Name: JPRoscoe
Email:
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:
The New Teen Titans—Volume 1
August 18th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: DC Comics Presents/New Teen Titans (Volume 1)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Marv Wolfman
Artist: George Perez/Romeo Tanghal
# of Issues: 9
Release Date: 2014
New Teen Titans (1) #2
Reprints DC Comics Presents #26 and New Teen Titans (1) #1-8 (November 1980-June 1981). When Robin has a dream of a new team of Teen Titans, dreams become reality with the appearance of a young woman named Raven who warns of impending doom for Earth from a danger named Trigon. Robin, Kid Flash, Wonder Girl, and Changeling find themselves teamed with new heroes in Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg as Trigon threatens the planet. Is Raven telling the truth about why she is on Earth and her relationship with Trigon…or could her secret threaten the whole team just as it is forming?
Written by Marv Wolfman, The New Teen Titans—Volume 1 collects the 1980s best-selling series from DC Comics. The collection features the New Teen Titans’ first appearance in DC Comics Presents #26 (October 1980) and the first eight issues of the series. The comic features art by George Perez with additional art by Romeo Tanghal.
The New Teen Titans were DC’s equivalent of the X-Men in the 1980s. The series took off with a boom and became a best seller for DC in a time when Marvel was frequently outselling DC. It was also one of the first DC non-mainstream character (aka Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash) comics I became aware of. I was a big fan of the New Mutants at Marvel and despite comparisons to X-Men, New Teen Titans felt more along the lines of New Mutants.
The Teen Titans were always the sidekicks, but they feel a little more grown up and independent here. While the first Teen Titan series had the character at the edge of being adults, this has the characters much more locked in to the late teens (which makes the Teen Titans title almost a bit odd because it feels like they are growing out of it already).
New Teen Titans (1) #4
The new characters really breathed life into the series. Robin, Kid Flash, and Wonder Girl were old hat, but the addition of the preexisting Changeling (with the name change from Beast Boy), Starfire, Raven, and Cyborg added new storylines and dimensions to the existing characters as they made a new team. The collection also has the issue introducing Deathstroke who came to be one of the Titans big villains but also a major player in the DC Universe.
Rereading New Teen Titans does show some modern-day flaws in the series. The series is very melodramatic which fits the comic style of the time, but it is also very, very wordy. The script for each page seems massive and sometimes the dialogue chokes out Perez’s art. It feels like an accomplishment to choke through some of the issues that feel like overkill.
The New Teen Titans—Volume 1 is a collection of classic stories and the introduction of some very important characters in the DC Universe. That reason alone makes this collection worth picking up and reading (or rereading). As a collection, I wish that the series was put together with a bit better quality paper, but it does appear clean and crisp in its presentation. If you never read New Teen Titans when it was released, now is the time!
Superman—Action Comics 1: Path of Doom
August 17th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Action Comics (Volume 3)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Dan Jurgens
Artist: Patch Zircher/Tyler Kirkham/Stephen Segovia/Art Thibert
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2017
Action Comics (3) #959
Reprints Action Comics (3) #957-962 (August 2016-October 2016). Metropolis has a new hero…Lex Luthor? When the Pre-New 52 Clark Kent, Lois, and Jon learn Lex has taken on the title of Superman, Clark realizes that it is time to return to the spotlight. Unfortunately, Clark finds his old enemy Doomsday has also returned and could threaten to kill him and his family. Teamed with Wonder Woman and Lex Luthor, Superman must stop Doomsday…but the arrival of someone claiming to be Clark Kent also could make Superman question reality.
Written by Dan Jurgens, Superman—Action Comics Volume 1: Path of Doom is part of the DC Comics Rebirth series and was published biweekly. The series ties in with multiple DC Rebirth series including Superman and Superwoman and features art by Pat Zircher, Tyler Kirkham, Stephen Segovia, and Art Thibert. The issues in this volume are also collected in Superman—Action Comics Rebirth Deluxe Edition—Book 1.
When DC Rebirth started, part of the goal seemed to be to really push Superman to the forefront again much like New 52 did for Batman. While the Superman series often got a lot of attention, I actually maybe like Action Comics better…and the events in it seemed more significant.
This volume of the series sets up a lot of mysteries. It questions who is the Clark Kent who has appeared, is Lex Luthor actually a good guy, and who is collecting Doomsday. I think this is key for a good series (especially now) since you really have to find some reason to compel the readers to return issue to issue.
Action Comics (3) #961 Variant
What hindered the series for me was the publication schedule. DC cut their prices, but increased the publishing schedule for most of their titles. This meant an even bigger backlog of titles to read if you went to the comic bookstore weekly. While I do agree that they needed to hit the ground running with Rebirth, I wish that the series had dropped to monthly after the first storyline (and the same goes for their other titles)…it not only was hard to keep up but it was also easy to miss or forget a title.
The collection also runs the risk of the “big fight syndrome”. It seemed like in the 1990s, artists decided to start stretching out fights to multiple issues. This is kind of true in this collection, but I do feel that the layers of mystery do break it up. However, if you do boil down what happened in this six issues, Superman and Wonder Woman just fought Doomsday…a lot.
Superman—Action Comics 1: Path of Doom shows a lot of potential for the character. I like the focus on Superman a bit more and feel the Jon stories are a bit of a drag in the Superman proper title. I hope that the story maybe picks up the pace and moves faster after this volume…it is difficult for writers today to find the happy medium. Superman—Action Comics 1: Path of Doom is followed by Superman—Action Comics 2: Welcome to the Planet.
Green Lantern: Secret Origin
August 16th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Green Lantern (Volume 4)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Geoff Johns
Artist: Ivan Reis
# of Issues: 7
Release Date: 2008
Green Lantern (4) #30
Reprints Green Lantern (4) #29-35 (May 2008-November 2008). Hal Jordan has always dreamed of flying like his father, but Hal has also always pushed of the barrier. Flight destroyed Hal’s bonds with his family and has threatened to ruin his life, but when Abin Sur crashes on Earth while transporting a violent alien named Artrocitus, Hal finds himself as Earth’s first Green Lantern…and Hal’s life will never be the same.
Written by Geoff Johns, Green Lantern: Secret Origins is the fifth collection of Geoff Johns’ run on Green Lantern. Following Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War—Volume 2, the collection features art by Ivan Reis. The collection skips Green Lantern (4) #26-28 which were included in Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns. The issues featured in this collection were also included in Green Lantern by Geoff Johns Omnibus—Volume 2.
Green Lantern was a hot commodity in 2008. Geoff Johns had turned the title around, reestablished Hal Jordan as the definitive Green Lantern, and was setting up for a future movie for DC Comics…so retelling and streamlining Hal’s origin makes sense…it just didn’t necessarily make sense here.
Green Lantern (4) #35
Geoff Johns set-up some great momentum with Green Lantern and to go back to an origin story feels a bit odd. If Johns had started this run of Green Lantern with it, it would have made a bit more sense. I suppose that it does serve as a nice jumping on point for new readers especially with all the changes Johns has made to the Green Lantern Corps in his story.
I do understand why Johns did this. The story sets up two important storylines for future volumes of Green Lantern. It introduces Atrocitus who becomes the head of the Red Lanterns and explains his rage and hatred. It also reintroduces the Black Hand who becomes a quintessential character in the big event DC series Blackest Night…which is something that Green Lantern has been building to in this volume. This story smartly weaves those two future storylines into Hal’s origin and sets up something for the future.
Green Lantern has always been one of my favorite DC characters. He’s fallible and cocky at the same time. He has weaknesses (more than just yellow) and about twenty-five percent of the time makes the wrong decision. That makes for a solid character and solid storytelling…Secret Origin takes him back to his core. Green Lantern: Secret Origin is followed by Green Lantern: Rage of the Red Lanterns.
Related Links:
Green Lantern: Revenge of the Green Lanterns
Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War—Volume 1
Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War—Volume 2
The Goonies (1985)
August 16th, 2018|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: The Goonies
Studio: Amblin Entertainment
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Comedy/Family
Release Date(s): June 7, 1985
MPAA Rating: PG
Don’t talk bad about The Goonies
The Goon Docks are being sold and the time of the Goonies is ending. As Mikey (Sean Astin), his brother Brand (Josh Brolin), Chunk (Jeff Cohen), Mouth (Corey Feldman), and Data (Jonathan Ke Huy Quan) prepare to say goodbye to each other, an adventure and a chance to save their homes arises. With Andy (Kerri Green) and Stef (Martha Plimpton) caught up in the search for the treasure of One-Eyed Willie, the Goonies find themselves pursued by escaped robbers the Fratellies (Anne Ramsey, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano) in a race against time…and a mysterious man-monster named Sloth (John Matuszak) could be their greatest hope.
Directed by Richard Donner, The Goonies is an action-adventure film written by Steven Spielberg. The movie became a box office success and gained a cult audience.
One of the best ’80s team-ups!
I was the perfect age for The Goonies when it was released. At nine, the characters seemed more like peers who did things I did (but cooler and more adult with swearing etc.) and this was different than a lot of films. While I’ll admit that The Goonies is largely aimed at preteen and early teens, you’ll always be a Goonie if you saw it as a kid.
The story for The Goonies is a simple adventure. There are multiple plot holes and widely varying levels of violence. Sometimes the Fratellis are killers but other times they seem like bumbling crooks. It isn’t very consistent, but as a kid it didn’t really need to be. The core of the story is the friendship between the kids and it is meant to be slightly scary but overall safe…something it does accomplish.
Goonies 4 Ever
The cast works well together. Spielberg’s script does a great job establishing the characters and their idiosyncrasies in a short period of time. This is key to making them different but identifiable (and relatable to the kids watching). You can quickly have your favorite characters and your least favorite characters (though the movie does do a good job balancing them).
The movie is pure Spielbergian despite being a Richard Donner movie. Donner did a great job bring Superman to the screen and dealt with big sets like the Fortress of Solitude, but this movie seems to have the wonder that Spielberg often put in his films (especially at this time). It could just be his rapport with children, but the script also milks the scenery and makes you want to go to Astoria…if only they had the tunnels and giant pirate ship.
Just as good as the movie…
The Goonies is a classic that is probably only a classic because I grew up with it and so many others did as well. I can understand how someone who never saw the movie would think it was cheesy (or poorly acted at points), but for me, the movie still works. It is a fun, summer romp that has legs and doesn’t seem to get old (and once you finish the movie you just have to watch “Goonies R Good Enough” by Cyndi Lauper…a mini-movie in itself that captures the period). For years there have been talks of a sequel with the kids all grown up, but I hope it actually never happens. It of course is good to see that the Goon Docks still stand, and it is fun to revisit frequently.
Jem—Season 2
August 15th, 2018|
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Jem’s back…and rocking?
Jem is back, and the Holograms continue to rock! When Shana gets the opportunity to expand her fashion career, the Holograms look for a new member and find it in a drummer named Raya. Unfortunately for the Holograms, the Misfits are also recruiting and a British saxophone player named Jetta who could become a new thorn in the Holograms’ side. With danger, music, and intrigue, Jem and the Holograms rock on!
Jem—Season 2 aired from September 21, 1987 to January 12, 1988 in syndication. The series (also known as Jem and the Holograms) has gained a cult following over the years and lives on through comics and a 2015 movie.
Jem came up in a time when there were clearly shows aimed at boys and girls and all shows seemed to be based on toys. Despite this, shows like Jem and She-Ra had some bleed-over to guys and shows like Thundercats and He-Man also could be enjoyed by girls. Jem is a great example of a show trying to walk the line and win a complete audience.
The Misfits are America’s real treasure
While the show acts like “romance” is a big part of the show, Jem’s relationship with Rio isn’t discussed much this season. You have some of the supporting characters developing relationships (Kimber has a big wedding episode and Shana has a steady boyfriend), but largely the toned-down soap opera romance of this season feels like an attempt to market to a larger audience (though it would have been nice to have the flashback episode explaining the relationship between the Holograms earlier in the series).
The previous season also had some longer plotlines which are lacking this season though events in earlier episodes are mentioned on occasion. It feels like this season is set-up for the syndication aspect of the series where the shows sometimes become shuffled and out of order. The Misfits just become regular enemies and this season and almost all the episodes have them as foils (the first season mixed in a couple other enemies).
Lennon would either throw-up a little if he was alive or just assume it was natural progression of music
The Jem music is part of the series fun and demonstrates an ’80s music mentality ruled by Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. While the first season of Jem would feature about three songs a show then later turned to a two song (with often a replay of the new “hit”), this season returns to three songs but often features recycled songs with new animated videos for each song. Pre-DVD and streaming, this wasn’t an issue, but here it becomes obvious when songs pop-up within a few shows sometime.
Jem is pretty typical of shows of the 1980s. It is highly commercialized and the plots are formulaic. It is clearly meant for kids and not for adults (something forgotten in much of today’s animated series). That is ok and acceptable. I kind of didn’t want my parents to watch the same shows I did…even as a kid. While I can enjoy Jem in the sense of it is like opening a time capsule, I also think younger kids would enjoy the show (sometimes it isn’t always PC). This season isn’t as strong as the first season, but it is more of the same. The Jem cartoon ended with a twelve episode third season.
Jem—Season 2 Complete Episode Guide:
“The Talent Search—Part 1”
2.1 The Talent Search—Part 1 Airdate: 09/21/87
When Shayna gets a big opportunity in the fashion world, Jem and the Holograms encourage her to leave…which Shayna misinterprets. With the Holograms searching for a new drummer, the Misfits adopt a new saxophone player named Jetta…pitting her against Roxy. Aja finds a hopeful candidate in Craig Phillips who has his own secret. A girl named Raya considers testing her abilities in an audition…and learns Jem’s ultimate secret.
Songs: “I Like Your Style”—The Misfits, “Believe in Yourself”—Jem and the Holograms, “I’ve Got My Eye on You”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Talent Search—Part 2”
2.2 The Talent Search—Part 2 Airdate: 09/22/87
Shayna worries that she’s made a mistake leaving the Holograms as Raya debates telling Eric about Jem and Jerrica’s secret in exchange for a record contract. Stormer reveals that Craig’s her brother, and Eric tries to seduce Craig to his side.
Songs: “Show Me the Way”—Jem and the Holograms, “Beat This”—Jem and the Holograms, “All’s Right with the World”—Jem and the Holograms
“Scandal”
2.3 Scandal Airdate: 09/23/87
Raya adjusts to her life as a Hologram. Kimber finds she has problems when Jetta steals her diary…and Cool Trash Magazine publishes parts of it to threaten Kimber’s relationship with the band and heartthrob Sean Harrison.
Songs: “She Makes an Impression”—Jem and the Holograms, “I Love a Scandal”—The Misfits, “Dear Diary”—Jem and the Holograms
“One Jem Too Many”
2.4 One Jem Too Many Airdate: 09/24/87
Jerrica finds herself so busy and not getting to have free time. When Jem begins acting out in public, the Holograms question if Jem has had a mental break…but the Misfits might have their own knowledge of the situation.
Songs: “Image Me”—Jem and the Holograms, “Congratulations”—The Misfits, “The Real Me”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Bands Break-Up”
2.5 The Bands Break Up Airdate: 09/28/87
Kimber worries that no one on the band respects her and finds an ally in Kimber who is having a similar problem with the Misfits. When Stormer and Kimber sign a contract, she could lose Starlight Music to Eric.
Songs: “I’m Okay”—Kimber and Stormer, “Bad Influence”—Jem and the Holograms and the Misfits, “Getting Down to Business”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Fan”
2.6 The Fan Airdate: 09/29/87
An ultra-Jem fan recruits the Misfits to try to get Jem to expose her real identity…and a staged Starlight House could force Jem to expose the truth.
Songs: “Nightmare”—Jem and the Holograms, “Who Is She Anyway”—The Misfits, “I Believe in Happy Endings”—Jem and the Holograms
“Fathers’ Day”
2.7 Fathers’ Day Airdate: 10/01/87
Video is preparing a Fathers’ Day video for her dad, but it brings up memories of her father in Kimber. Video’s cousin Clash and the Misfits come to Mulberry and could cause problems for Jem. Pizzazz and her father find themselves having a falling out.
Songs: “Something Is Missing in My Life”—Jem and the Holograms, “Let’s Blow This Town”—The Misfits, “You’re Always in My Heart”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Treasure Hunt”
2.8 The Treasure Hunt Airdate: 10/05/87
Richard Xanthos is hosting his annual treasure hunt and the Starlight Girls and the (hired) Misfits Girls are competing against each other. With Techrat and Eric helping them, the Starlight Girls have a challenge.
Songs: “Take the Time”—Jem and the Holograms, “Ahead of the Game”—The Misfits, “Open a Book”—Jem and the Holograms
“Aztec Enchantment”
2.9 Aztec Enchantment Airdate: 10/07/87
Video and Jem are out to shoot an award winning video in the jungles of Mexico. When an orphan named Paco sneaks in with Jem’s crew, he’s able to get them to the remote Aztec ruins…but the Misfits and an archeologist have different plans for Jem.
Songs: “Aztec Enchantment”—Jem and the Holograms, “Welcome to the Jungle”—The Misfits, “Love Will Show the Way”—Jem and the Holograms
“Music Is Magic”
2.10 Music Is Magic Airdate: 10/14/87
Jem and the Holograms and the Misfits are tapped to play an international magic show. A magic act makes Jem disappear and the Holograms question who is responsible.
Songs: “Abracadabra”—The Misfits, “It Could Be You”—Jem and the Holograms, “Music Is Magic”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Jazz Player”
2.11 The Jazz Player Airdate: 10/15/87
When the Misfits disrespect Taps Tucker on air, Jem and the Holograms decide to try to bring Taps and the other jazz greats back together for a recording deal. Eric finds his jazz deal in competition with Jem and sets out to destroy the recording.
Songs: “Jack, Take a Hike”—The Misfits, “Trapped”—The Misfits, “Jazz Has”—Jem and the Holograms
“Danse Time”
2.12 Danse Time Airdate: 10/19/87
The Holograms and the Misfits compete in a music video for Richard Xanthos, and Jem hopes to give the winnings to Haven House. When Danse is injured during the shooting, she learns she may never dance again, but a blind man named Cisco might help her walk again.
Songs: “Free and Easy”—The Misfits, “Takes Work”—Jem and the Holograms, “People Who Care”—Jem and the Holograms
“Roxy Rumble”
2.13 Roxy Rumbles Airdate: 10/20/87
When Roxy’s illiteracy becomes a joke for the Misfits, Roxy quits the group…but a lucky lottery ticket could change everything for her. Roxy’s Rumble in her home town goes south when she cannot read the contracts she’s signing.
Songs: “I’m Gonna Change”—Roxy, “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme”—The Misfits, “Open a Book”—Jem and the Holograms
“Alone Again”
2.14 Alone Again Airdate: 10/23/87
When a girl name Laura comes to Haven House, she feels she doesn’t fit in. When she receives drugs from a boy at school, Laura finds herself in a dangerous situation.
Songs: “Alone Again”—Laura, “Nightmare”—Jem and the Holograms, “Look Inside Yourself”—Jem and the Holograms
“KJEM”
2.15 KJEM Airdate: 10/29/87
KMEL is going to go off the air if it doesn’t turn things around. When college kids try to save KMEL, Kimber’s former classmate named Switch tries to get Kimber to help save KMEL and stop KBST from taking it over. When KBST pirates the new KJEM station, Jem must stop the broadcast before it is too late.
Songs: “When It’s Only Me and the Music”—Jem and the Holograms, “Listen Up”—The Misfits, “KJEM”—Jem and the Holograms
“Trick or Techrat”
2.16 Trick or Techrat Airdate: 10/30/87
It’s Halloween, and Jem and the Holograms are putting on a charity concert to help save the local opera house. Jem discovers one of the Starlight Girls named Terri has a fear of the holiday, and the opera house could really be haunted.
Songs: “It’s Fun to Be Scared”—Jem and the Holograms, “Don’t Look Now”—The Misfits. “We Can Change It”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Presidential Dilemma”
2.17 The Presidential Dilemma Airdate: 11/02/87
The President invites Jem to perform at the Kennedy Center, but Jerrica discovers Synergy can’t penetrate the security. The Misfits decide they have to part of the performance, and when the Misfits report Synergy to the Pentagon, Jerrica finds she could lose Jem forever…but the Washington Marauder’s kidnapping of the President could rock the nation.
Songs: “Star Spangled Fantasy”—The Misfits, “Time Is Running Out”—Jem and the Holograms, “Freedom”—Jem and the Holograms
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Express”
2.18 Rock ‘n’ Roll Express Airdate: 11/03/87
Jem and the Holograms are on a charity train tour and the Misfits are going to compete against them. When a thief secretly infiltrates the tour, he intends to rob the proceeds of the tour.
Songs: “I’m Taking a Train”—Jem and the Holograms, “It Takes a Lot to Survive”—The Misfits, “All Across this Country”—Jem and the Holograms
“Mardi Gras”
2.19 Mardi Gras Airdate: 11/04/87
The Holograms have been invited to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. Shayna learns she resembles the legendary Lilly LaRose…and it could mean danger for all the Holograms!
Songs: “Let Me Take You to the Mardi Gras”—Jem and the Holograms, “Surprise! Surprise!”—The Misfits, “Everybody Wears a Mask”—Jem and the Holograms
“The Middle of Nowhere”
2.20 The Middle of Nowhere Airdate: 11/05/87
Ba Nee learns her pen-pal and her pet seal are having the seals’ land threatened by Eric and Pizzazz’s attempt to buy the land for an oil refinery. When Jem, Ba Nee, and Uto are lost at sea, their only hopes could be the seals.
Songs: “In the Land of the Midnight Sun”—Jem and the Holograms, “Makin’ Mischief”—The Misfits, “Safe and Sound”—Jem and the Holograms
“Renaissance Woman”
2.21 Renaissance Woman Airdate: 11/16/87
Jem and the Holograms are invited to a Renaissance Festival which culminates with Reginald becoming Lord of Carfax county. When the thief Robin Goodfellow tries to help the people of Carfax, Danse finds herself as Robin’s Maid Marian…and the Jem must help liberate Carfax by stopping Reginald.
Songs: “Love’s Not Easy”—Jem and the Holograms, “To the Rescue”—Jem and the Holograms, “Flowers in My Hair”—Jem and the Holograms
“Journey to Shangri-La”
2.22 Journey to Shangri-La Airdate: 11/24/87
Jem and the Holograms are searching for new inspiration for their music and learn that the mythical city of Shangri-La could hold secrets. Pursued by the Misfits, the yeti could be the key to finding the path to Shangri-La, but when Roxy and Pizzazz are injured on the journey, Jem could be their only hope!
Songs: “Shangri-La”—Jem and the Holograms, “You Outta See the View from Here”—The Misfits, “Let the Music Play”—Jem and the Holograms
“Journey Through Time”
2.23 Journey Through Time Airdate: 01/06/88
Jem and the Holograms are selected to headline World History of Music Concert. When Techrat creates a device to send Jem back in time, the Holograms and Synergy find themselves trapped in the time of Mozart, World War II London, and Woodstock.
Songs: “Rock and Roll Is Forever”—Jem and the Holograms, “We’re Making It Happen”—Jem and the Holograms, “Rockin’ Down Through Time”—Jem and the Holograms
“Britrock”
2.24 Britrock Airdate: 01/07/88
The Misfits decide to call Jetta on her claims to be aristocratic upbringing, and Jetta’s parents convince the Earl of Wissex to use his estate. Jem and the Holograms are called to London for a benefit concert for the Lord of Wissex…and Aja is about to learn the secret relationship between Craig and Stormer.
Songs: “I’m Gonna Hunt You Down”—The Misfits, “Between Me and You”—Jem and the Holograms
“Out of the Past”
2.25 Out of the Past Airdate: 01/08/88
When Jerrica and Kimber find their father’s diary, they find themselves diving into their past and the past of the Holograms. Jerrica learns that her mother’s music master tapes exist, but Eric is holding them hostage.
Songs: “First Love”—Jem and the Holograms, “Starlight”—Jacqui Benton
“Hollywood Jem—Part 1: For Your Consideration…”
2.26 Hollywood Jem—Part 1: For Your Consideration Airdate: 01/11/88
Jem receives a surprise Oscar nomination but faces critics who accuse her of not being a real actress. Kimber finds herself torn between her love for Jeff and her love for Sean.
Songs: “Hollywood Jem”—Jem and the Holograms, “You Already Know”—Jem and the Holograms, “Too Close”—Jem and the Holograms
“Hollywood Jem—Part 2: And the Winner Is…”
2.27 Hollywood Jem—Part 2: And the Winner Is… Airdate: 01/12/88
Kimber is engaged to Jeff, but Sean takes a drastic step to impress her. As Kimber goes to the altar, Jem prepares for the Academy Awards and her big break.
Songs: “Tomorrow Is My Wedding Day”—Jem and the Holograms, “Happy Ever After”—Jem and the Holograms, “Hollywood Jem”—Jem and the Holograms
Related Links:
Jem—Season 1 Review and Complete Episode Guide
Monsters Unleashed!
August 15th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Monsters Unleashed! (Limited Series)/Monsters Unleashed!
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Steve McNiven/Greg Land/David Baldeon
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2017
Monsters Unleashed! (Limited Series) #1
Reprints Monsters Unleashed! (Limited Series) #1-5 and Monsters Unleashed! #1 (March 2017-June 2017). When monsters begin crashing down on Earth, the Avengers, X-Men, Inhumans, and other heroes of Earth question if they’ve finally met their match. Elsa Bloodstone has uncovered a secret behind the monsters’ attacks and that someone named Kei Kawade could hold the answers. With an ancient enemy called the Leviathan Queen targeting the planet, Kei could be Earth’s only hope…unfortunately he’s just an eleven-year-old boy.
Written by Cullen Bunn, Monsters Unleashed! was a five issue limited series running from March 2017-May 2017. The series served as a launchpad for a new continuing Monsters Unleashed! series with Monsters Unleashed! #1 (June 2017) collected in this volume. The comic features art by Steve McNiven, Greg Land, and David Baldeon.
I loved monster comics as a kid. I also really like it when Marvel (and DC) mixed monster comics with superhero comics…unfortunately, these mixes are often pretty poorly done. With a new Monsters vs. Superheroes type of comic being floated in Monsters Unleashed!, I had some hope. Unfortunately, Monsters Unleashed! was more disappointment than fun.
If I were a kid, I might enjoy Monsters Unleashed! That isn’t necessarily a criticism because Monsters Unleashed! could be a comic targeted for kids, but Marvel isn’t really clear on who they are trying to sell to most days. A comic like Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur is aimed at kids, but characters like Wolverine and Deadpool are for adults…and all those characters are featured in the comic.
Monsters Unleashed! (Limited Series) #5 Variant
The comic is also another attempt to mainstream the Inhumans who have proven to be a real drag on Marvel. I liked the original concepts of the Inhumans, but Marvel’s push to make the Inhumans the new X-Men in recent years (mostly due to ownership rights) is wearing thin. Every time they need a new character, it is an Inhuman awakened by the Terrigen Mists…it feels like lazy writing. It doesn’t really make Kei a new or compelling lead character and it also makes him a clone of Ms. Marvel or Devil Dinosaur with less personality.
The last problem is the monsters themselves. Besides Fin Fang Foom, not many of the monsters have personalities. I’ve encountered some of the monsters like Goom in reprints, and despite having history, they don’t have dimensions. It makes it hard to find them compelling…and making up five new monsters that look relatively similar for Kid Kaiju to control doesn’t help.
Monsters Unleashed! is a quick but dull series. The comic shouldn’t have been a continuing series and the idea of another whole run of Kei and his monster friends seems pretty tedious. Monsters Unleashed! is simply another entry in the Marvel “so-so” category that probably can be skipped. Monsters Unleashed! is followed by Monsters Unleashed!: Monster Mash.
Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018)
August 15th, 2018|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Pacific Rim: Uprising
Studio: Legendary Pictures
Genre(s): Action/Adventure/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Release Date(s): March 15, 2018 (Premiere)/March 23, 2018 (US)
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Let’s start wrecking property!!!
Ten years have passed since the Kaiju were forced back and the Jaeger project has been expanding. When Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) and a young Jaeger creator named Amara Namani (Cailee Spaeny) are captured by Pan-Pacific Defense Corps, Jake finds himself forced to follow in his father’s footsteps while Amara is put among the new recruits to the program. Liwen Shao (Jing Tian) has plans for new Jaeger drones that were developed by with the help of Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day), but when a rogue Jaeger attacks, the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps learns that something more might be occurring…and the danger from Kaiju might not be over!
Directed by Steven S. DeKnight, Pacific Rim: Uprising is a science-fiction action-adventure film. A follow-up to Pacific Rim from 2013, the film received help from the original director Guillermo del Toro who acted as producer. It was met with mixed reviews but was considered a financial failure due to the high production costs.
Rock-Em-Sock-Em Robots!!!
After how much I disliked Transformers, I thought Pacific Rim was going to be more of the same. I was pleasantly surprised by the film and enjoyed the “big robots vs monsters” simplicity of it. With some hope for Pacific Rim 2 (aka Uprising), I actually found the movie to be more of the same…with wasn’t bad or good. A ******spoiler alert****** is in effect for the rest of the review
The story is a relatively logical story. The Kaiju are banished from Earth, but plans to be ready for their return are necessary. What isn’t logical is how the story is laid out. The idea of drone Jaegers are introduced, but then everyone is shocked that the attacking Obsidian Fury Jaeger is a drone…and that it comes from the Shao Corporation. The filmmakers then review that Charlie Day’s Geiszler is still in a “relationship” with a Kaiju brain, but then they act like the audience is supposed to be surprised that he is the one who betrayed Shao. It doesn’t make much logical sense (but it is also a movie about giant fighting robots which doesn’t make much sense to begin with).
Finally…Kaiju Action!
The cast was largely new for the film though some returned from the original. John Boyega (who also produced the movie) is a solid and likable lead as Idris Elba’s son. He’s teamed with Scott Eastwood (who has so many similarities to his father that it is a bit unnerving at times) and the young Cailee Spaeny as the scrappy Amara. The movie does suffer from too big of a cast at points with the recruits who never fully develop with the exception maybe being Ivanna Sakhno who is Cailee’s rival. The returning actors are Charlie Day, Burn Gorman, and Rinko Kikuchi…while I always feel like a little Charlie Day is too much Charlie Day, it is even worse here. I also wish Rinko Kikuchi had been used more effectively.
What Pacific Rim: Uprising gets right is the fighting. Unlike Transformers which can’t seem to present giant robots beating each other up effectively, Pacific Rim does make it look natural and the coordination on the fight scenes are logical. It also becomes extremely unrealistic that any city would recover from the damage done by the fighting (I mean they are literally hitting monsters with skyscrapers). After 9-11 and how long it took for NYC to recover, it doesn’t seem like cities would be able to come back on this large of scale.
Please just eat him…
Pacific Rim: Uprising isn’t as fun as the original, but it does maintain much of the same style and feel of it. While the story is a logical progression, the writing seems to undermine it multiple times and takes away any aspect of surprise. It also seems like the battle against the Kaiju of the first film was more compelling than the whole drone issue, and it takes too long to get back to the kaiju and the final fight. Despite indications of a sequel, the lackluster performance of this movie might spell the end of the Pacific Rim movie series…though many thought that after the first Pacific Rim didn’t light the world on fire, so there is always hope.
Related Links:
All-Star Western 4: Gold Standard
August 14th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: All-Star Western (Volume 3)
Publisher: DC Comics
Writer: Jimmy Palmiotti/Justin Gray
Artist: Moritat/Staz Johnson
# of Issues: 5
Release Date: 2013
All-Star Western (3) #18
Reprints All-Star Western (3) #17-21 (April 2013-August 2013). After an encounter with Vandal Savage, Jonah Hex has had about enough of Jeramiah Arkham and Gotham City. Heading to the country, Hex finds himself teamed with a traveler from the future in Booster Gold…and Hex is about to make a voyage of his own!
Written by Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, All-Star Western Volume 4: Gold Standard is part of the New 52 DC relaunch. Following All-Star Western Volume 3: The Black Diamond Probability, the title (also sometimes not hyphenated as All Star) features art by Moritat and Staz Johnson.
Western heroes are really tricky, and DC and Palmiotti and Gray are trying to make them more inclusive in the bigger DC universe through things like Stormwatch and time travel. This volume of All-Star Western sets to shuttle Hex directly into the rest of DC’s New 52 world.
The first story in the volume involves Vandal Savage. Savage seems to the go-to character for DC if they need a time travel story, and he is generally solid…but he does get a bit old since he doesn’t really have a hook (other than being immortal). More important to me is that the story finally gets Hex out of Gotham. While I’ve enjoyed the “Old Gotham” adventures, it feels like there is more to explore with Hex and the world around him…especially since the New 52 changed everything.
All-Star Western (3) #19
Being a Booster Gold fan, I was excited to see him guest-starring in this volume. The only complaint I have is that it seemed not only rushed, but oddly disjointed. The issues don’t seem to necessarily tie together as nicely as other comics, and it almost felt like you had missed a page or two. I wish that Hex and Booster’s adventure had been slightly longer (maybe one more issue) and I also wish there had been more involving Batwing when he arrived in Gotham (just because of culture differences/problems with Hex being in the future as seen with his relation to the African-American police officer).
The story also features a back-up storyline involving the Stormwatch of Hex’s time led by Adam One. It doesn’t feel developed enough and seems like filler. With the Hex/Booster story seeming truncated, it would have been nice to have those pages to more of a story for Jonah Hex instead of an underdeveloped Stormwatch team.
While I do have criticisms of All-Star Western, I kind of like All-Star Western and the variety it provides to a rather bland comic market. I like that you can essentially have a science-fiction story set in the past and that All-Star Western could be used to explore ideas and differences between now and then which boils down to the true concept of sci-fi which is the exploration of concepts and different trains of thought. All-Star Western 4: Gold Standard is followed by All-Star Western 5: Man Out of Time.
Related Links:
All-Star Western 1: Guns and Gotham
All-Star Western 2: War of Lords and Owls
All-Star Western 3: Gold Standard
Avengers A.I. 2: 12,000 A.D.
August 13th, 2018|
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Comic Info
Comic Name: Avengers A.I.
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Sam Humphries
Artist: André Lima Araújo
# of Issues: 6
Release Date: 2014
Avengers A.I. #8
Reprints Avengers A.I. #7-12 (February 2014-June 2014). Dimitrios has attacked the Earth, and as the Avengers try to deal with the artificial intelligence living within the Diamond, S.H.I. E.L.D. has recruited Monica Chang to lead a new squad intent on stopping the artificial intelligence threat. As the Avengers battle Dimitrios in the present day, Alexis is about to discover that Dimitrios has long-term plans that could come to fruition in the year 12,000 A.D.
Written by Sam Humphries, Avengers A.I. Volume 2: 12,000 A.D. is a team-book that spun out of the Avengers: Age of Ultron series. Following Avengers: A.I. Volume 1: Human After All, the series features art by André Lima Araújo. Avengers A.I. #7 ties in with the Inhumanity storyline.
The Avengers began to lose me when Brian Michael Bendis took over. By the time Avengers: Age of Ultron rolled around, I had stopped even buying the “big event” series because I had no concept of what was going on, who the characters were, and why it even really mattered since Marvel constantly rewrote the story aspects they didn’t like. I got copies of Avengers A.I. and read the title…and was mildly entertained.
The series has a weird flow and never seems to completely develop. I don’t believe it was intended to be a twelve issue limited series, but it also feels like it does climax at the twelfth issue (and the Inhumanity stand-alone issue doesn’t help the storytelling though I did like a little more development of Doombot). Despite a solid conclusion, I didn’t feel do enough to make the title feel complete.
Avengers A.I. #12
Part of the reason is the cast of characters. I always like Jocasta (who became a supporting character this volume), but the rest of the characters I don’t feel much of a connection to. The fact they are machines doesn’t necessarily hurt that idea, but it also makes them even more indestructible than most superheroes who never can seem to die. The team needs a heart, and I don’t feel it has one. If it had focused on Alexis from the start of the series into this volume, it might have worked better…but the “balanced” approach to storytelling left most of the cast half-baked in a team that doesn’t really even seem to be much of a team.
Avengers A.I. is another average title from Marvel. If I were starting out in comics, I don’t feel that the art or characters would compel me to want to buy the issue so read more. Marvel is so flooded with characters now, that it seems like they no longer cannibalize failing series for ideas or popular or important characters. With this treatment it feels like the events of Avengers A.I. have no consequences or importance…which make it hard for you to care about.
Related Links:
Avengers A.I. 1: Human After All
Beauty and the Beast (2017)
August 12th, 2018|
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Movie Info
Movie Name: Beauty and the Beast
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre(s): Musical/Drama/Comedy/Romance/Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Family
Release Date(s): February 23, 2017 (Premiere)/March 17, 2017 (US)
MPAA Rating: PG
Still creepy that they are human…yes have another drink from Chip
In a hidden castle in the French countryside a Beast (Dan Stevens) resides with his servants all under a curse. When Maurice (Kevin Kline) becomes lost in the woods, his rescue by his daughter Belle (Emma Watson) could be the hope that the Beast and his servants need to break the spell before it is too late. Unfortunately, time has made the Beast bitter and for Belle to see into his true heart, she must learn to love him for what he is and shatter the spell.
Directed by Bill Condon, Beauty and the Beast is a live-action adaptation of Walt Disney’s classic 1991 animated film while combining aspects of the 1994 stage musical. It is an adaptation of the Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve fairy tale from 1740 and became one of Disney’s biggest blockbusters. The movie received largely positive reviews and was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Costume Design and Best Production Design.
Love…exciting and new
The original Beauty and the Beast (along with The Little Mermaid) rejuvenated Disney and saved it from the doldrums it was facing in the 1970s and 1980s. The film helped reinvent the animated picture and brought respect with an Academy Award nomination. Disney began revisiting their old animated feature and making live action features…Beauty and the Beast was a natural in that sense.
The problem with the trend is that a lot of the movies they are revisiting are solid animated features. Beauty and the Beast has stood up with the test of time and remains a good picture. Revisiting it here works to tie-up some plot hole (like why they don’t know the castle exists), why they just don’t tell Belle about the curse, and why LeFou is such a hanger-on among other things. It just doesn’t seem necessary and doesn’t feel like it necessitates a movie with a runtime of over two hours for kids.
Oh Gaston…you are such a psychopath
The cast is strong. Emma Watson demonstrated a headstrong empowered girl in the Harry Potter series and she’s now grown into leading lady roles with that same fervor. Dan Stevens is pretty bland as the Beast (but to be honest it is kind of a bland role) and Kevin Kline is nice casting as Belle’s father. A lot of attention was drawn to Josh Gad’s portrayal of LeFou as gay since it was a Disney film and Luke Evans’ Gaston comes off as more of a psychopath. While good, I don’t feel that Ewan McGregor, Ian McKellen, and Emma Thompson are as good in the roles of the furniture when compared to the original but they aren’t bad and are joined by Stanley Tucci, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Nathan Mack.
Beast…Dance like nobody’s watching!
Visually, the movie does adapt the animated movie’s look and style. While the animated version was a revelation with its combination of computer and traditional animation, this movie already has the advantage of the technology so it doesn’t seem as amazing that the makers are able to put it together. It also appears like a lot of green-screen shots at points.
Beauty and the Beast isn’t a bad movie despite my criticism, but it feels like an unnecessary movie. It is a sign of the laziness of Hollywood and the recycling of old ideas (really old if you consider the age of the story) and the quest for money. I realize this isn’t new (Alice in Wonderland and even 101 Dalmatians have been tapped in the past). It seems like a rerelease of the original animated movie in the theaters might have been a nice substitute for the film. With its success, Disney is moving forward with its live action adaptations with Dumbo in 2019.
Related Links:
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas (1997)
