Name: JPRoscoe
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Bio: Follow me on Twitter @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.
Posts by JPRoscoe:
Mr. Mercedes—Season 1
March 29th, 2020
The game of cat-and-mouse is on!!!
On a cold morning as job seekers line-up outside of an Ohio building, a Mercedes with a driver in a clown’s mask plows into the unsuspecting people. Years after the incident, the killer was never caught, and Detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) has retired. Hodges drinks too much, but he also is getting messages from the potential “Mercedes Killer” that indicates the first killing could just be an opening act for something bigger. Hodges wants to put his past behind him, but Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway) has a role for him in his game.
Mr. Mercedes—Season 1 aired on AT&T’s Audience Network. The crime-horror thriller series adapts Stephen King’s 2014 novel Mr. Mercedes and was released to positive reviews.
Brendan Gleeson…action star!!!
I feel kind of bad for Mr. Mercedes. It isn’t very recognized and with the Audience channel as its airing source, not many people had access to see it. Watching the first season, it is a grim-dark story with likeable and lighter characters. I hope more people will end up finding this series. A ******spoiler alert****** is in effect for some reveals.
The story for Mr. Mercedes is primarily a crime thriller along the lines of The Silence of the Lambs. You know who the killer is from the first episode, and instead of a whodunit, the series expands as “what will Brady do next?”. There is a slight horror aspect to it (through Brady’s heinous crimes and approach to his plans), but if it wasn’t written by Stephen King, it probably wouldn’t be gauged as horror at all.
Get ready for mayhem!
You kind of knew where Mr. Mercedes was going when you watched it. There were many “I called that” moments throughout the story and that can be problematic. Despite this, I felt that the series kept moving and kept a nice tense element to the storytelling. Like many King stories, he interjects a potential “psychic” aspect to the story which pretty much equates to “magic”…but it fortunately doesn’t become a major storyline here.
The cast is great. King allegedly imagined Brendan Gleeson when he was writing the series and Gleeson is surrounded by a fun and charming supporting cast from Mary-Louise Parker to Holland Taylor to Jharrel Jerome to Justine Lupe. He’s paired with a truly great evil guy in Harry Treadway who pulls off creepy just in his stare. Kelly Lynch is great as Harry’s alcoholic and sexually abusive mother, but Robert Stanton is a bit over-the-top as Harry’s anal boss.
Every boy loves his mother…
The series is put together well, but it feels less cinematic than many of these stylized series. The series could be a regular TV crime show which does help mask the darkness of the series. I still would argue that Hannibal was one of the darkest series on TV and this one still doesn’t match…and Hannibal was a network series.
Mr. Mercedes—Season 1 feels like a complete run. You have a beginning, middle, and end with an open ending tacked on for potential season sequels (which of course there have been). It probably didn’t need to be. King wrote the series as a trilogy so it wasn’t unheard of to make the series continue past this season, but you can probably go into Mr. Mercedes and end with season 1 without feeling you missed anything…but I do look forward to Mr. Mercedes—Season 2.
Mr. Mercedes—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide:
“Pilot”
1.1 Pilot Airdate: 08/09/17
An early morning job fair call-out turns to tragedy when a killer in a stolen Mercedes mows down sixteen people waiting in line. Two years later, retired Detective Bill Hodges (Brendan Gleeson) is still haunted by the event which never was solved. Living a sedentary life despite encouragement to do more from his former partner Peter Dixon (Scott Lawrence) and his eccentric neighbor Ida Silver (Holland Taylor), Hodges finds his world turned upside down when he begins receiving messages from a person who seems to be the killer. Meanwhile, Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway) deals with his alcoholic incestuous mother Deborah (Kelly Lynch) while working a job at an electronics store as he tries to earn money to go to college…but Brady has some secret projects of his own.
“On Your Mark”
1.2 On Your Mark Airdate: 08/16/17
Bill continues to receive emails and correspondence from Mr. Mercedes as he questions how to approach the case. When an accident at the home threatens to push him over the edge, Bill finds himself the target of police questioning. Brady continues to deal with his troublesome boss Anthony Frobisher (Rob Stanton) and realizes he might have to take a stand. Bill reaches out to Janey Patterson (Mary-Louise Parker) whose sister Olivia Trelawney (Ann Cusack) owned the Mercedes and reveals he is still investigating the case.
“Cloudy with a Chance of Mayhem”
1.3 Cloudy, With a Chance of Mayhem Airdate: 08/23/17
Bill tries to take his findings to the police but finds them dismissive of his discoveries. Jerome (Jharrel Jerome) looks into the contact information which leads his father Lawrence (Neko Parham) to pay Bill a visit.
“Gods Who Fall”
1.4 Gods Who Fall Airdate: 08/23/17
Bill continues to get closer to Janey Patterson much to the dismay of Ida. Anthony comes to Brady with an offer that could inspire his next “big event”. Jerome continues to help Harry investigate against his wishes, and Harry recalls he and his partner not believing Olivia’s claim that she hadn’t left her key in her car. Brady takes an interest in evening the score with a racist customer (Keith Flippen) who targets Lou Linklatter (Breeda Wool) as he remember what happened to his own brother.
“The Suicide Hour”
1.5 The Suicide Hour Airdate: 09/06/17
A trip to visit Janey and Olivia’s mother results in Janey learning Bill’s part in the death of her sister. Brady targets Jerome’s dog, but he finds that it could put him a step closer to getting captured. Brady’s invasion of Bill’s home when he is away put Bill on the offensive…and he’s about to discover Brady’s deepest secret.
“People in the Rain”
1.6 People in the Rain Airdate: 09/13/17
Brady’s mother has decided to get sober after a tough night, but that is something that Brady can’t have. Bill finds he might get a second chance at his relationship with Janey when tragedy strikes and meets Janey’s extended family. Brady’s attempt to move up at the store hits a roadblock, and Deborah’s encounter with an old friend (Terry Serpico) could show her how hard it could be to get on the right track. Bill recall the events that caused his daughter Allie (Maddie Hasson) to abandon him. A chance encounter with Bill gives Brady the information he needs.
“Willow Lake”
1.7 Willow Lake Airdate: 09/20/17
Janey prepares for her mother’s funeral and finds herself trying to decide what to do about her relationship with Bill. Bill introduces Janey’s cousin Holly Gibney (Justine Lupe) to Jerome, and Holly and Jerome try to hack into Olivia’s computer. Deborah begins to grow curious about what Brady is hiding in his room and the basement. Brady experiences a crackdown at work and makes his move on Bill.
“From the Ashes”
1.8 From the Ashes Airdate: 09/27/17
Janey is dead at the hands of Brady, and Bill realizes his daughter could be in danger. Holly makes a stand against her mother and begins to work on the case with Jerome leading to major breakthrough. When Brady’s poisoned meat finds an unintended victim that could force Brady’s plans into overdrive.
“Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream”
1.9 Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream Airdate: 10/04/17
The discovery that Brady Hartsfield had access to the computers of the victims’ leads police to hone in on Brady…putting Brady on the run. Brady’s boss Robi learns of the danger of Brady as Bill continues to insert himself into the police’s investigation. With the police moving in, Brady intends to go out with a bang!
“Jibber-Jibber Chicken Dinner”
1.10 Jibber-Jibber Chicken Dinner Airdate: 10/11/17
Brady Hartsfield is dead…or so the police think he is. When evidence comes forward that Brady’s untimely demise might not be all it seems, Bill realizes that Brady’s threat continues and the people he cares about could be the target.
Lost—Season 1
March 28th, 2020
Time to get Lost again?
Oceanic Flight 815 has crashed on a seemingly deserted island in the Pacific leaving the survivors fighting for their lives. With the tail of the plane lost over the island and most of the plane being pulled into the ocean, reaching civilization might be impossible…but the island also has secrets that it isn’t willing to give up. Now, the survivors of Oceanic #815 are in a race to escape the island…but something sinister could be lurking in the jungle.
Lost—Season 1 premiered on September 22, 2004 on ABC. The series met immediate success, a cult following, and critical acclaim. It won Primetime Emmys for Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Casting for a Drama (“Pilot”—Part 1 & 2), Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series (“Pilot”—Part 1 & 2), Outstanding Sing-Camera Picture Editing for a Drama (“Pilot”—Part 1 & 2), Oustanding Music Composition for a Series (“Pilot”), Outstanding Visual Effects for a Series (“Pilot”—Part 1 & 2) with nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama (Naveen Andrews and Terry O’Quinn), Outstanding Single-Camera Sound Mixing for a Series (“Outlaws”), Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (“Pilot” and “Walkabout”), and Outstanding Sound Editing for a Series (“Pilot”—Part 2).
Sit right back and you’ll hear a tale…
Lost was a weekly commitment. Friends at work and I watched it religiously and quickly discussed what every episode revealed or puzzle introduced. It also immediately became a series where you had a bad feeling that you might not get the answers you want. Rewatching Lost—Season 1 over fifteen years after its premiere has you remembering old mysteries, seeing what early clues were given, and when characters were introduced along with their backstories…in this sense, Lost—Season 1 stands the test of time.
The story for Lost is a puzzle, and it is the type of puzzle that generally shrinks with each episode as the pieces become clearer (at least in this season). The series starts out with a seemingly more streamlined story and it also gives the impression that the series’ direction was plotted out. Later seasons make you question that, and early speculation about the island and the reality on it really did turn out to be kind of close to what fans’ early guesses were. Still, this is a series that is loaded with rich and three-dimensional characters who reward viewers from watching week to week.
What lurks in the jungle?
The cast is amazing. The series combined TV mainstays like Matthew Fox (Party of Five) and Harold Perrineau (Oz), film stars like Naveen Andrews (The English Patient) and Dominic Monaghan (Lord of the Rings), and cult character actors like Terry O’Quinn (The Stepfather), and mixed them with young up-and-comers like Josh Holloway, Jorge Garcia, Daniel Dae Kim, Evangeline Lilly, Emilie de Ravin, and Yunjin Kim. The cast comes together well (and I like little jokes like the idea that the main characters are a clique…something that comes up over and over again).
Lost is also visually stunning. The Hawaiian setting provides a lush background, but the style and quality of the special effects (like the plane crash in the pilot) are great. The flashbacks are woven into the story with skill and the series really manages to move despite being an approximately 24-episode based drama…you watch 1 episode and you end up watching 6.
Enter the Hatch!
Lost—Season 1 provides a great launchpad for a rather divisive series. Most people either liked Lost or they disliked Lost…there wasn’t much in-between. It wasn’t a show you could casually watch and even as a regular viewer, there were plot-points and storylines that you forgot (or the writers would wish you would forget). The first season however is a great accomplishment and should be given a chance. It is amazing how Lost (kind of like The X-Files) managed to pull people in to a drama with high science-fiction and fantasy…something that series after Lost tried to replicate over and over again.
Lost—Season 1 Complete Episode Guide
“Pilot—Part 1”
1.1 Pilot—Part 1 Airdate: 09/22/04
Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) wakes up on an island after the crash of Oceanic Flight 815 on September 22, 2004 and finds himself trying to patch the injured as the plane’s only surviving doctor. Teaming with a girl named Kate (Evangeline Lilly) and the bass player from the rock band Driveshaft named Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan), Jack heads into the jungle in an attempt to find the cockpit section of the plane. When they are confronted by a strange unseen giant creature, Jack finds his efforts to save the injured pilot (Greg Grunberg) might be in vain.
“Pilot—Part 2”
1.2 Pilot—Part 2 Airdate: 09/29/04
The discovery of handcuffs in the jungle by Walt Lloyd (Malcolm David Kelley) leads to infighting among the passengers on who the prisoner might be. As Charlie hides his drug addition, Jack searches for a means to help a passenger injured in the crash. Michael Dawson (Harold Perrieau) tries to deal with his strained relationship with Walt and learns Walt’s dog Vincent might be alive in the jungle. Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews) works to repair the damaged plane transmitter which leads him, Kate, Sawyer (Josh Holloway), Boone Carlyle (Ian Somerhalder), and his sister Shannon Rutherford (Maggie Grace) in a search to find higher ground. After an encounter with a polar bear and a strange French message repeating for sixteen years, Kate, Boone, Sawyer, Sayid, and Shannon question where they are.
“Tabula Rasa”
1.3 Tabula Rasa Airdate: 10/06/04
As Jack fights to save the life of the U.S. Marshall Edward Mars (Fredric Lane), he and Hurley (Jorge Garcia) learn that Kate is the prisoner that he was escorting. Michael learns about Walt’s strange relationship with a man named John Locke (Terry O’Quinn)…but Locke might be the key to finding Walt’s missing dog Vincent. Kate recalls her time in Australia living on a farm with Ray Mullen (Nick Tate) and how she came to be captured. Sawyer sets out to end the marshal’s suffering when Jack cannot and finds it might be harder than it seems.
“Walkabout”
1.4 Walkabout Airdate: 10/13/04
The survivors realize that they have no food supply as Locke, Michael, and Kate head into the woods to hunt wild boar. Boone and his sister Shannon make a bet over Shannon’s ability to get food and Hurley and Charlie get caught in the crossfire. Jack tries to talk to Rose (L. Scott Caldwell) about the death of her husband and learns that Rose has a different take on things. As Locke heads into the jungle he remembers the events that brought him to Australia…and what happened to him after the crash.
“White Rabbit”
1.5 White Rabbit Airdate: 10/20/04
The camp needs water. When part of the supply mysteriously disappears, the urgency to find it increases. Jack is haunted by images of his father (John Terry) and remembers why he went to Australia in the first place as he searches for a way to get water for the survivors.
“House of the Rising Sun”
1.6 House of the Rising Sun Airdate: 10/27/04
Jack pushes for the camp to move to caves for protection and water while Kate finds herself torn between staying on the beach or helping Jack. Jin (Daniel Dae Kim) lashes out at Michael forcing the camp to restrain him. Michael learns a secret about Jin’s wife Sun (Yunjin Kim) as Sun recalls her plans to secretly leave her husband for working for her father. As Charlie deals with withdraw from his heroin, Locke reveals he knows Charlie’s secret…and a potential cure.
“The Moth”
1.7 The Moth Airdate: 11/03/04
Locke works to help Charlie overcome his drug addiction by offering him a choice as Charlie remembers his days with Driveshaft. Sayid has a plan to track down the French signal…but it could require teamwork from Kate, Shannon, and an unwilling Sawyer. Jack’s push to move the camp to the caves leads to a confrontation with Charlie and a dangerous situation.
“Confidence Man”
1.8 Confidence Man Airdate: 11/10/04
Shannon’s asthma is beginning to get worse, and Boone reveals that Sawyer has her extra medicine in the bags he’s stolen. Now, Jack and Sayid must get him to reveal the location of the inhalers before it is too late. Charlie tries to convince Claire (Emilie de Ravin) to come to the caves. Sawyer’s past as a con man is revealed, but Kate learns one of his secrets.
“Solitary”
1.9 Solitary Airdate: 11/17/04
Sayid has left the camp to explore the island after his torture of Sawyer and recalls his past and his love Nadia (Andrea Gabriel). When Sayid finds a cable in the jungle, he discovers the source of the recording and a woman named Rousseau (Mira Furlan) who has her own thoughts on the Island. Hurley decides the camp needs a break and sets out to find a source of recreation.
“Raised by Another”
1.10 Raised by Another Airdate: 12/01/04
Claire gets close to birth and recalls a warning from a psychic at home about her child’s future. When Claire says she’s been attacked at the camp, Jack questions if the pressure has gotten too great. Sayid makes it back to camp with a warning. Hurley sets out to create a list of survivors but discovers someone isn’t who they say they are when he discovers the manifest.
“All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues”
1.11 All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues Airdate: 12/08/04
Charlie and Claire have been taken by Ethan (William Mapother) as the survivors question where Ethan is from. Sawyer learns Sayid is back and has a face-off with him. Jack, Locke, Kate, and Boone track Claire, Charlie, and Ethan, and Jack recalls his confrontation with his father over his drinking issues. Boone and Locke make a strange discovery in the jungle.
“Whatever the Case May Be”
1.12 Whatever the Case May Be Airdate: 01/05/05
Sawyer and Kate discover a locked case in a suitcase lodged under missing seating. Unable to open the case, Kate recalls a bank robbery and her involvement. Sayid seeks to translate Rousseau’s notes with Shannon’s help. Boone and Locke continue their mysterious work in the jungle. With the sea rising and the fuselage being washed away, Rose tries to help Charlie deal with Claire’s disappearance.
“Hearts and Minds”
1.13 Hearts and Minds Airdate: 01/12/05
Boone and Locke work on excavating the strange hatch in the jungle, and Boone recalls being called to Australia by a desperate Shannon. Hurley finds himself needing more protein which means befriending Jin. Kate and Sun work on an island garden, and Kate learns Sun’s secret. When Boone suggests telling Shannon about the hatch, Locke takes extreme measures that turn deadly.
“Special”
1.14 Special Airdate: 01/19/05
Michael worries that Walt is spending too much time with Locke and recalls how Walt returned to his life after an emergency trip to Australia. Charlie deals with Claire’s kidnapping by Ethan and finds a tie to Sayid’s exploration of the island. When Walt and Vincent wander away, Michael must trust Locke to try to find him. A search of the jungle turns up a surprising find.
“Homecoming”
1.15 Homecoming Airdate: 02/09/05
Claire is back but her amnesia has prevented her from recalling what happened to her or the other members of the flight. Charlie recalls battling addition as Driveshaft was breaking up and how the attempts to rob a wealthy family backfired. Ethan hasn’t forgotten Claire and when he demands Claire be returned, Jack must make a decision about the guns.
“Outlaws”
1.16 Outlaws Airdate: 02/16/05
Sawyer seems to be menaced by a boar that has it out for him. As he goes out hunting the boar with Kate, he recalls how the quest for the man responsible for his parents’ deaths brought him to Australia, a chance encounter with Jack’s father, and the tragic outcome of the trip.
“…In Translation”
1.17 …In Translation Airdate: 02/23/05
Jin remembers asking for Sun’s hand in marriage and being forced to take a role in the empire of her father Mr. Paik (Byron Chung). Sayid considers a relationship with Shannon, but learns from Boone that Shannon might not be honest about her plans. Michael’s attempts to build a boat to get off the island faces a massive setback that could turn everyone against Jin and force Sun to reveal her secret.
“Numbers”
1.18 Numbers Airdate: 03/02/05
When Hurley recognizes the numbers on Rousseau’s map, he sets off to find out where she got them…leading Charlie, Jack, and Sayid in a rescue mission. Locke spends time with Claire and helps her prepare for birth. Hurley’s past as a lottery winner and how he won the lottery are recalled. As Hurley worries that he is cursed, what do the numbers 4, 8, 15, 16, 23, and 42 mean?
“Deus Ex Machina”
1.19 Deus Ex Machina Airdate: 03/30/05
Locke finds his attempts to get into the hatch are failing along with his legs. Locke recalls being contacted by his real mother (Swoosie Kurtz) and meeting his father Anthony Cooper (Kevin Tighe) who had a special need for him. Sawyer suffers increasing headaches and reluctantly goes to Jack for help. When he has a vision of a plane crash, he and Boone seek out if the Island is trying to give Locke the answers he needs.
“Do No Harm”
1.20 Do No Harm Airdate: 04/06/05
Jack fights to save Boone’s life from his injuries and learns Locke might not have told him everything. Claire finds herself in labor in the jungle, and Kate discovers that she might have to deliver the child. Jack recalls his wedding day to Sarah (Julie Bowen) and vowing never to give up.
“The Greater Good”
1.21 The Greater Good Airdate: 05/04/05
Boone is gone and Shannon vows vengeance on Locke for his death. Jack tries to deal with his failure to save Boone and his weakness due to the procedure with Kate’s help. Charlie and Claire find keeping a baby on the island is tougher than they thought but find an unlikely ally in keeping the baby quiet. Locke reveals the truth of what he’s been doing to Sayid as Sayid remembers coming to Australia on a mission to see if his old friend is part of a terrorist group in the hopes of finding Nadia.
“Born to Run”
1.22 Born to Run Airdate: 05/11/05
The race to get the raft launch is on and Kate realizes that she must be on the raft to escape the law. Sayid and Locke reveal the secret of the hatch to Jack. Charlie finds his creative side spurred and looks forward to the celebrity of being rescued. Facing off against Sawyer, fingers are pointed and secrets are revealed when Michael ends up poisoned. Kate recalls the significance of her airplane and how a trip to see her dying mother (Beth Broderick) reunited her with her childhood love Tom Brennan (Mackenzie Astin).
“Exodus—Part 1”
1.23 Exodus—Part 1 Airdate: 05/18/05
With the raft needing last minute repairs, Rousseau arrives at the camp with a warning…the Others are coming. Now, the survivors must band together to fix the raft and the mysterious hatch could be the only safety for those left behind on the island. Walt makes a decision about Vincent while Sun tries to find a way to say goodbye to Jin. Sawyer works to make last minute amends and reveals a secret to Jack. Kate, Hurley, Dr. Leslie Arzt (Daniel Roebuck), Jack, and Locke are lead to the Black Rock by Rousseau and learn of the dangers of the Dark Territory. Jack recalls meeting a woman from the tail end of the plane named Ana Lucia Cortez (Michelle Rodriguez) as others recall their last moments in Australia.
“Exodus—Part 2”
1.24 Exodus—Part 2 Airdate: 05/25/05
Arzt demonstrates the danger of transporting dynamite as Kate, Hurley, Jack, and Locke try to reach the hatch before nightfall. Sawyer, Walt, Jin, and Michael pilot the boat away from the island in the hopes of hitting a shipping lane. Rousseau returns to the camp with a plan for Claire’s baby which leads Sayid and Charlie into a desperate race into the jungle where Charlie learns what the plane Boone found was carrying.
“Exodus—Part 3”
1.25 Exodus—Part 3 Airdate: 05/25/05
Sayid and Charlie’s attempt to rescue Aaron leads to a bigger mystery surrounding the Others and their potential interests. Locke faces off against the smoke monster and reveals his belief in the island to Jack. Hurley finds that blowing the hatch could have bad consequences when he sees that his numbers are tied to it. Jin, Sawyer, Walt, and Michael find a chance at a rescue…but learn that their actions could be in vain.
Daring New Adventures of Supergirl—Volume 1
March 28th, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Daring New Adventures of Supergirl
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Paul Kupperberg
Artist: Carmine Infantino
# of Issues: 12
Release Date: 2016
Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #5
Reprints Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #1-12 (November 1982-October 1983). Linda Danvers is starting a new life in Chicago and taking her alter-ego Supergirl with her. Enrolling at Lakeshore University, Linda is finding new friends and new problems as Supergirl. When a mysterious group called the Council realizes Supergirl could be a threat to their operations, Supergirl discovers she could be in the fight of her life…and even Doom Patrol can’t help her!
Written by Paul Kupperberg, Daring New Adventures of Supergirl—Volume 1 is a DC Comics superhero collection. Featuring art by Carmine Infantino, the collection also has issues featured in Doom Patrol: The Bronze Age Omnibus. The collection does not include the Lois Lane back-up stories.
Supergirl was always a fun character. She had Superman’s abilities but unlike Superman, she was generally more light-hearted and less “truth, justice, and the American way”. This series features Supergirl setting out on her own and it succeeds in some aspects but fails in others.
Daring New Adventures of Supergirl is a good example of how far ahead most Marvel Comics were at the time. The series tries to create a rounded Linda Danvers with a rich supporting cast, but it never quite feels like the “Marvel Way” as it appears to be attempting. The villains are rather lackluster and Linda’s new friends aren’t all that interesting. The choice to have the Council (and the even lamer villain group called the Gang) be some of Supergirl’s first villains was a mistake…it felt like some classic villains should have propped up the comic first and then Supergirl could work on making her own rogue gallery.
Daring New Adventures of Supergirl #11
What does work is Supergirl. I still like the character, and I can’t help liking the character despite the mundane plots. Sadly, I’m more interested in Linda Danvers and her college than most of the superhero going-ons of the comic and feel that a more modern take would have been to have Linda’s superhero life as the secondary story (maybe a Buffy the Vampire Slayer style). This of course wouldn’t have “flown” in 1982, but the idea could have improved this title.
Daring New Adventures of Supergirl—Volume 1 is pretty much fluff but fun and readable fluff. The character carries the title and the efforts of Kupperberg to expand her world are rather limp and uninspired. The Doom Patrol appearance is fun for fans of those characters, but it is also the really undeveloped team that many readers might not be as familiar with. If you like Supergirl or looking for a title for younger readers, the comic reads like a classic comic like you might remember…but as a result, it is pretty one dimensional. Daring New Adventures of Supergirl—Volume 1 is concluded with Daring New Adventures of Supergirl—Volume 2.
Planet of the Apes 1: The Long War
March 25th, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Planet of the Apes
Publisher: Boom! Studios
Writer: Daryl Gregory
Artist: Carlos Magno
# of Issues: 4
Release Date: 2011
Planet of the Apes #1 Variant
Reprints Planet of the Apes #1-4 (April 2011-July 2011). A tentative peace has been drawn between the apes and humans after years of battle. Sully helps guide the humans while her “sister” Alaya guides the apes under the Lawgiver who raised them. When the Lawgiver is assassinated by a human, the threat of war looms over the two groups and finding the assassin before war breaks out could be the only hope.
Written by Daryl Gregory, Planet of the Apes Volume 1: The Long War is a comic book sequel to the original Planet of the Apes series of films which ran from Planet of the Apes (1968) to Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973). The collection features art by Carlos Magno and the issues in this volume were also collected as part of Planet of the Apes Omnibus.
I grew up on the Planet of the Apes films. It seemed like they were always on and it was just a matter of what movie you were going to find when you turned on the TV on a Saturday afternoon. The timeline for the Planet of the Apes film was a little wonky due to the last two films, but overall, a sequel to those films is an entertaining concept.
The story is kind of typical of Planet of the Apes and kind of feels like a similar story to Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) which was released after it. Humans are scraping by while apes essentially rule and the lower-class humans are in a place to rebel. Like the original concept, it is the idea of a role reversals…the humans are essentially terrorists, but you are rooting for them since they are being repressed.
Planet of the Apes #4
The problem with the series is typical of series without costumed characters. Magno’s art is fine and relatively solid, but it is hard to grasp the characters. They do a decent job giving characters scars, different color fur, making them mute, or in the case of Sully having her pregnant, but it takes a bit to get the characters as the series kicks off.
Like other Boom! collections, this collection is a short four issues. The series does feel like it reaches a crescendo for the cliffhanger so that is better than some of Boom!’s other collections which just feel forced into the four issue format for selling purposes. With a bigger omnibus collection, it might be worth just seeking it out.
Planet of the Apes has potential and if you are a fan of the films, you definitely should check out the comic book. I hope that as I continue on, it is a solid and thoughtful series which explores issues (a great aspect of the original film which moves it from fantasy to true science-fiction), and isn’t just a “men fight apes” comic. Planet of the Apes 1: The Long War is followed by Planet of the Apes 2: The Devil’s Pawn.
Trilogy of Terror (1975)
March 24th, 2020Movie Info
Movie Name: Trilogy of Terror
Studio: Dan Curtis Productions
Genre(s): Horror/B-Movie
Release Date(s): March 4, 1975
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Remember the other two thrilling tales? Doubt it…
Uptight college professor Julia (Karen Black) finds herself blackmailed by a student named Chad (Robert Burton) and trapped in a relationship…but who is really pulling the strings? Sisters Millicent (Karen Black) and Therese (Karen Black) find themselves at odds, but Dr. Ramsey (George Gaynes) realizes there is more to their battle than anyone knows. When Amelia (Karen Black) gets an ancient wooden Zuni tribal hunter doll for her boyfriend, terror is unleashed when the doll comes to life.
Directed by Dan Curtis, Trilogy of Terror was a made-for-TV horror film. The three story anthology was based on the stories of Richard Matheson (who adapted “Amelia” with William F. Nolan adapting “Julie” and “Millicent and Therese”) and aired on ABC on March 4, 1975. The film received positive reviews and gained a cult following over the years in particular for the “Amelia” storyline.
I’m a bad girl, doctor…
I remember first learning about Trilogy of Terror from a coworker who had been terrified by “Amelia” as a kid. I saw it years ago, and like most, “Amelia” was the most memorable aspect of the story. Rewatching Trilogy of Terror, it remains the same, though I do like aspects of the first story “Julie” a little more than I did on early viewings.
“Julie” is based on “The Likeness of Julie” which was originally published in Matheson’s Alone in the Night collection in 1962 is a story of rape-revenge. Unlike something like Last House on the Left which goes for the no-holds-barred approach of an unrated film, this movie is forced to do it under the guise of a TV movie. It is pretty obvious where the story is going and Burton is the oldest looking college student (he was actually married to Black at the time). It is a little more interesting in the post #MeToo movement where a student is able to blackmail and seduce a teacher because “no one will believe her”, but it is also obvious because the film is a horror film that Julie is playing Chad for her own games. You never get any motive for this behavior, but Black is decent in the sequence.
Always keep your Zuni hunter clean and fresh
“Millicent and Therese” adapts the 1969 short story “Needle in the Heart” and is the weakest of the three vignettes. Even non-jaded horror movie viewers would quickly recognize that Therese and Millicent are the same person, so it is slow to pan out and dull to wait for the inevitable twist. Black tries to make this story interesting, but Millicent and Therese aren’t interesting enough characters (and Millicent is too similar to Julie in the first story). The story is completely forgettable.
The final sequence “Amelia” is based on Matheson’s “Prey” which was originally published in Playboy (April 1969). It was originally pitched for The Twilight Zone (he adapted “The Invaders” loosely around it) and is one of the better short horror films around. The story is relentless with Amelia trapped in her apartment by the screaming evil Zuni doll. While you can watch the story and say “Why doesn’t she ________”, you just need to watch and enjoy the sheer terror. Black helped develop the story herself and her ability to make the goofy doll (which was tough to work with) scary is commendable. It has the great, classic ending with Black leering with the Zuni teeth, and it holds up over the years.
Come back sometime!
Trilogy of Terror needs to be seen, but if you can’t stomach the first or second stories, at least see “Amelia” which is a horror classic. The movie is relatively available after years of difficulty finding it, and websites often stream it. The film, along with other movies from the same period, shows how strong a made-for-TV horror film can be if it embraces the base nature of horror instead of trying to go for shock, jumps, and gore. Trilogy of Terror was followed by a sequel Trilogy of Terror II in 1996.
Brit 1: Old Soldier
March 23rd, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Brit/Brit: Cold Death/Brit: Red White Black & Blue
Publisher: Image Comics
Writer: Robert Kirkman
Artist: Tony Moore
# of Issues: 3
Release Date: 2007
Brit #1
Brit #1, Brit: Cold Death #1, Brit: Red White Black & Blue #1 (July 2003-July 2004). Brit has been fighting for the country for a long, long time. When it appears that Brit’s powers could be wearing out, Brit finds himself the target of a military operation trying to clone his abilities. Brit’s going on the run with his girlfriend Jessica, but Brit’s duty to serve could be too great to give up!
Written by Robert Kirkman, Brit Volume 1: Old Soldier is an Image Comics superhero comic book collection. The volume collects the three stand alone issues (in color) before Brit’s own series and features art by Tony Moore.
I enjoyed Invincible, and Kirkman turned Invincible into an “Invincible Universe”. His character was kind of part of the Image universe (with cameos there and with cameos by other Image characters like Savage Dragon and Super Patriot), but it largely felt like Invincible ran in own world. Brit #1 was released a little after Invincible #1 but became a bigger player as Invincible unfolded.
Brit largely has the same tone as Invincible and to a lesser extent of Kirkman’s other success The Walking Dead. Kirkman’s characters often don’t have an easy fight and the blood and guts will fly. Brit’s character is relatively invincible (more so than Invincible in many ways), so it doesn’t get quite as gory as Invincible in this volume. The violence and the comic book action is over the top, but it just feels more like an adult-aimed comic than a gore-fest.
Brit: Cold Death #1
I can’t say I like the Brit character much. He’s rather bland and unexplored in this volume. You don’t know about his past, his abilities, or his even much of what he’s thinking in this volume. You get a bit of insight with his ex-wife showing up and the story surrounding her in Brit: Red White Blue & Black, but it feels like there should have been an issued devoted to exploring the lead character a bit earlier since the issues are stand-alones. He doesn’t have the enigma or personality of someone like Wolverine so to make his past a mystery doesn’t do much.
A weird side note in this story is the development of the Donald Ferguson character who largely plays a supporting role in Invincible (this collection technically introduced Cecil Stedman as well before he became a major supporting character in Invincible). I didn’t read Brit until I had read most of Invincible and it was nice to have a bit more dimension on this character. He comes off a little as Machine Man in this volume (and I have always have a soft spot for Machine Man).
Brit 1: Old Soldier is probably only recommended for fans of Invincible who are seeking more since that series is over. I know that I have more interest in Tech Jacket, Capes Incorporated, and others now than I did when they were being released. Brit isn’t bad, but it also isn’t up to the level of Invincible. Brit 1: Old Soldier is followed by Brit 2: AWOL.
Wonder Woman 7: War-Torn
March 21st, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Wonder Woman (Volume 4)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Meredith Finch
Artist: David Finch/Goran Sudzuka
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2015
Wonder Woman (4) #36 Variant
Reprints Wonder Woman (4) #36-40 and Annual #1 (January 2015-August 2015). Wonder Woman finds herself at a crossroads. Now the embodiment of War, Queen of the Amazons, and a member of the Justice League, Diana finds her loyalty divided. Cities on Earth begin to be wiped out by a force that Wonder Woman could partially be responsible for while on Paradise Island a coup is forming and a woman named Donna Troy could overthrow Wonder Woman’s reign as queen just as it is beginning.
Written by Meredith Finch, Wonder Woman Volume 7: War-Torn is a DC Comics New 52 collection. Following Wonder Woman Volume 6: Bones, the collection features art by David Finch and Goran Sudzuka.
I am not the biggest Brian Azzarello fan, but I found his run combined with the art of Cliff Chiang to be one of the better parts of the New 52 relaunch. It really dove into the mythology aspect of Wonder Woman’s origin, and I always liked mythology. Unfortunately for anyone following Azzarello’s spin, the pieces they have to work with are kind of obtuse and stylized…which makes it a bit hard for a new writer to just pick up and get going.
Despite being part of the New 52 relaunch, Wonder Woman seemed to stand outside of the New 52 in many ways. The story didn’t fit in nicely with the other titles and it kind of felt like Azzarello was doing his own thing. Here, the story tries to be much more DC Universe-centric, but the framework set-up by Azzarello doesn’t mix well with the Justice League, Paradise Island, etc. It feels a bit clunky as a continuation to his story (but it is ok as a Wonder Woman story).
Wonder Woman (4) #40 Variant
I always was a big fan of the Teen Titans and Wonder Girl was always a key aspect to the Teen Titans. Donna Troy’s origin was worked and reworked over and over again in the pre-New 52 world and here, she is reworked again…and I kind of hate her. Donna’s virtue was that she was a less hardened version of Wonder Woman, but here, she feels soulless and ill-used. I feel with multiple versions of characters on Paradise Island, they maybe could have used a different character instead of forcing Donna into the role.
Derinoe was created for this storyline, it felt really odd to have her thrown in there. Despite this, I really liked the solo mini-story explaining her motivation from the Wonder Woman Annual (“For the Love of a Queen”). It gave the character more depth, explained her hatred of the men brought to the island, and made her slightly more sympathetic…I just wish it had been introduced sooner into the storyline to help this random, new character have more dimension.
Wonder Woman 7: War-Torn feels like it could have ended this volume of Wonder Woman. It felt like too many storylines being explored in it and that it could have only focused on one or two aspects of Wonder Woman’s life. I realize it was the part of the point of the story since Wonder Woman is being pulled in all different directions, but I think it could have done the same thing with a more in-depth look at parts of this collection. Wonder Woman 7: War-Torn is followed by Wonder Woman 8: A Twist of Fate.
Related Links:
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3
March 20th, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Uncanny X-Men (Volume 2)
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Greg Land/Dustin Weaver
# of Issues: 4
Release Date: 2012
Uncanny X-Men (2) #12
Reprints Uncanny X-Men (2) #11-14 (June 2012-August 2012). The Phoenix Force has been unleashed and the focus of its power is Hope Summers. As the Avengers and X-Men clamor to capture hope the teams find themselves at war to claim the young girl and her powers. Meanwhile, Mr. Sinister is hatching a plan deep underground and preparing for war!
Written by Kieron Gillen, Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 collects four issues of the second volume of Uncanny X-Men during Avengers vs. X-Men storyline. Following Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 2, the trade paperback features art by Greg Land (Uncanny X-Men #11-13) and Dustin Weaver (Uncanny X-Men #14). The issues in the volume were also included in Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen: The Complete Collection—Volume 2.
I loved the X-Men. I read both Uncanny X-Men and the ’90s spin-off series X-Men. The X-Men were always a reliable solid. Even if there was a bad writing stretch, the series always seemed to right itself and “get good” again (or at least above average)…this hasn’t happened in years.
This is some of the lowest points in X-Men history (and up until the time this review was written, the series still hasn’t really come back in my opinion). The fun and family of X-Men has been eliminated. The characters are barely recognizable and that is combined with an extremely shattered and unreadable narrative.
Uncanny X-Men (2) #14
Marvel’s big problem is that they often forget that comics aren’t just collections and they are individual issues. This collection shows a bigger problem. Not only do the issues not work as stand-alone issues with the story being secondary to the larger Avengers vs. X-Men storyline (the first issue of this volume has no story but a couple of half-written fights), but the issues aren’t even coherent when placed next to each other. Big swaths of time seem to pass between each issue and nothing is explained. It isn’t a satisfying read as a collection or the individual issues.
While visually interesting, the Mr. Sinister story also has the same problem. I know Sinister from the years he’s been in the comic but I don’t know how or why he lives in London underground…and the issue does little to clear it up for any “new” readers. The comic doesn’t understand the audience since regular reading is ideal but often not realistic or practical.
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 doesn’t do much for me except make me mourn the X-Men of days past. The X-Men were fun and fun to read, but now, the characters and the story have become a chore by becoming too bogged down. DC often resets their comics (too often), but I feel Marvel needs a real reset soon because the writing and characters are lost. Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 was followed by Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 4 which wrapped up the the second volume of the Uncanny X-Men series.
Related Links:
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 1
Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 2
Halloween (2018)
March 20th, 2020Movie Info
Movie Name: Halloween
Studio: Universal Pictures
Genre(s): Horror
Release Date(s): September 8, 2018 (Toronto International Film Festival)/October 19, 2018 (US)
MPAA Rating: R
He’s back!
It has been forty years since Michael Myers (James Jude Courtney) slaughtered the friends of Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and left her forever traumatized. Laurie’s alienated her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) and rarely gets to see her granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak). When Michael Myers escapes during a prison transfer, Laurie’s fears and dreams come true…it is another Halloween night and her boogyman is now going to become the hunted!
Directed by David Gordon Green, Halloween is a horror thriller. The movie is the eleventh entry in the Halloween series and followed Rob Zombie’s Halloween II from 2009. The movie is a straight sequel to John Carpenter’s original 1978 Halloween and was met with the biggest box office return for the series.
Poor Oscar…we barely knew you
Halloween was awesome. It started the whole Halloween franchise, popularized the slasher genre, and created a cast of memorable characters. In Halloween H20, the series faced a relaunch and Laurie got her revenge, but it was popular so it unfortunately was followed by the dreadful Halloween: Resurrection. Rob Zombie relaunched the series again in 2007 with a new cast (and a white trash background for Michael)…I didn’t particularly like it. I went into the new Halloween sequel with reservations…and both liked and hated aspects of it. A ******spoiler alert****** is in effect for the rest of the review.
The movie is at its best when it plays with the format of the original film. Scenes like Laurie falling from the window and Michael seeing she’s gone mimic the original film and reverse the character’s positions. The teen story is more modernized with jaded teens (much like H20) and they are more aware of what is going on and less hapless victims (but forty years doesn’t change the fact that Michael is still going to end up killing them). They have no qualms calling the police or running.
A family that kills Michael Myers together, stays together
The movie unfortunately has some mechanical problems. It plays out in a very Dickens fashion with characters by chance running into Michael, and while that propels the plot, it doesn’t have to. Michael just happens upon the podcasters at a gas station who happen to have gotten his mask released from the police which allows him to get back into costume. I thought from there he would take their research and track down Laurie…instead he happens to run into her granddaughter, and through the fortune of the worst part of the film (the Loomis doctor is now a mad doctor), he is able to get to Laurie’s deathtrap with her granddaughter. Yes, the trap works, but Laurie tries to screw it up multiple times. For someone who has planned for years to kill Michael, she does her best to let him kill her through poor execution.
You completely turn your house into a giant weapon but leave windows in the doors?
Jamie Lee Curtis continues to be a great scream queen. She is interestingly paired with generally comedic actress Judy Greer as her daughter and Andi Matichak is a rather bland teen version. In fact, none of the teens have the personalities of the original teens which is unfortunate, and Haluk Bilginer is way over-the-top (and he’s taking over for someone who was already over-the-top) as the psychiatrist. James Jude Courtney is once again creating a threatening and dangerous Michael (he’ll kill a kid…though I thought they would have shown real danger if he was willing to kill a baby).
The movie gets the horror right. I felt the Rob Zombie version just gored up the story and many of the Halloween sequels didn’t get the sheer power and danger of Michael who unlike Jason is more methodical. The movie has jumps and scares, but doesn’t rely just on the jumps and scares to bring the horror. In addition, you get a nice homage to Halloween III with kids sporting Silver Shamrock masks in trick-or-treat scenes.
I’ll be back!
Halloween left me with problems. The basic idea still works: a masked man kills teens. The problem is attempting to do something new with it which isn’t necessarily ironic or too clever for its own good…even the sheriff in the movie is indifferent to the problems (yes, you can cancel Halloween and send out warnings). Scream became reflexive, many movies rely on twists, and other attempts at pure horror like the Nightmare on Elm Street remake don’t really work. Halloween gets the pure horror right but doesn’t match it well with the story which really peters out in the end. Halloween is followed by Halloween Kills in 2020.
Related Links:
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988)
Halloween V: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989)
Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995)
Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998)
Halloween: Resurrection (2002)
Winter Soldier: The Bitter March
March 19th, 2020Comic Info
Comic Name: Winter Soldier: The Bitter March
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Roland Boschi
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2014
Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1
Reprints Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #1-5 (April 2014-September 2014). It is 1966, and HYDRA has just captured two important assets in former Nazi scientists Peter and Mila Hitzig. Nick Fury and Ran Shen have been sent in to reclaim Peter and Mila, but the plans hit a snag when they discover the Soviets have sent the Winter Soldier to get the Hitzigs first. Now, Ran Shen is on the run with Peter and Mila and the unstoppable Winter Soldier is after them. When an agent called the Drain accidentally taps into Bucky’s old memories, Ran’s enemy might become his only ally.
Written by Rick Remender, Winter Soldier: The Bitter March is a Marvel Comics limited series. The comic book collection features art by Roland Boschi.
The Winter Soldier started out as a groan-worthy concept. To me, Bucky was dead…he was the irritating scar in Captain America’s past that he failed (aka his Uncle Ben). It seemed like whenever Captain America was down, Bucky’s death resonated inside of him…to the point of being irritating depending on the writer. When Brubaker decided to bring Bucky back as the Winter Soldier, I thought I would hate it…but Bucky turned into an interesting character in his history and his new direction.
Winter Soldier: The Bitter March #2
This adventure is one of the Winter Soldier’s “adventures”. The story is told from the perspective of Ran Shen and features the Winter Soldier as an antagonist for the first three issues and an ally for the last two. It feels like a pretty tight and compact storyline, and I even kind of like the Drain as a villain.
The story is a tragic tale of the Marvel Universe. Bucky is freed from his Winter Soldier programming but is recaptured and reprogrammed before anyone can know. You also have Ran leaving his path as a spy after being disillusioned in his attempts to save Mila and Bucky. This sets up Remender’s storyline with Ren’s return as the Iron Nail. I must admit that I wasn’t caught up on Captain America when I read this so I wasn’t sure who the Iron Nail was…but it was a pretty solid mini-origin and Ren is a likable protagonist with a bit of a flair for showmanship.
Winter Soldier: The Bitter March is a short and sweet story. It provides enough action and thrills to be entertaining, but it also does manage to get into the characters enough to give them dimension in the five issue story. If you are a fan of the Winter Soldier or Bucky in general, it is worth seeking out. It works as part of the bigger Captain America mythos, but it also does fine as a stand-alone.
