Monday, August 31, 2020

Mars Attacks Red Sonja #1

Dynamite Entertainment is known for throwing together odd pairings for crossover mini-series. Mars Attacks Red Sonja #1 does just that with providing a storyline of the 60s trading company aliens from the red planet attacking Earth during Red Sonja's time when the Martian Chief Science Advisor Xi'Zeer sought to conquer the planet under the guise of a diplomatic mission to Earth for the Martian Emperor.

Lucifer - ¡Diablo!

Apprised of the situation by Amenadiel (D.B. Woodside), the real Lucifer (Tom Ellis) returns from Hell to find Michael and attempt to undo the damage his twin brother has caused in Lucifer's absence from Los Angeles. Lucifer and Chloe's (Lauren German) reunion is bittersweet given Michael's bombshell about the purpose of Chloe's creation. Unable to immediately find his brother, Lucifer and Chloe work together on a new case involving the murder of a television showrunner Lucifer helped out years ago who decided to use Lucifer to create a TV series about a crime-solving Devil called Lieutenant ¡Diablo!. While the Devil may be flattered, Chloe isn't all that keen on her character (Brianne Davis) being rewritten as a former stripper turned assistant.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #108

Donatello, Leonardo, Raphael, Jennika, and Michelangelo head into the sewers in search of the missing children but don't find what they expect. The group discover Lita and the others safe.

Locke & Key - The Black Door

As Echo (Laysla De Oliveira) moves forward with plan B in getting her hands on more keys by flirting with the self-destructive Tyler (Connor Jessup), who purposefully sabotages his relationship with Jackie (Genevieve Kang), Kinsey (Emilia Jones) plays on the Savini Squad's need for a new filming location to lead them down into the dangerous sea caves in order to satiate her own curiosity about what secrets they are hiding from her father's past. While putting the lives of all her new friends in danger, getting more than a little closer to one of the group, and pissing off her boyfriend, Kinsey does manage to find a hidden door deep within the caves promising secrets she is desperate to get her hands on. Obviously the mysterious door will have an important role to play later in the series.

Saturday, August 29, 2020

Wizards: Tales of Arcadia - History in the Making

While still working on quite a bit of world building, the second episode of Wizards: Tales of Arcadia is an improvement over the first as Douxie (Colin O'Donoghue) and his friends find themselves trapped in the past in the kingdom of King Arthur (James Faulkner) who it turns out is far less noble than his legend. While Douxie attempts to pass himself off as his younger self, Steve (Steven Yeun) goes into training with Lancelot (Rupert Penry-Jones), Jim (Emile Hirsch) gets thrown into the dungeon, and Claire (Lexi Medrano) becomes a handmaiden for Morgana (Lena Headey).

Friday, August 28, 2020

The Sleepover

The Sleepover is an innocuous exercise that attempts to blend a teen comedy about a pair of siblings (Sadie Stanley and Maxwell Simkins) and their friends (Cree Cicchino and Lucas Jaye) getting into trouble while saving their parents from ninjas with a bland heist storyline involving the kids' cliche of a suburbs father (Ken Marino) discovering his wife (Malin Akerman) is a world-class thief with an ex-fiance (Joe Manganiello) who has been living in witness protection for 15 years and is now being blackmailed into one more heist by her former partners. Got that?

The film by Trish Sie and first-time screenwriter Sarah Rothschild is an unimaginative and forgettable affair that tries to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible without actually entertaining anyone. I feel sorry for both Akerman and especially Marino, who tries his best to make the insufferable Ron funny, for not being able to turn down such a lazy affair. The wacky kid segments have a bit more going for them, but there's nothing you haven't seen done far better countless times before. The Sleepover is so forgettable you might end turning off the television halfway through because you forgot you were watching it.

Thursday, August 27, 2020

Warrior Nun - Isaiah 30:20-21

Ava (Alba Baptista) and Shotgun Mary (Toya Turner) become unlikely road companions after the encounter with a demon as an injured Mary leads Ava to a nearby village where the Order help some years before. There's Odd Couple some humor in the opening sequence as Mary tracks Ava down, gently pushes her towards a nearby town, and becomes her travelling companion. The pair's time together allows Mary to offer Ava the soft pitch to joining the order while also giving the younger woman a sense of her importance and how her control over the Halo gives her leverage and power. Disconnected from the various other characters and subplots, "Matthew 7:13" offers a nice break while also allowing Ava to see the positive effects of those who have been helped by the warrior nuns.

The Umbrella Academy - Valhalla


For the first time in the show's Second Season the entire Umbrella Academy is gathered under the same roof. It doesn't last very long as Luther (Tom Hopper) is the first to bail on the disagreements on how the team can prevent the end of the world in six days time. Following his brother out, Diego (David CastaƱeda) and Luther receive an invitation from Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) to all of his "pursuers" summoning them for a light supper (and laying the foundation for the next episode). During the opening sequence, we also get to see a little more of Pogo's past and how his path original coincided with that of Hargreeves.

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

Altered Carbon - Bury Me Dead


Quellcrist Falconer (RenƩe Elise Goldsberry) recovers her memory, believing he's killed the other version of himself the clone of Takeshi Kovacs (Will Yun Lee) attempts to win over Quell and learn about her secret weapon. Things don't go exactly as planned as Quell provides some insight into what became of his sister in the centuries that have passed and the, still living, other version of Kovacs (Anthony Mackie) and Trepp (Simone Missick) take out the rest of Carrera's (Torben Liebrecht) men with the help of new friends (who it turns out are all that friendly after all).

Lucifer - Lucifer! Lucifer! Lucifer!

 


Faux-Lucifer's (Tom Ellis) tenure turns out to be shorter than expected as several characters realize that the Devil's twin brother Michael is attempting to pass himself off as Lucifer Morningstar. Michael admits the truth to Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt) in hopes of enlisting her help to tear apart Lucifer's life on Earth and force the Devil to return (in order to prove something to himself and his family). Before discovering the truth on her own, Chloe (Lauren German) and Michael will work on a case together solving a murder of a would-be astronaut at a Mars training facility. While he may look like Lucifer, Michael can't quite get his brother's mirth right leading to an odd series of interrogation scenes with Lucifer being the more responsible partner and Chloe lashing out at the suspects.

Super Dinosaur - Invasion of the Dynamo Dome


Picking up where "Dynore Quest" left off, "Invasion of the Dynamo Dome" features the Dino-Men's invasion of the Dynamo Dome. Max Maximus' (Marco Soriano) victory is short-lived, however, as Tricerachops (Kathleen Barr) and the Dino-Men mutiny against their creator and though him in the brig with the others. Working with Maximus, the Dynamos, the Kingstons, and Super Dinosaur (Mac Heywood) take back the dome before dinosaurs from Inner Earth make their way to the surface. The episode is notable for the ridiculous visual of SD crawling through air ducts (seriously, how big are these things?) and Erica (Shannon Chan-Kent) redeeming herself a bit by preventing the inevitable Maximus double-cross.

Once and Future #10


Last issue's death of Bewoulf doesn't take long to come back and haunt Duncan and his Bridgette as the epic poem's villain shows up in the retirement community of Duncan's grandmother.

Tuesday, August 25, 2020

Locke & Key - Family Tree


The primary focus of "Family Tree" is the use of the Music Box Key, the first of two keys Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Tyler (Connor Jessup) will discover together over the course of the episode. Learning that it allows the user control of whoever is nearby, Kinsey decides to take the key and the music box to school in order to teach school bully Eden (Hallea Jones) a lesson. It doesn't take long for the situation to get out of hand, leaving both Tyler and Scot (Petrice Jones) concerned with how far Kinsey takes her revenge. Kinsey's experimentation highlights how much she's changed since exercising her fear and how the power of the keys can so easily corrupt anyone who handles them.

Warrior Nun - Matthew 7:13


After rescuing Ava (Alba Baptista) from Sister Lilith (Lorena Andrea), Shotgun Mary (Toya Turner) and Lilith continue to battle as each tracks Ava and JC (Emilio Sakraya). Realizing JC has questions, but unable to offer the truth, Ava offers a simplified version of her story (removing all the mystical aspects), but by the end of the episode he'll have far more questions. Baptista and Andrea are the stars here who put on a series of great action scenes between the two of them as Mary wants to bring Ava back to the order and Lilith wants to cut the halo out of her (a decision which doesn't end well for the nun when exposing the Halo summons a Tarask).

Avengers #35


Thankfully the problematic racial overtunes of the last issue are left behind here as "The Age of Khonshu - Part Three: You Don't Beat the Devil by Being an Angel" puts to focus back on Khonshu's attempts to accumulate power by sending Moon Knight after the Starbrand Baby protected by Iron Man and Carol Danvers. Despite his goal to protect the child, a freaked-out Tony Stark nearly hands the baby over to Moon Knight at the mere mention of Khonshu's enemy.

Tuesday with Karrigan Taylor


Karrigan Taylor is a cosplayer and model. You can follow her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Support her on OnlyFans.

Monday, August 24, 2020

Harley Quinn #75


Harley Quinn #75 offers writer Sam Humphries' big messy farewell to the character as the series comes to an end. Taking place almost entirely within Harley's mind, the issue offers a roast of the clown on her birthday for her adoring fans. The format allows for multiple separate adventures, drawn by different artists, with the thin thread of all of the madness being fed by Harley's discomfort about her birthday.

The Umbrella Academy - The Majestic 12


Lila's (Ritu Arya) past is explored in the episode's pre-credit sequence which shows she was honest to Diego (David CastaƱeda) about what happened to her parents and how she ended up in the arms of the Handler (Kate Walsh). Tasked with keeping Five (Aidan Gallagher) safe at all costs, Lila will be forced to make hard decisions in the field between following orders and protecting the man she has come to care for. As for our unlikely trio, the set-out to find the gathering of the Majestic 12 (a secret scientific cabal whose plans may or may not tie into events which cause the apocalypse) whose members include Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore).

Lucifer - Really Sad Devil Guy


When last we saw Lucifer (Tom Ellis) he said farewell to Chloe (Lauren German) and chose to return to Hell. While only two months have passed on Earth, Lucifer's time in Hell has been far longer. Working with Maze (Lesley-Ann Brandt), Chloe still hasn't dealt with her loss while Lucifer has picked-up his old ways of judgement and torture (even if his heart really isn't in it). When a murder victim from Los Angeles (Jeremiah Birkett) shows up for torture, Lucifer attempts to relive his salad days and solve the murder realizing the Chloe is working the case on Earth. Attempting to offer punishment only highlights Lucifer's own Hell, but he is able to get a message to Chloe, albeit one mangled by a demon, to help her on the case.

Friday, August 21, 2020

Unhinged

While far less clever than Falling Down, the new thriller from director Derrick Borte and screenwriter Carl Ellsworth plays on some of the same themes with a protagonist completely out of control. The difference here is that "The Man" (Russell Crowe), as he's credited, is never internally explored. The perspective of the film is shown through the eyes of his victims as he targets friends and family of a woman (Caren Pistorius) for the slight of daring to honk at him in traffic and refusing to apologize.

Prior to introducing Rachel (Pistorius) and her family, the film opens with The Man's brutal attack on another home. Obviously, he has anger management issues. After targeting Rachel, he gets an inordinate amount of information from her cell phone in short period of time, helped out by the single mother not locking her phone and people making calendar appointments on spur-of-the-moment get togethers. Unhinged isn't the kind of movie you'll want to start questioning or dissecting how likely something may have occurred (like the chance second meeting at the gas station) as it relies completely on the rage of Crowe's character and the pressure it can apply.

Project Power

There's an intriguing kernel of an idea in Project Power about the possibility of a drug that could deliver short-term super-powers. Set in New Orleans where the drug has popped-up, we're introduced to morally-ambiguous but self-righteous cop Frank Shaver (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who uses the drug to fight off criminals using the drug to get away with crimes. Frank buys the drugs from a teenager (Dominique Fishback), who is a nice drug dealer that only sells drugs to get her mother much needed surgery just like Frank is a nice drug user only taking Power in order to become temporarily invincible and take down those with worse intentions.

That's enough for story for the film to delve into, but there's also a former soldier calling himself Major (Jamie Foxx) rousting local dealers in hopes of working his way up the chain to the supplier. As for the supplier, the script feels a bit unsure if they are government or corporate (we know from Frank that the experiments started in the United States Armed Forces, but we see no actual government agents at work other than a couple of Men in Black stand-ins who are never identified).

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Altered Carbon - I Wake Up Screaming


The episode where Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie) fights himself (Will Yun Lee), literally. Breaking both law and taboo, Carrera (Torben Liebrecht) spins up an earlier version of Kovacs to hunt the missing Envoy and Quellcrist Falconer (RenƩe Elise Goldsberry). Using the sudden appearance of Quellcrist Falconer to stir up panic, Governor Loren (Lela Loren seizes more power and declares martial law, cementing her position against further threats from Carrera. In the race for power and the chance to prove which one is the season's more villainous character, it remains a stalemate.

Catwoman #24


Offering the conclusion to the two-part story started last month, Catwoman #24 picks up with a wounded Selina Kyle talking herself out of trouble involving a jungle girl and a giant puma. Following the pair back to their village, Catwoman discovers the harsh reality of what Snowflame is doing on Isla Nevada and vows to put a stop to it.

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Locke & Key - The Keepers of the Keys


"The Keepers of the Keys" doesn't reveal a new key, but it does examine the effects of Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Tyler (Connor Jessup) both using the Head Key. Kinsey becomes freed after removing her fear, becoming more assertive with Scot (Petrice Jones) even choosing to reveal the truth about the keys to him and let him inside her mind. Tyler takes the opposite approach, choosing to add knowledge to his mind in hopes of impressing Jackie (Genevieve Kang), with mixed results. If there's a moral to each story, it seems to be that the keys may be good for your love life (in small doses). With the help of Ellie (Sherri Saum), Nina (Darby Stanchfield) discovers a hidden room in the basement. While both enjoy the nostalgia of the discovery, it seems like Ellie may have been looking for something specific in the walled-off game room.

LEGO DC: SHAZAM! - Magic & Monsters


Billy Batson (Zach Callison) was previously introduced as a supporting character in LEGO DC: Batman – Family Matters. LEGO DC: SHAZAM! - Magic & Monsters introduces us to his super-hero alter-ego complete with origin story, some classic villains, and a lesson for kids about trust.

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Warrior Nun - Ecclesiasticus 26:9-10


Leaving the nuns doesn't go quite how Ava (Alba Baptista) expected when she flees the order and looks to explore a normal life. Although JC (Emilio Sakraya) is happy by her return the others are a bit skittish after the surprise visit by the wealthy scientist hunting for her (although it appears none immediately cash-in on seeing her again). Their apprehension isn't helped by an example of Ava's powers. Choosing to leave the city with JC seems to be the prudent thing, however nagging memories continue to resurface over the course of the episode as Ava looks back on the time at the orphanage and makes a trouble discovery about Sister Frances (Frances Tomelty) prompting a return and a deadly confrontation.

Batman & the Outsiders #15


The League of Assassins and the Outsiders both hit Tokyo in the calm before the storm as Batman & the Outsiders #15 sets up the next issue's long-delayed face-off between the Batman-led Outsiders, complete with Sofia Ramos and Lady Shiva, and Ra's al Ghul.

Tuesday with Cindy Prado



Cindy Prado is a fashion model from Florida. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.

Monday, August 17, 2020

Batman: The Adventures Continue #10


Along with continuing the flashbacks of Jason Todd as Robin and the friction with Batman that was there from the start, Batman: The Adventures Continue #10 also finally offers us the character in costume as it delivers our first look at the Batman: The Animated Series version of the Red Hood.

Super Dinosaur - Dynore Quest


Erica (Shannon Chan-Kent) really is the worst. "Dynore Quest" offers a trio of adventures for Derek Dynamo (Valin Shinyei) Super Dinosaur (Mac Heywood) who race around the globe to try and prevent the Dino-Men from getting their claws on three rare elements which Max Maximus (Marco Soriano) could use to create a new synthetic Dynore. The episode also features two more victories for the Dino-Men then we usually see as Tricerachops (Kathleen Barr) is able to beat the heroes to both the first two elements, and nearly makes it three before Elliot (Tevon Herbert) helps bring their ship down. However, Erica's shortsightedness and selfishness may just doom the world when her tantrum reveals the location of the Dynamo Dome to the world after her parents refuse to let her cash-in on a prestiguous scholarship that would have gotten her far from Earthcore's isolated outpost.

Darth Vader #4


When last we left the Dark Lord of the Sith, Vader had returned to Naboo and was working with SabƩ, former handmaiden to Padme Amidala, to discover how his wife died. Believing Vader responsible for the deaths of both Padme and Anakin, SabƩ and the others laid a trap hoping to use a Sando aqua monster to remove all traces of Darth Vader from the galaxy. Things didn't go exactly as planned.

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Caturday with Bubbles matcha


Bubbles matcha is a cosplayer you can follow on Instagram and Amino. Photo by JDGPandaworks.

Friday, August 14, 2020

The Umbrella Academy - The Swedish Job


Their real lives come crashing down on both Alison (Emmy Raver-Lampman) and Luther. Raymond Chestnut (Yusuf Gatewood) has many, many questions for his wife after learning that Klaus (Robert Sheehan) was the one who got him out of prison, and he's Alison's brother? But that's far less confusing than returning home to find the gigantic lovelorn Luther on his front lawn looking for his sister as well (or seeing Alison use her powers to save his life from a brutal police attack). Discovering Alison is married doesn't help Luther either who throws his next underground fight by begging his opponent to knock him out and make his pain go away.

Usagi Yojimbo #11


Usagi Yojimbo #11 kicks off a four-part tale of Miyamoto Usagi returning to the village he grew up. After being injured, Usagi drifts down river where he is found by the surprised Mariko, the love of his life, and nursed back to health. Mariko's husband Kenichi is less pleased to see the return of his childhood rival (Sakai offers flashbacks of the misadventures of the three as children).

Altered Carbon - Shadow of a Doubt


As Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie) and Quellcrist Falconer (RenƩe Elise Goldsberry) spend time together reconnecting, the Governor (Lela Loren) takes certain steps to hide her activities from Carrera (Torben Liebrecht), and Tanaseda Hideki (James Saito) is forced by the soldier into a difficult choice concerning his old friend and a debt he can never repay. Kovacs wants Quell, Carerra wants Kovacs, but it's still unclear just what the Governor is ultimately after (other than continuing to solidify her legacy). "Shadow of a Doubt" confirms the targets of the still not yet fully aware Quellcrist Falconer as the founders of Harlan's World (two more of whom are killed in the episode). As to who, and what, is lurking behind these attacks (and why her splintered mind isn't aware of them) we only get tiny fragments of Hideki's failing stack leaving Kovacs with more questions. The episode also features some strong scenes between Dig 301 (Dina Shihabi) and a despondent Poe (Chris Conner) reconsidering reboot after failing Kovacs yet again offering hope that the most human character of the series may not be finished just yet.

Thursday, August 13, 2020

Wednesday, August 12, 2020

The Witcher - Betrayer Moon


The main storyline of "Betrayer Moon" involving a kingdom haunted by a princess turned into a grizzly creature known as a Striga is supposed to have personal ties to the past of Geralt of Rivia (Henry Cavill). Unfortunately, the writers of the series have forgotten that they have told us next to nothing about the Witcher's backstory leaving any deeper meaning impossible to connect to his unknown previous experiences. The episode features plenty of Geralt acting like a first-rate dick (something Cavill excels at) to everyone in the kingdom from the local witch to the king himself. The creature also took down another Wicher (Gudmundur Thorvaldsson) whose entire existence appears to be to allow Geralt to be slightly miffed not at the Witcher's death but that the kingdom hushed up the his death (making it look like the warrior left with the townspeople's money).

Locke & Key - Head Games


The third episode of Locke & Key offers the exploration of the Head Key as Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Tyler (Connor Jessup) get a look inside the colorful mind of Bode (Jackson Robert Scott). Nina's attempt to look inside her own mind turns out to be a darker journey as her fear overwhelms her and even attacks Tyler directly. Nina's experience may help explain Echo's (Laysla De Oliveira) interest in the key, not to explore her own memories but to unlock something dark in those of someone else. Kinsey's use of the key, an attempt to remove her irrational fear completely from her mind, is likely to have some consequences (especially when Echo observes the girl's attempt to bury the fear in the woods outside the house). Echo also picks up a new key of her own in the Matchstick Key, the first that was teased in the series' opening sequence.

Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew #3


The truth that Nancy Drew is still alive is kept in Nancy Drew & The Hardy Boys: The Death of Nancy Drew #3, despite an encounter with the Syndicate agent known as the Barber that leaves one of the two Hardy boys in the hospital.

Stargirl - Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. (Part Two)


The second-half of the First Season finale pits the new Justice Society of America against the Injustice Society of America with the free will, and lives, of millions of Americans in the balance. "Stars and S.T.R.I.P.E. Part Two" wraps up the big season-long arc while also laying the foundation for new villains, and the return of a few familiar faces, when the show returns for Season Two. Stargirl (Brec Bassinger) and her team are able to successfully destroy the mind-control machine, although their victory doesn't come without a cost as Beth (Anjelika Washington) loses her best-friend, and although Rick (Cameron Gellman) controls his rage and chooses not to kill the mindless Solomon Grundy, Yolanda's actions in the tunnels, which help save the day (and take some vengeance while removing the most problematic villain from the show), may continue to haunt her going forward.

Tuesday, August 11, 2020

Young Justice #17


I kinda love this issue. Taking place after the dust has cleared between the epic battle between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom we get a quiet standalone story featuring the League and Young Justice doing clean-up in Metropolis and teenager Yolanda Chan being bowled over at what she is witnessing.

Black Cat #12


Black Cat versus Iron Man, 'nuff said. After stealing herself some Stark armor, Black Cat leads Iron Man across the city on a joyride filled with some fun banter and a solid twist that leaves old Shellhead shell shocked. It's the perfect culmination to Felicia's recent notable thefts.

Tube Watch Card Trader Awesome Pack 2


For more, check out Tube Watch Pack 1, Addams Family Pack 1, Pack 2, Scooby-Doo Pack 1, Game of Thrones Pack 1, Pack 2, Pokemon Pack 1, Star Trek Pack 1, and Firefly Pack 1.

Monday, August 10, 2020

Warrior Nun - Ephesians 6:11


Warrior Nun's third episode offers the explanation to the world in which Ava (Alba Baptista) has found herself as she discovers the history of the Order of the Cruciform Sword and where the artifact attached to her spine, which brought her back from death, came from. While training with the nuns, most of whom aren't all that pleased with her arrival (and several of whom question her worthiness), Ava learns about the first warrior nun Areala of Cordoba and the destiny of those who have come after her. While the episode may be a bit of a data dump, for the benefit of both Ava and the audience, our hero's training (highlighted in the show's trailers) provides some of the most fun of the series so far. With Ava spending all of her time with the nuns, we don't get much of JC (Emilio Sakraya) and his friends, although the group does get an unexpected surprise by someone looking for their new friend.

G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero #273


After several issues of lead-up, the rescue of Throwdown (who Cobra still mistakenly believe is the original Snake Eyes) begins with the first of many forces sneaking into the Cobra underground laboratory as others including the Arashikage and teams led by Zartan and Destro arrive in Springfield as well.

The Umbrella Academy - The Frankel Footage

 


The second episode of The Umbrella Academy's Second Season continues Five's (Aidan Gallagher) attempt to prevent the end of the world (again). Five has a bit more success with winning Diego (David CastaƱeda) over to his side a second time, although the pair are carrying around some extra weight with the local conspiracy nut (Kevin Rankin) Five encountered upon his arrival and the crazy woman (Ritu Arya) who broke out of the psychiatric institution with Diego. The episode gets its name from the present Hazel (Cameron Britton) left behind which turns out to be footage of the day JFK is killed and includes an unexpected appearance by Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore). Is their father involved in the death of Kennedy? And, if so, how and why? The pair's attempt to confront their father, years before either of them have been born, ends poorly (although it does allow for an appearance by a younger version of Pogo).

Far Sector #7


Picking up in the middle of the battle started at the end of the last issue, Far Sector #7 turns Green Lantern Sojourner Mullein's attention on the @AT (City Enduring's cyber race that are nourished by the very things the Emotional Exploit removes from society).

Sunday, August 9, 2020

Wizards: Tales of Arcadia - Spellbound


The first episode of Netflix's Wizards: Tales of Arcadia is a bit of a mess. It offers unnamed villains, ill-defined heroes, and because our characters are transported to a different world at the end of the episode it doesn't even adequately explore the world in which the story will take place. The only character we really get to know in "Spellbound" is Douxie (Colin O'Donoghue), an apprentice to Merlin (David Bradley) for a thousand years who has yet to prove himself. After a brief opening scene in Camelot, the series jumps forward 900 years to modern times where Douxie, who apparently has spent most of that time sweeping floors while workshopping his magic, receives an appearance by Merlin who informs the apprentice it is time to gather up the Guardians (of who? what do they guard? apparently they don't know either?).

Saturday, August 8, 2020

Transformers: War for Cybertron Trilogy - Siege Part 2


Ultra Magnus (Edward Bosco) turns himself over to the Decepticons in an attempt to force Optimus Prime's (Jake Foushee) hand to accept Megatron's (Jason Marnocha) truce and end the war. It's Prime who is most unreasonable of any Transfromer introduced in the first two episodes, unwilling to give in or capitulate no matter the cost. Failing utterly, Magnus' capture only strengthens the Decepticons resolve to wipe out the Autobots completely and allow for a trap that nearly takes out Prime. The series second episode also introduces the idea of the Allspark which both groups begin to search for. The Deceptions want the artifact in order to reformat all of the Autobots, and for the Autobots it's last desperate attempt to keep fighting and prevent such technology falling into the hands of their enemy.

Super Dinosaur - Island of the Forgotten

 
"Island of the Forgotten" brings the return of Elliot (Tevon Herbert) who calls for back-up when he discovers Dino-Men on the a secret Earthcore training island. Having exhausted their time alone in the Dynamo Dome by celebrating Pizza Sandwich Day, Derek Dynamo (Valin Shinyei) and Super Dinosaur (Mac Heywood) head into action but are surprised by what they find: mutated Dino-Men hidden from Max Maximus (Marco Soriano) by Tricerachops (Kathleen Barr) who are in need of their help. Not only does the episode help redeem Elliot as more than just a prankster, it also continues the theme of Tricerachops working to try and find common ground with SD in hopes of making him part of the Dino-Men. We also see Tricerachops chaffing against Maximus and beginning to see a day where the Dino-Men may not need their creator any longer.