Robin, young Lizzie, races after a Super-Corgi puppy to save the universe! 

 

Wonder Robin is Lizzie’s identity when she was an elementary school girl introduced in Wonder Woman #3 (2023). A Robin outfit with goggles and green ballerina skirt, a little parody of the Robin, Carrie Kelley, from the ultra-serious Dark Knight Returns (1986), always funny. The Super-Corgi flies away as the city collapses and Wonder Robin pleads to the puppy that she can’t fly. Then crashes into Pariah and she asks after his monologue about the Super Corgi. Pariah tries to explain in his faux Shakespearean rant that the animal is unimportant. Wonder Robin head scratches at Mr. Piranha, funny!, we get not to take world ending events so seriously with Lizzie’s confusion. He tries to explain that he sees everything. A two shot of Lizzie and Pariah asks the direction of the puppy. He is racked with his suffering and Lizzie asks him if he sad. 

He corrects her and tries to explain. Then, Wonder Robin says her mommy says talking helps not to feel alone. Lizzie tells Pariah about a time in the future with her babysitters, Damian and Jon, at Wayne Mansion. We see this argument in three panels, Lizzie on the couch, while the duo starts arguing about which one of their fathers is stronger. Jon says his father has “super-everything”, Lizzie’s expression is bored, funny! Damian calls Jon a “fingerman”, I wonder if this alludes to Bob Fingerman who wrote Bizarro Comics. I like the melodrama from Pariah and here the teen drama from Jon and Damian. Lizzie walks away from them. A number of narrow panels show Lizzie outside on a swing, alone in the winter yard, she swings thinking that Jon and Damian have “mommies and daddies”, but she is alone! Great expressions by Ortega! 

Then, she is told not to cry, and we find on a splash page, Wonder Girl, Lizzie took the name Wonder Girl in Wonder Woman #8 (2024). She stands from a shining, golden machine and uses Lizzie’s full name, Elizabeth Marston Prince! One of the best parts of the character, Elizabeth, after Wonder Woman creator’s wife, and her middle name, Marston after William Marston Moulton. The last name comes from the alias of Wonder Woman, Diana Prince. Back at the present with the white void, Green Lanterns comes screaming out of it, the tone of the comic just makes this funny. Lizzie explains to Pariah that she saw herself as a teenager with a superhero name! She tells him Wonder Robin can't be used on adventures. On the lawn, Wonder Girl tells her younger self that she remembered how sad she was, then took time machine bubble. 

Young Lizzie can't believe it and Wonder Girl looks off scratching her neck about Lizzie's question that she could just change the past! Almost Rodney Dangerfield. Wonder Girl says that it is better if no one knows about the time travel. Lizzie stares at her in awe and says, "You're so cool." Wonder Robin is happy saying her daddy died and wants one so she runs with her arms in the air. Lizzie coutns down, but Wonder Girl is sitting silen, She is rethinking the time travel and Lizzie bursts into tears. Her crying looks inspired by anime! Wonder Girl figures out what can be done. Lizzie's crying streams acorss the bottom of panels. Wonder Girl says that she doesn't have a plan, but an older Lizzie will have a plan. Lizzie pauses wondering if they can go to the future. Teen Lizzie says it has consequences. 

Then, we get "Elsewhere", a vault of drawers with three women working on a loom, the Fates or the Moirai. One has a blue shawl, the kneeling blonde woman in black, tells a joke about fate, and an older woman with a grey shawl and black clothes works on the other side. Maid, the blonde haired woman, is telling the joke when the woman with the blue shawl, the Mother, looks to see someone. The Maid is Clotho, the weaver, The Mother is Lachesis, who draws out the thread. Then the elderly woman, The Crone, Atropos, cutting threads, she also sees the mysterious person with her hands up. Finally, Maid turns to see the threat, holds a golden thread, and says they are not to blame! A cosmic event, destiny changed, with Lizzie or the Lizzies a part of it! A joke, The Lizzies, were the woman gang in The Warriors (1979). At a castle on a sea cliff, "A few more years from now", the adult Trinity says, "I honestly can't remember being this stupid", funny! 

Wonder Girl can't believe she gets three lassos. A statue, hidden from us by leaves, draws the attention of Wonder Robin. Trinity says Wonder Girl should go back and doesn't want to be responsible for the "collapse of time." Wonder Girl is more interested in holding the lassos! Unnotices, little Lizzie shouts out it's him. Thenk we see the statue of Wonder Woman and her love interest!, Trinity and Wonder Girl stare, as Lizzie runs with her fists raised saying, "That's my daddy!" It has been unseen about Lizzie's father, but always seemed inevitable who was the father. Trinity walks out of the time bubble saying she will only stay to see if things are right with the world. She says she will see if lizard monsters haven't taken over the world, this worries little Lizzie! They are again on the lawn of Wayne Manor adn Trinity says it seems alright when they hear a bark. Trinity is shocked, Wonder Girl panics and says she didn't do it, and Wonder Robin screams, "Puppies!" She is just so funny. 

Five Time Machine Bubbles out of Five! 

#TrinityDaughterOfWonderWoman, #CrisisOfInfiniteCorgis, #TomKing, #BelenOrtega, #WonderRobin, #WonderGirl, #Trinity, #Pariah 

Ballerina Review!

The world of John Wick expands with Ana de Armas as Eve, lethal as Wick in Ballerina! The film had the additional title, From the World of John Wick, but this was not used in the movie. It is directed by Len Wiseman who also directed the Underworld films, excellent at stylish action, though a hit and miss track record. I think of this as a hit and one of my favorite of the Wick canon because of de Armas’ character. The killer who struggles against tough foes, gets beaten, and is able to strike back is the appeal. I would like to see more Ballerina films in the Wickverse. The screenwriter is Shay Hatten who co-wrote John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023). 

It opens to the chimes of a ballerina snow globe. This is held by a young girl, Eve (Victoria Comte) sitting on a bench in a busy police station. Comte starred in the “Alouette” (2023) episode of The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. She has blood on her face. Eve thinks back earlier to a seaside where she was dancing with her father, Javier (David Castañeda). Hector in Sicardio: Day of the Soldado (2018) was played by Castañeda. He says, “You look so much like your sister” and gives her the snow globe. They enter their house and outside in the sunset, soldiers rise out of the sea. Guards protecting the house are killed by arrows. Javier is washing up taking off his jacket which reveals the Ruska Roma tatoo on his back. This is the organization that trains assassins like John Wick. 

He hears a soldier and knocks him down and another is thrown down a staircase. We see Javier prove he is Ruska Roma. Javier tosses red smoke grenades. He hides Eve behind a wall panel. Javier is held down by soldiers. Out of the red smoke, almost demonic, comes the figure of The Chancellor (Gabriel Byrne). The actor was in the Assault in Precinct 13 (2005), the remake of the 1976 John Carpenter film. He says that Javier was brought into the clan by marrying “our daughter.” The Chancellor then tells Javier that he had to kill her.  He takes a gun to leave only one bullet. Javier is offered a choice, “Kill yourself and your daughter lives. Kill me and you both die.” Javier holds up the gun to his head. Eve screams from behind the bookcase and her father begins to kill the soldiers.  

The Chancellor steps away. Eve from her hiding place sees an “X” fleshy mark on the wrist of one of the fallen soldiers. A knife is held to Javier and he is about to be killed! The soldier dies shot by Eve, her first kill, and his blood has splashed on her. Javier pulls her away and sets an explosive in a wall. He takes his daughter along a curved hall, but is shot in the side! Eve and Javier leave the house to a dock. He stumbles, but they have reached safety as the house explodes! Javier says he never intended this life for her and in the sunset he dies. A man in black fedora and coat walks into the police station. This is of course Winston, a mainstay of the Wick series played by Ian McShane. Winston was last seen in John Wick: Chapter 4. 

He walks up to Eve and identifies Tchaikovsky as the music from Eve’s snow globe. This is the Ballet Suite from Swan Lake (1877), Op. 20, Act II, No 10. It is a ballet of love and sacrifice. Winston asks if she likes dance and says he knows a school that teaches dance. He knows about the death of her father and adds, “I can take you to his family, maybe they will become your family.” He takes Eve’s hand and they walk away with the sunlight streaming from the windows like walking into heaven. The Tarkovsky Theater in New York is seen as well as the headlined performance of Swan Lake. Inside, seated, is Nogi who is portrayed by Sharon Duncan-Brewster. A previous part by Duncan-Brewster was as Liet Kynes in the first Dune (2021) movie. The role may brief, but Duncan-Brewster makes an impression as mentor for Ruska Roma. 

Winston also takes a seat as Eve is called into the office. She meets with The Director (Anjelica Huston), the character was introduced in John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum. The Director tells Eve, “I’m looking for new recruits.” Eve is accepted into the Ruska Roma. She returns to see Winston who slides her over a gold coin. Winston tells Eve, “Know that I will always be at your service.” It seems like Winston has a debt to Eve’s father, possibly mother, or both. Nogi tells her about the Kikimora, a spirit that can be vengeful to “those with darkness” or a protector to the innocent. The spirit, like the Baba Yaga, is from Slavic mythology, except Eve taking the role of Kikimora is more correctly aligned by gender than John Wick. This moves to twelve years later, the adult Eve ballet dances on stage, now played by de Armas. In the Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), de Armas played Paloma. She also starred with Keanu Reeves in the thriller, Knock Knock (2015). 

#Five Ballerina Snow Globes out of Five! 

#Ballerina, #LenWiseman, #ShayHatten, #AnaDeArmas, #NormanReedus, #CatalinaSandinoMoreno, #AnjelicaHuston, #GabrielByrne, #KeanuReeves, #IanMcShane, #LanceReddick,#SharonDuncanBrewster, #AvaJoyceMcCarthy, #VictoriaComte, #RobertMaaser, #DavidCastaneda,#ChoiSooYoung, #AnneParillaud 

Ghost Town Alive! Again!

A return to Ghost Town Alive! at Knott’s Berry Farm was even better with friends who have not attended the event! One friend has only been to Knott’s Scary Farm at night. The other was a VIP pass holder, but has never gone to Ghost Town Alive! So this was a great introduction to one of Knott’s Berry Farm best events. First, of course it was to take them to become citizens of Calico at Town Hall. I noticed inside that here was a painting of Sheriff Bryce Wheeler, very nice. At the bank, Cookie Lemon had a package of clothes, a note, and a message to deliver to the barber shop. 

    Ghost Town bandits next to the Calico Railroad, Knott’s Berry Farm, author’s photo. 

Artie Cabrera, Jr. ran the barber shop and I delivered the package and that Cookie needed some medicine. His message was to drink water and to take it easy. Also, to check the post office for the medicine. There was a visit to the Overland Gunshop, where my friend picked up sheriff badges for all of us! Gathering around the sheriff’s office, the deputies were forming a posse to take on the Mayfields, so my friends got to be deputized. Then, it was a ride on the Calico Roadroad, an attraction that is classic. A Denver and Rio Grande Narrow Gauge train that has been running since 1952! The best railroad ride at a theme park with the Ghost Town bandits robbing the train! One lady bandit was new to me, she seemed to be the leader of the duo! 

    Miss Cameo Kate’s Western Burle-Q Revue, Bird Cage Theatre, photo by the author.  

Then, it was a lunch at the Fireman’s BBQ, and I also took a sidetrip returning to the post office to find that the medicine was delayed a few days. I went back to the barber shop to inform Artie about the delay. Then, I walked over Goldie’s Hotel to pick up a postcard from Thelma. Next to Fireman’s BBQ was Miss Cameo Kate’s Western Burle-Q Revue at the Bird Cage Theatre.  It always a fun show to see Miss Cameo Kate, the dancers, and musicians go through crowd pleasing numbers. The Big Finish had a Paris themed revue with can can dancers which was also new for me! Once we were out, a parade had formed and went over to the Calico Stage for the dance that ended the day for Calico. Finally, we went over to Pan for Gold, my friends were impressed at finding real gold, Eureka! I expect to go to Ghost Town Alive! a few more times before it finishes September 1st! 

#GhostTownAlive, #KnottsBerryFarm, #TownHall, #SheriffBryceWheeler, #CookieLemon, #ArtieCabreraJr, #OverlandGunshop, #CalicoRailraod, #FiremansBBQ, #GoldiesHotel, #Themla, #MissCameoKate, #WesternBurleQRevue, #BirdCageGTheatre, #PanForGold  

The Band of the Crow Book One Review!

The Band of the Crow Book One graphic novel starts off the adventures of Therial with a detailed fantasy world created by Arvid Nelson with fantastic visuals by Oren! First part, that was in Welcome to Brigantia comic book is the first chapter here, “Wolves in the Chapel.” It was reviewered here: https://geektruth.blogspot.com/search?q=band+of+the+crow. The prologue is like an illuminated storybook which had the Great Winter when the Holy Daughter, Julian, was born. She taught Sorcery which was used to drive back the giants. The island of Brigantia has to be defended. The comic has 32 pages with the Brigantia designs. It has alternate cover art by Zid. Young Therial prays in front of a statue of Julian for his trials the next day. 

He finds himself caught by the leader of trolls, Otri, who are raiding the temple. They are stopped by shadowy tendrils sent by Ancasta. She is weakened by her unborn child. and given little help by Morin, the baron-like Mael, but they both wear Fale, amulets that amplify their magic. The next day, Morin announces to the young men who are studying to be sorcerors. Their test is in the Endless Knot, a dangerous labyrinth, to cut a sprig from a magical plant. Some bullies taunt Therial about his father and he gets into a fight with them. Before they enter the Endless Knot, Ancasta has the men drink from a cup. Therial stares in the reflection of the cup and ends up splashing Ancasta! He continues to the opening of the Endless Knot! 

Chapter Two: The Endless Knot picks up the story by Arvid Nelson. It is a 64 page graphic novel that was able as a Kickstarter project. It has the same cover as the regular cover of Welcome to Brigantia. This looks ready for comic and book stores with ISBN number and $17.95 price. We see a frontpiece like a circular stained glass window with “the Taming of the Wolves, the Fifth Year of the Goddess.” Three wolves are around the Goddess in red dress with the halo around her, stunning art by artist, Oren. Therial has entered the labyrinth and discovers a skeleton, a mop of brown hair, on top of mossy rocks with roots twisting in the bones! Therial turns away and walks up stones stairs with walls tangled with the roots. Closeup, something startles him and Therial reaches for his dagger. He finds that it is alcove with a statue of Julian before a pool. 

He kneels and takes a drink from the water, interesting that he drinks not from Ancasta’s cup, but from the Holy Daughter. Therial says to his father that he is on his way and then hears a spectral voice! Laughter comes from a stairway, there is mist that shrouds a female figure. Fascinating image since we saw Ancasta in white send out shadows, here is a dark woman in white mist. She tells Therial that she is a friend and he is startled that this woman knows his name. Therial says she is a Darkling from the Dark Lands and draws his curved knife, like a karambit. He does call for her to leave in the name of Julian, but this Darkling might be part of the Endless Knot! 

Five Fales out of Five! 

#TheBandOfTheCrow, #AridNelson, #Zid, #Oren, #Therial, #Julian, #Eidgar, #Mumkin

Karate Kid: Legends Review!

Karate Kid: Legends merges two of the Karate Kid films together with the story of new fighter, Li! The franchise began with The Karate Kid (1984) with Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita, then The Karate Kid Part II (1986), and then The Karate Kid Part III (1989). The trilogy was directed by John G. Avildsen with writing by Robert Mark Kamen. Then, The Next Karate Kid (1994) had the franchise running out of steam. There was a remake with The Karate Kid (2010) with Jackie Chan now as Master Han teaching kung fu. Cobra Kai (2018-2025) picked up 34 years after the first movie with Ralph Macchio’s character and his rival played by William Zabka.  It ran on You Tube Red and You Tube Premium before Netflix continued with the third season to the final, sixth season. Now there is a new Karate Kid in the form of Li, the first Asian American lead in the films. 

Jonathan Entwistle is the director of Karate Kid: Legends. He had directed the comedy sci fi series Hello Tomorrow! (2023). The film’s writer is Rob Lieber who co-wrote the comedy film, Peter Rabbit (2018). It opens to “Okinawa, Japan, 1986.” We see a Japanese house, the Miyagi family dojo, by the sea with Mr. Miyagi (Morita) practicing. This scene is from The Karate Kid Part II. 1986 was the year it was released, but the film has six months after the tournament in 1984. Daniel (Macchio) enters and asks about a portrait of Shimpo Sensei. In 1625, he was drunk, fell asleep and then woke up in China. Shimpo Sensei returned with the secret of Miyagi-Do karate. This goes into stylized animation and Miyagi explains that the karate is from “two branches, one tree.” This is an interesting flashback to open and the animation may be for the changes to the scene. It also tells one of the themes of the movie. 

This shifts to #Beijing, China, Present Day”, we have the lake and the Han School of Kung Fu with students practicing. We get the young students using the “Jacket On, Jacket Off” technique from the 2010 movie which we see in sub-titles. Also using kung fu on a wooden Wing Chun is Li Fong played by Ben Wang. Jin Wang in the show, American Born Chinese (2023) was played by Wang. He doesn't need to start out learning martial arts, but Li still needs training. We see the approach of his mother, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen) in a dark coat. Wen has many strong roles and earlier starred as Chun Li in Street Fighter (1994). A Young Girl (Olivia Yang Avis) warns Li and then Master Han (Jackie Chan) who tells her to delay Dr. Fong. Very funny! Chan is a martial arts legend who also happened to play Chun Li in a parody sequence in the action comedy adapting the manga, City Hunter (1993), one year before Wen! He wears a blue suit, blue and red are thematic colors, blue must be something traditional and Kung Fu. Red may represent something new and Karate. 

 

She tells Mister Han that she doesn't want Li to end up like her other son. Li overhears the conversation in the next room. His mother is getting a new start working at a hospital in New York. She has two hats including a blue Mets hat for Mister Han and also for her son. Dr. Fong knew that Li was listening in, he goes over to his mother angry at the move, and her secret is countered by his secret training. We move to New York with overhead shots at a taxi crossing a bridge and then through the city's Chinatown in Lower Manhattan. They enter their apartment and later Li slumps against his window with a photo which he took with his brother, Bo, both in blue shirts. He tells his mother that he is going out for pizza in his red, plaid jacket. Li walks down the street and manages to find Victory Pizza. He goes to the counter and meets the owner, Victor, played by Joshua Jackson. Dr. Max Bankman was the lead played by Jackson in the show, Doctor Odyssey. Li orders a stuffed crust pizza which Victor tells him can be found somewhere in New Jersey. Mia (Sadie Stanley) takes over for her father. Kim Hushable was a mini-series that starred Stanley as the teenage spy from the cartoon series, Kim Possible. 

Five Wing Chuns out of Five! 

#KarateKidLegends, #JonathanEntwistle, #RobLieber, #BenWang, #SadieStanley, #JackieChan, #RalphMacchio, #MingNaWen, #JoshuaJackson, #WyattOleff, #AramisKnight, #TimRozon, #OscarGe 

Spider-Girl #1 Review!

The new Spider Girl debuts as a superheroine in Spider Girl #1 . There have been a number of Spider Girls starting with Mayday Parker. She first appeared in What If…? #105 (1997). Aña Corazón debuted in Amazing Fantasy #1 (2004) and became Spider-Girl in Young Allies #5 (2010). Isabela Merced played the character in Madame Web (2024). Makawalu Akana is the latest Spider-Girl who first appeared in Spider-Boy #11 (2024). She is a mutant who can adapt any power through eye contact. The assassin Bullseye trained her, gave her the codename Funhouse, and sent her against Spider-Boy, Bailey Briggs, who had his DNA altered by Madame Monstrosity. Bailey can grow eight eyes on his head and has a venom bite with fangs! 

An assassin who trains a girl who ends up as a superhero is the Marvel version of Cassandra Cain, Batgirl, in the DC universe. Her powers went out of control and she permanently copied his powers. This was in Spider-Boy #14 (2024). Bailey was trying to help Maka during the Challenge of the Jade Dragon tournament, but she sided with her mentor. Maka realized that Bullseye was going to kill her and left him to team up with Spider-Boy. Now she has a new start in NY! The cover by David Nakayama has Spider-Girl swinging with her right shoe forward. In the background is the Statue of Liberty and on the corner, a tiki idol. It is written by Torunn Grønbekk who also wrote the Venom and Carnage titles. André Risso is the artist who also worked on the Shrugged (2018) limited series for Aspen Comics. 

It begins with Maka’s narration, “I used to dream I could fly” and we see a corporate office. A woman discusses liability for physical destruction, Damage Inc.?, another man in a suit looks at something on the window. It is Spider-girl swinging away from the “Wash Me” she wrote on the dusty window! She has pig tails from her spider mask and shoes. Spider-Boy had shoes made of unstable molecules, a Reed Richards invention, to be able to wall crawl. She web swings over a street marking all of the stores, this feels very NY, and then spots a man carelessly on his phone about to walk in front of a speeding car. Spider-Girl sends out a web strand to pull him away from the car! He is instead angry at ruining his suit! Spider-Girl swings away, but then sees a man with a Bullseye cap. She ends up slamming into a wall! 

Spider-Girl web shoots to swing away, but the webline ends up wrapping around her so she hangs upside down in the alley! Funny! I love super heroes who don’t have their powers polished! Spider-Girl realizes that her barbed wire webbing is painful as she tears it away. She notices that the man with the cap is not Bullseye. Some trauma from her training time. Spider-Girl also sees her backpack was soaked in nasty alley liquid! She mentuons that her training made her the “best martial artist” for her age group. Also, that Bullseye had taken her to NY to train. Nice, but the Big Apple is full of superheroes and Spider people. I hope Maka goes back to Hawaii and we get some of the culture. There are few Hawaiian superheroes. Alani Ryan, Loa, from New Mutants #11 (2004) is from Maui. Team up! Also, the Point Men were a team of heroes form the Hawaii Initiative from Avengers: The Initiative #14 (2008). There is enough crime with Hawaii Five-O and NCIS: Hawai’i. 

Maka takes off her mask seeing the Red Snow Dojo. The character faces and action poses remind of Humberto Ramos’ artwork. This shifts to "the other side of the city", where car alarms go off. This is caused by the power of Hijack, David, who struggles with her power of machinery. The mutant Cable has a similar power. Someone calls his name, but David shuts out the voice. We see a closeup of the scientist, Dr. Tramma, who first appeared in Spider-Man: Brand Newe Day - Extra! #1 (2008). She says Test 22 is a failure and goes with Plan B. A voice says, "Bullseye's protoge." She mentions the Bullseye's betrayal in the Challenge of the Jade Dragon. The vioice says Maka has been accepted into Red Snow. Dr. Tramma says that Maka has a replication power, but don't understand it. Her boss tells Dr. Tramma to test her. Tramma had worked for a crime boss, Mister Negative and he had an introduction in Spider-Man Free Comic Book Day 2007 #1. 

She looks at a test subject in shadow that growls! Dr. Tramma injects a solution into the tube making a bargain with Vermin. The rat-like villain first appeared in Captain America #272 (1982). Recently, Arcade in Kraven's Great Hunt injected him a formula, the same as Dr. Tramma, to clone Vermin! To be free, all Vermin has to do is kill Spider-Girl! Maka is in her white gi talking to her mother on her cell phone. She tells Maka to have fun and says that the last time she met her fellow students, they were her opponents. She had defeated them, payback?, and her mom tells her to make friends. Maka enters the room and we see some rats in the corner, foreshadowing! She passes some trophies and then tries to introduce herself to the class. Another student, Catherine, cuts her off. Catherine smells the garbage that is on Maka's backpack! A bit of awkwardness in a Karate Kid-like setting. Training by Bullseye would make learning at a dojo unimportant, but it might keep Maka honed as a fighter and socialize. 

Five Barbed Wire Webbing out of Five! 

#SpiderGirl, #TorunnGronbekk, #AndreRisso, #DavidNakayama, #MakaAkana, #SpiderBoy, #Bullseye,#DrTramma, #MisterNegative, #Vermin  

First Day at Ghost Town Alive at Knott’s Berry Farm!

Ghost Town Alive! has returned to Knott’s Berry Farm and it feels like a new Founder’s Day! Ghost Town Alive! started today and runs through the summer to September 1st! There's plenny of things to do for many visits to the town! I stopped by the Sheriff’s Office and saw the new deputy! She has been there for two months. Then, of course stopped by the Livery Stable and saw Fury, the horse, and donkey, Brutus. Also, the two little goats, but they don’t have names! I think there should be a contest to name them, just for the park, like the eaglets at the Big Bear Bald Eagle Nest! I always stop by the Post Office to get a copy of the Calico Gazette. 

Milton C. Howell, Luke Stillwater, and Pearl Parnell are at Town Hall, Ghost Town Alive, Knott’s Berry Farm, author’s photo. 

There was a big gathering round the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad station at Calico Park. All a’waitin’ the arrival of the mayor! What a whoopin’ kick off to Founder’s Day! Luke Stillwater was officiating the arrival and we finally had the return of Milton C. Howell! Also, Pearl Parnell, the wife of the former mayor. Then, it was a walk over to Town Hall. Milton announced that he would be deputy mayor. Pearl is the new mayor! Also, that the gold mine has run dry!, the town is broke! I found my way to the Sheriff’s Office where Clay Mayfield was holding an announcement of his own. He said that the Mayfield Gang was taking over Calico over the objections of the law!

    Clay Mayfield stirrin’ up some trouble for Calico!, photo by the author. 

Them Mayfields are trouble so I talked to Deputy Clancy Cunningham if they was gonna deputize the town. He had some tasks to ready townsfolk to be deputies; one was takin’ some Evidence Bounty Cases from the cold cases, the other was inflitratin’ the Mayfield Gang! The first one was to find a gold letter at a hitchin’ post. I stopped by the Post Office to talk about the case with Ryder `Ry’ Dinkle. Then, went around the stable lookin’ for clues. Won’t spoil it, but for finding the clue I got an honest to goodness wooden nickel! For the first time there is the Founders Day Paradethat would lead to the Hoedown, but I was savin’ that for another day. There's a postcard at Goldie's Hotel and also an "official Calico postage seal" at the Post Office! New people in Calico, new events, and changes to Ghost Town Alive! For many visits to Knott’s Berry Farm! 

#GhostTownAlive, #KnottsBerryFarm, #LukeStillwater, #MiltonCHowell, #PearlParnell, #ClayMayfield, #DeputyClancyCunningham, #RyderRyDinkle