Welcome ladies and gentlemen to my latest ramblings. We’ve got a lot of news out of the TV world as both ABC and CW release information about their various shows. Plus we’ll have comic talk and some solicitations already. So let’s get started here on:
August 13th, 2016
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: We got some information out of ABC about who will be joining the show and what the show will involve:
- Director: Jason O’Mara will joining the Agents as their Director and from the sound of it, he’ll be in the field more than a director should be.
- Parminder Nagra: Ms. Nagra will be anti-Inhuman politician – so… Senator Kelly?
- The Arrow-verse: We got a lot of information out the CW over the last few weeks about what’s going on in their shows including:
- Calista Flockhart: Ms. Flockhart will return to Supergirl but as a recurring guest star instead of a regular.
- Katie McGrath: Ms. McGrath will be joining the cast of Supergirl as Lena Luthor.
- Susan Walters: Ms. Walters will be guest starring as Caitlin Snow’s mother.
- Sarah Grey: Ms. Grey is joining Legends of Tomorrow as Stargirl.
- Grey Damon: Mr. Damon will join The Flash’s Rogues Gallery as Mirror Master.
- Lance Henriksen: Mr. Henriksen will join Legends of Tomorrow as Obsidian.
- Dolph Lundgren: Mr. Lundgren will join Arrow flashbacks as Kovar.
- The Ray: A Grant Morrison inspired Ray show will be joining Vixen on the CW Seed.
- Kevin Smith: Mr. Smith will be directing the Flash and Supergirl.
- The Musical: Flash and Supergirl will be crossing over for a musical episode.
- Comic News: So good news and bad this month. We’ll start good, then go bad.
- Ghost Rider: Robbie Reyes will be returning in a new Ghost Rider series which I can’t wait for. I really enjoyed the original series.
- Civil War: On the other hand, Civil War has been delayed. Again. You think with events that are so important both DC and Marvel would get their acts together.
- JLA: And DC needs to make up it’s mine as they have canceled Mr. Hitch’s Justice League of America. Again.
- Bill Finger: Hulu will be bringing a documentary about Bill Finger to its Network as part of it’s Limelight series.
- Cage: This looks fantastic. I really don’t have any more to say except that I can’t wait for this.
- Tinkerer: Michael Cernus will be playing the Thinkerer in the upcoming Spiderman: Homecoming.
- Wild Cards: Mr. Martin’s Wild Card series is being brought to television. I’ve only ever tried reading it once and found that the first story so annoying that I stopped reading. Maybe I’ll try it again.
Book(s) of the Month
All-Star Batman #1 (DC)
By Scott Snyder with art by John Romita Jr., DeClan Shalvey, Danny Miki, Dean White, and Jordie Bellaire
This was a great book. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end. I love Two-Face as a villain and it has been a long while since we truly got to see him in all his glory. I’ll be interested to see what the “house” is that they want to go to – maybe it will make Two-Face two people? I also hope they explain why they actually have to travel when we know Batman has access to a transporter that can go anywhere. But it was a good ride – and here’s to hoping that it can avoid the curse that plagued the last book by this name.
Vision #10 (Marvel)
By Tom King with art by Gabriel Hernandez Walta and Jordie Bellaire
Man, I beat Marvel is kicking themselves for letting King go – once more I have to say this book is amazing. I can’t say much more than I have in the best, but this is a classic in the making. In a few years, this will be looked at in the same light as Marvels, Kingdom Come, and other classics. Tom King is an amazing writer and I can’t wait to see how this ends.
Books I want to discuss
Superwoman #1 (DC)
By Phil Jimenez with art by Matt Santorelli and Jeromy Cox
HERO
This was a very enjoyable issue. I thought the characterization with Lois and Lana was excellent. The surprise of Lana having Superman’s electric powers is a welcome surprise. The action is excellent and the flashback pacing is just enough to keep you interested without getting annoying. I have a lot of questions – first of which is who created a Bizarro of Superwoman? My only complaint about this issue is that Lex Luthor comes off looking incompetent in several spots. Given the excellent portrayal of Luthor as a hero over in Action, that’s kind of disappointing. But it’s a minor thing. Oh, and no, she’s not dead – calm the hell down.
Civil War II: The Accused #1
By Marc Guggenheim with art by Ramon Bachs, Garry Brown, and Ruth Redmond
VILLAIN
So this issue is a little weird. It’s well written and tells a good story, but because of the main story, we already have the outcome to the trial. There’s no suspense and the only drama is manufactured and resolved within ten pages. So I’m not really sure what the point to the issue was. The court room drama is interesting in a Law and Order type way, but it’s pointless. Overall this book is a waste of time and talent and didn’t resolve anything.
Just a quick word about these
Amazing Spider-Man #16 (Marvel): With what the Jackal’s offering, I’d be hard press to say no. The question is: is he actually saving their lives or making something completely different?
Animosity #1 (Animosity): Ok, that is creepy as hell. Though why do the birds all want to kill us?
Darth Vader #24 (Marvel): Man, this was a fantastic issue. It definitely shows that Vader has committed to his future and cut off ties with the past.
Justice League #2 (DC): This is getting better – which is good given it’s the flagship book.
Marvel Tsum Tsum #1 (Marvel): I’ve got no idea who thought this was a good idea, but good for Mr. Chabot for making not as bad as it could have been.
The Flintstones #2 (DC): I still have no idea whether I actually like this or not.
You should check these books out
Action Comics #961 (DC); Birthright #18 (DC); Bloodlines #5 (DC); Daredevil #10 (Marvel); Detective Comics #938 (DC); Deathstroke #1 (DC); Doctor Strange #10 (Marvel) The Flash #4 (DC); Ghostbusters International #7 (IDW); Green Lanterns #4 (DC); Harley Quinn #1 (DC); Jughead #8 (Archie); Kingpin #2 (Marvel); Klaus #7 (Boom!); Nightwing #2 (DC); Spider-Man 2099 #13 (Marvel); Spidey #9 (Marvel); Suicide Squad Rebirth #1 (DC); Superman #4 (DC); Vote Loki #3 (Marvel); Wonder Woman #4 (DC)
You can skip these
Batman #4 (DC); Black Panther #5 (Marvel); Daredevil Annual #01 (Marvel); Invincible Iron Man #12 (DC); New Super-Man #2 (DC);
Neither good or bad. Just kind of there.
Aquaman #4 (DC); Batman Beyond #15 (DC); Empress #5 (Marvel); Green Arrow #4 (DC); Hal Jordan and the Green Lanterns Corps #2 (DC); Harley Quinn and her Gang of Harleys #4 (DC); Moon Knight #5 (Marvel); Suicide Squad’s Most Wanted: El Diablo and Boomerang #1 (DC); Torchwood #1 (Titan)