Saturday, March 26, 2016

Top 5 Worst Saturday Morning Cartoons - Saturday Morning Weirdness



A couple weeks ago I made the list of my favorite Saturday Morning Cartoons.  What I found out was that many people loved the same things that I did as a kid and that I am a very old guy.  The later shouldn't shock me since I look in the mirror every morning and have no idea what the hell happened to that fresh looking whippersnapper who had the world by the balls, but at least I found some like minded souls who enjoyed Thundarr and the Dungeons and Dragons cartoons.  Since I gave you my favorites, I figured I'd give you a list of the cartoons that I think are the worst pieces of garbage ever to come through my old JVC Videosphere 3240.  Again, I am an old man, so you youngins may not be familiar with some of these, but please, do not go back and watch them at any cost!  You have been warned.


Friday, March 25, 2016

First Looks of Hanna-Barbera Titles at Wondercon!



IT’S THE TALK OF THE TOWN! HANNA-BARBERA AT WONDERCON!

As the latest DC panel at WonderCon 2016 just came to a close, the filled convention room was thrilled to get the first scoop on a fan favorite—Hanna-Barbera! The contemporary updates to some of the Hanna-Barbera classics were announced late January, but these lucky fans got a chance to see the first sneak peeks!

If you weren’t in attendance to the panel, you can see for yourself what the buzz is all about in the gallery below!

Wonder Woman '77 Chapter #19 Review


Love Will Keep us Together

Written by: Amanda Deibert
Art by: Staz Johnson, Wayne Faucher, Kelly Fitzpatrick and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 20, 2016


Doing our site and podcast let's us keep our collective ears to the ground on certain subjects and one of those has been the state of Wonder Woman books at DC Comics these days.  Most fans have been disappointed with what is being offered, but for the most part, they only look at the main line of books.  It's a shame because the Digital side of things is where Wonder Woman is really thriving, whether it be the awesome The Legend of Wonder Woman book or this one, Wonder Woman '77.  This one is a bit of a hard sell initially...it's based on a television show that most never saw (most readers aren't as old as me, I guess) and it gets thrown into the campy Batman '66 mix which isn't fair either.  This book is a fun Wonder Woman book all on it's own and really has a low entrance fee, price and prior knowledge wise.  With that being said, is this a good issue and possibly even one that all of you foot draggers can jump onto?  Let's find out...


Top 5 Fridays: Top 5 Superman/Batman Stories





This is it, folks! The day has arrived! Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice debuts in theaters everywhere today, and doubtless most of the movie will have been spoiled online by the time this article goes live. Don’t let that dampen your enthusiasm for the movie, however, or for this series of Top 5 articles inspired by the film! Jody couldn’t make it today because he’s been standing in line at his local theater for ninety-six hours, so he asked your ol’ pal Reggie to fill in. And you know what that means: this is going to be a list of the weirdest, most obscure Superman/Batman team-ups ever. I can’t wait to dive in, can you? Read on!

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Review




Let Them Fight...

Cast: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Adams
Director: Zack Snyder


Wow. This thing has been dragged through the friggin’ mud. While fans have been enjoying it, for the most part, critics have been tearing this thing a new one. They claim that it’s a boring, bombastic, hyper-violent mess. To see reviews like this would give me pause, except for the fact that there is a pretty large percentage of the audience that do like it. Some saying that this is exactly what they were expecting, and WANTED to see for a Batman vs. Superman movie.


These reactions made me unsure how to approach this movie. On the one hand, I'm a huge DC fan and I won't lie when I say I've been counting the days. On the other hand, I'm a reviewer, which means I also should look at this film as a whole, without my love for the characters. So what did I come up with? Is it the movie people were hoping for, or the mess that critics are claiming it to be? Let's dive in and find out...  

iZombie Season 2 Episode 15 “He Blinded Me With Science” Review and **SPOILERS**



Director: Dan Etheridge
Writers: 
Jon Enbom
Release Date: March 22, 2016 

Let’s catch up!



Before we get started, I would like to apologize for the delay on this recap. Unfortunately by the time I got around to watching this episode I was half asleep and I missed too much to write an effective recap. I finally was able to re-watch today and now recap game is set to be brolic. 

i-FUCKING-Zombie is back.

After a four week hiatus that left us with nothing but awesome loose ends we are backin effect like Das EFX bruh. To recap, Blaine was murdered by Mr. Boss then rose from the dead like the quick witted Jesus he is. There was the whole Rita/Glinda reveal. Ravi’s zombie cure was only temporary which meant that Blaine and Major were living on borrowed time, and on top of that Clive and his FBI girlfriend noticed that Major was now cavorting with Blaine. Shit was looking all sorts of fucked up and all of this awesome chaos is the reason why iZombie is the best show since Breaking Bad.


The Weird Side #12


Words and Art by: Paul B

Like Tag Team, Paul B. is back again and while everyone is hyped up for Batman v Superman, I'm all about Glen's big baddies versus the Weird Science Get Fresh Crew.  Of course, there are also cool things about the podcast which always end up making me and Eric look awful...just the way we like it.  Enjoy!  - Jim

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Superman: Lois and Clark #6 Review


That's My Boy


Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Lee Weeks, Scott Hanna, A Larger World Studios and Jeromy Cox
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016

It's starting to look like a good time to be a Superman fan again, what with him getting his powers back in the regular run of books (thank goodness!), the promising Super League story just around the bend and a couple of other great Superman books being on the shelves each week.  Of those others, this is the one that excites me the most because it is in continuity and pointing to big things that could affect Rebirth.  Will Jon become Superboy?  Will Pre-Flashpoint Clark help get Superman's identity back?  Will I stop asking questions and get to my review?  Yes, yes I will...


Batman and Robin Eternal #25 Review




Written by: Steve Orlando
Art by: Javi Pina, Goran Sudzuka, Chris Sotomayor and Marilyn Patrizio
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 24, 2016

The penultimate issue of Batman and Robin Eternal has arrived and I have very mixed emotions right now.  I know that I have been one of the harshest critics of this series, but that wasn't because of any sort of "business plan" on my part...I really wanted to like this series and was all in after the first issue which I loved.  Since then, however, the inconsistencies in story and art have really gotten to me to the point that I have been looking forward to it ending and not for any good reasons.  That all being said, if the writers and artists can get together and end it all in a satisfying way, I can still walk away from it in a positive way.  Hey, I did it with Batman Eternal...kind of.  So, does this issue start me down that road?  Let's find out...


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Batman #50 Review and *SPOILERS*



Back In Bat


Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: Greg Capullo, Danny Miki, FCO Plascencia, Yanick Paquette, Nathan Fairbairn
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

It's been a tough bunch of months with Bruce Wayne being all brain dead when it came to all things Batman, but as we saw in the last issue, Batman is back and it's about time because Jim Gordon was just constantly getting his ass kicked and not really filling the shoes of our Dark Knight.  Don't get me wrong though, I originally thought that taking the badge away from Gordon and placing a cowl on his head was a bad ass idea........ it just didn't pan out in the end and Mr. Bloom hasn't been the most intriguing of villains either because really, we know absolutely nothing about him or what his real motives are.  Hopefully that will end here and we can get some closure on "Heavy Metal".  Let's jump into this issue and see what kind of hell Batman has walked into now that most of Gotham is rocking one of Bloom's super powered seeds and all hope seems to be lost.  Let's check it out.

The Flash Season 2 Episode 16 “Trajectory" Review and **SPOILERS**



Starring: Grant Gustin, David Ramsey, Audrey Marie Anderson et al.
Story By: Greg Berlanti, Andrew Kreisberg, Geoff Hohns, Lilah Vandenbuegh, David Kob, Lauren Certo
Directed By: Glen Winter
First Aired: March 22, 2016

While Reggie is gallivanting around former Communist bloc nations I will be covering Flash because I am a fucking champ like that.

So let’s quickly get caught up, because Barry Allen and co have been on an extended break. When we last left the Flash Mob ™ shit went tits up. Barry, Cisco, Wells, and Wells’ kid left earth 2 in the clutches of Zoom but not before Zoom was able to reach through the closing portal and kill Jay Garrick and officially turn Caitlin into the woman no sane person will ever date. 

Deathstroke #16 Review


DeathHood


Written by: James Bonny
Art by: Paolo Pantalena, Arif Prianto and Dave Sharpe
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016

Deathstroke is a book that kind of snuck up on me.  I was never a huge fan of the character and barely paid attention to the first go around for the him at the start of the New 52. However, when DC brought the book back, I ended up reviewing it by default and I am so glad I did.  It's not that I suddenly became a huge Slade fan (though I do love "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"), but the book was just knock down, drag out fun with more severed limbs than you could shake another severed limb at.  Sure, it's had it's ups and downs like any book does, but  at the end of the day, it is one of the handful of books that I would continue reading even if our little site was taken down by One Million Moms or one real big guy with a baseball bat.  Let's hope it doesn't come to that and let's get to this month's Deathstroke...

Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana #3 Review


Enter the Squad!


Written By: Brian Buccellato and Mike W. Barr
Art By: Viktor Bogdanovic and Diogenes Neves
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016

Another month, another chapter with our favorite “Squad-Members.” I use that term in quotes as 1: Katana isn’t a member of the Squad and 2: After the events of the last two issues, I don’t think Deadshot is either. While I have been enjoying Deadshot’s story, Katana’s has been pretty bland and cliche so far and is barely readable through the epic action and wonderful art.

Last we left off, Deadshot found his abusive parents and ended them after years and years of nightmares. The cost: Abandoning a Squad Mission, which Amanda Waller doesn't take kind to. In Katana's story, we see that despite her warrior spirit, she is only one woman. Thankfully a new group of insurgents dropped in and one would consider them... Suicidal... Get it? Because Suicide Squad? Yeah, you got it...

So what will happen next?! Will Deadshot get out of this mess he's in? Will Katana free Markovia from Kobra's grasp? Will this series really have any effect on the money the movie is gonna make?! With the exception of that last one, let's dive in and find out...

Adventures of Supergirl Chapter #5 Review


Digital Immortality


Written by: Sterling Gates
Art by: Pop Mhan, John Rauch and Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 22, 2016

For those who have been reading Reggie's reviews for Adventures of Supergirl, please be warned that this review will contain 87% less big words than usual.  Yep, Reggie is in Germany and I, Jim Werner, am taking over this book for a fortnight.  I envisage that the assemblage of Reginald's normal inspection will proffer to gather my scrutiny of this publication with an unburdened consciousness and offer me the prospect of swaying them in relation to previous efforts.  Take that!  Now that I have that out of my system, let's get on with my review for this kick ass digital comic, shall we?  We shall...

Grayson #18 Review

Die and Let Live


Written by: Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly
Art by: Roge Antonio, Geraldo Borges, Jeromy Cox, Carlos M. Mangual
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016

Grayson is winding down as we get closer and closer to Rebirth in June.  With that, the founding creative team of Tom King, Tim Seeley and Mikel Janin have moved on to different pastures to work on...well, we haven't been told yet.  Sure, there are rumours and whispers, but that's not what we are here for, is it?  Nope, we are her to talk about the newest issue of Grayson which is the first issue for writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly.  They are new to Grayson, but not the Bat Family, having penned a couple of issues of the Batman and Robin Eternal weekly, though their main focus was Jason Todd and Tim Drake.  So, they are given the task to finish up one of the best books of the past year (in my opinion at least) and hopefully, do it in style.  I am not going to tell you what I think just yet, but I will promise you that I am really going to try to give Lanzing and Kelly a fair shake and not get all negative because they aren't King and Seeley.  With that, let's dig into this issue of Grayson...


Supergirl Season 1 Episode 17 "Manhunter" Review and **SPOILERS**



Director: Chris Fisher
Story: Derek Simon
Teleplay: Cindy Lichtman & Rachel Shukert
Release Date: March 21, 2016


Supergirl is one of the most divisive shows in DC television. Some think that it's a great exploration of a bright and inspiring female superhero, while others maintain that it's a hamfisted ripoff of the Superman mythos as a whole. Personally, I think it's enjoyable, very flawed, but still largely enjoyable. Anyways, that just means that I'm approaching the show with no real expectations and frankly, that's probably a good thing. I usually have to make an effort to be unbiased, but in this case I really don't have to do that. So, with that in mind, it's time to get on with the review...

Justice League 3001 #10 Preview


Written by: J.M. DeMatteis, Keith Giffen

Art by: Scott Kolins & Colleen Doran
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 23, 2016


After a brutal defeat by Lady Styx’s legion, the remaining members of the Justice League are forced into hiding—but there are eyes everywhere. How do you hide in plain sight? You create secret identities. But will that be enough to elude Styx’s deadliest bounty hunter, Eclipso? 

Suicide Squad Most Wanted: Deadshot and Katana #3 Preview



Written by: Brian Buccellato and Mike W. Barr 
Art by: Viktor Bogdanovic and Diogenes Neves
Cover Price: $4.99

Release Date: March 23, 2016

After Deadshot discovers a shocking secret about his daughter, he’s forced to go toe to toe against the Suicide Squad-and their newest member! Meanwhile, the mysterious strangers who stepped between Katana and certain death reveal themselves! And while the Suicide Squad may not have heard of the Soultaker, their handler Amanda Waller wants to make sure that Katana is free only as long as she’s helping them take down Kobra!


We Are Robin #10 Review and *SPOILERS*



Clownin' Around


Written By: Lee Bermejo
Art By: Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes, Trish Mulvihill, Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 23. 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

Shit has been getting real in Gotham, but more so in the Midtown district, what with the now defunct Robin Laws and now a no good plastic surgery reject going all Joker on the city.  This John Bender...... and no not the one from the Breakfast club, even though you'd definitely identify this character as a "Criminal" as well, has murdered his parents and taken it upon himself to paint his face, start going by "Smiley" and gathering an army of like-minded individuals and I'm guessing Smiley plans on making sure whatever joke he plans on telling is completely on us and the people of Gotham.  I love the idea of the Jokerz Gang from Batman Beyond starting here from the We Are Robin movement, but our heroes couldn't have picked a worse time to disband and start screening their calls because from what we've seen of Smiley so far............. it looks like we'll need them more than ever.  Let's jump into this issue and see if our heroes can get their act together and throw a little punch-line Smiley's way.  Let's check it out.

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Superman: Lois and Clark #6 Preview



Written by: Dan Jurgens
Art by: Lee Weeks
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016


Can even this Superman save Lois from the deadly vengeance of Intergang? Or will young Jon have to be the one to step up to this challenge?

This is one of my favorite books in the whole DCU and I'll be so sad when it ends...but hopefully it will all lead to something bigger and better!  We can only hope...and pray...and wish...and bribe...and yell...


Deathstroke #16 Preview



Written by: James Bonny
Art by: Paolo Pantalena
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 23, 2016

Aww yeah—it’s Deathstroke versus Red Hood! If Slade Wilson wants to find his missing daughter, he’ll need to escape the sights of the deadliest Bat-family member of them all. Who’s behind all the firepower being thrown at Deathstroke? Stay tuned for the answer! 

I have enjoyed the crap out of Deathstroke and adding Red Hood to the mix doesn't even seem fair. I really can't wait to read this issue and look for my review sometime tomorrow.

Teen Titans #18 Preview



Written by: Greg Pak
Art by: Ian Churchill
Cover Price: $2.99

Release Date: March 23, 2016

“Who Is Wonder Girl?” Cassie finally learns the truth about her father and her powers—but her mission puts her on a collision course with Wonder Woman, and it may change the Teen Titans forever!

Harley Quinn #26 Preview


Written by: Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner
Art by: John Timms
Cover Price: $3.99

Release Date: March 23, 2016


In the aftermath of her encounter with The Joker, Harley’s head is spinning, and she wants nothing more than to get back to her normal life…but she should know by now there’s no such thing! A new era in Harley’s life is beginning, and she has NO idea what’s coming at her!

Batman #50 Preview



Written By: Scott Snyder
Art By: Greg Capullo, Danny Miki

Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016


Batman has returned to Gotham City! In this extra-sized conclusion to Snyder and Capullo’s epic story “Superheavy,” Bruce Wayne returns to the cape and cowl to battle Mr. Bloom alongside Jim Gordon for the fate of the city they both love.

Double the Batman, Double the fun.  Batman is back and hopefully with it the downfall of Mr. Bloom because I haven't enjoyed that character at all....... mostly because I haven't understood anything about him, but Bruce is back in action and with him the fun.  I can't wait to see what goes down in this fiftieth issue and how the world will react to Batman......back from the dead.

Cyborg #9 Preview



Written By: David F. Walker
Art By: Felipe Watanabe, Julio Ferreira, Oclair Albert, Adriano Lucas, Rob Leigh
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 23, 2016


Federal forces are sent to capture Cyborg and his technology—but things take a bizarre twist when tensions rise among members of the Justice League, who are split over what Cyborg should do. Shazam doesn’t understand why Cyborg won’t go along with the federal agents. Could this be the moment that ends their friendship?

While I wasn't the biggest fan of the Technosapien/Tekbreaker arc, I do have to say that this aftermath of that story is really cool...... not to mention that it doesn't hurt to have Shazam by our hero's side.  I'm fully on board with Cyborg going up against the government........ his body, his choice.

We Are Robin #10 Preview



Written By: Lee Bermejo
Art By: Jorge Corona, Rob Haynes, Trish Mulvihill, Jared K. Fletcher
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: March 23. 2016


The Jokers have taken over Middleton High! Duke and Riko are trapped inside as average students—can Dax and Izzy get to them in time? And could Dre really have joined the side of the Jokers? In a final showdown between the Robins and the Jokers, Duke and his team will be put to the ultimate test of loyalty.

I just love this series and the inclusion of the origins of the Jokerz Gang from Batman Beyond is pure genius in mind.  I can't wait to see what the rest of this story arc brings.

Injustice: Gods Among Us: Year Five Chapter #14 Review


Guardian Angel

Written by: Brian Buccellato
Art by: Mike S. Miller, J. Nanjan and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 22, 2016

Last week's issue of Injustice was the first part of a two part Damian story and while I have been asking for more overall story progression, it was a nice diversion.  I couldn't be that upset as we haven't got a ton of Damian in any of the previous years and with this final one being extended, there is no better time than now.  It all continues this week and while last week's issue had a bit of a playful attitude (having Harley show up will do that), this one was dead serious, but was it any good?  Let's find out...

Monday, March 21, 2016

Gotham Season 2 Episode 15 "Mad Grey Dawn" Review and *SPOILERS*



Whodunnit?

Director: Nick Copus
Writers: Robert Hull
First Aired: March 21, 2016

*Non-spoilers and score at the bottom*

Well, it’s certainly been an interesting back half of the season so far hasn’t it? We opened up with a man freezing people in an attempt to try and save his wife. Then we had Bruce Wayne confront the man who killed his parents. Meanwhile in the background, our favorite criminal, Oswald Cobblepot, has been mentally tortured by the menacing Hugo Strange, before being declared legally sane and sent back into society. Now a new threat arises to take down the man who protected this city from criminals, Jim Gordon. Who is the new threat? Well, that’s a riddle you need to figure out… I hate myself for that joke. It’s the Riddler, let’s get on with his first big scheme!

Doctor Fate #10 Review and *SPOILERS*



G-G-G-G-G-G-GHOST!


Written By: Paul Levitz
Art By: Sonny Liew, Lee Loughridge, Saida Temofonte
Cover Price: $2.99
Release Date: March 16, 2016

*Non Spoilers and Score At The Bottom*

I guess we're fated to deal with this title until Rebirth comes and saves us from all its nonsense.  That's right, it's time to get back into Doctor Fate and man, I don't know if I've been subconsciously protesting this book or what, but when I went to go see what the last issue I reviewed was........ it turns out it the fifth issue........ Yeah, I don't know how that happened, but let me assure you in case you were wondering....... I didn't care for those issues.  In the previous issue of Doctor Fate, we saw our hero attacking police officers and it came off weird as hell because....... well, because he's supposed to be a hero!  Yeah, you could argue that the police were getting a little aggressive towards the protesters outside the Egyptian consulate, but wrapping the police up in fencing and dumping them in the river isn't cool and then Khalid went on to electrocute officers to allow his friend Akila to escape their custody and even created a fissure in the street to separate the police from apprehending out of control protesters.  It all just came off wrong to me and as that issue ended we found out that the Egyptian consulate took some protesters prisoner for some reason and when Doctor Fate went to go set them free, he came upon some ancient Egyptian ghosts........... Let's jump into this issue and see if Khalid can begin acting more like a hero that doesn't attack the police and find out why the Egyptian consulate is harboring ghosts.  Let's check it out.

Wonder Woman '77 Chapter #18 Review


To Serve Man


Written by: Trina Robbins
Art by: Cat Staggs, Laura Martin and Wes Abbott
Cover Price: $0.99
Release Date: March 17, 2016

I have loved this book since it started and while I can never understand DC's shuffling schedule for it, I hope others are enjoying it as well.  This chapter is a one-shot by Trina Robbins who was the first woman ever to draw Wonder Woman in a comic (1986's The Legend of Wonder Woman), so I was looking forward to this issue.  Now that I've read it, is it good?  Let's find out...


DC Entertainment Announces New Comic Mask Sets!

DC ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES NEW COMIC BOOK/MASK SETS AND NEW SNYDER/CAPULLO BATMAN BOX SET COMING THIS SUMMER!

As the 2016 Con season begins, its time for fans and cosplayers to get into character! What better way to show your pride then to rock the essentials of your favorite superhero or villain?

Just in time for the film premiere of Suicide Squad and Batman Day 2016, DC Entertainment has just announced two book/mask sets featuring Harley Quinn and Frank Miller’s Dark Knight and a new Batman box set featuring the work of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo!

Following the Batman: Court of Owls and Deathstroke book/mask sets, fans will have a chance to not only read some amazing and thrilling issues of their favorite dark guardian of Gotham and charmingly-psychotic villain, they can now put on their mask and create their own stories!