Tag Archives: DC comics

‘Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles – Twisted’

July 28, 2015 the next Direct To Video DC Comics animated film debuts. This one is from Bruce Timm himself, producer of many of the best animated projects for Warner Bros and DC Comics from “Batman: The Animated Series” through today. Ahead of that animated film, Timm and Machinima are releasing three short episodes under the title “Justice League: Gods and Monsters Chronicles.” The first episode, “Twisted” is a Batman/Harley Quinn story, and it showcases the very different alternate universe of “Gods and Monsters.” It’s dark, and as the title tells us, twisted. Twisted enough that I won’t be sharing it with my sons. But hey, you’re not my sons. So here’s the six minute episode:

 

 

So that’s it. Along with Batman’s apparent vampirism, we have a Superman who’s the son of General Zod instead of Jor-El, and a Wonder Woman who’s a New God from Apokolips or New Genesis, instead of Themyscira. There will be two other mini episodes exploring this alternate universe before the DTV release in July, and a “second season” of episodes is already in production. 

 

Do you want to see more of this universe? Do we trust Bruce Timm’s instincts enough to follow him on this journey? Is “Twisted” too dark a direction for this Justice League to pursue?  

 

In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the trailer for the whole movie: a bit lighter than the episode above. Then again, what isn’t?

 

 

“Evil has a new playground?” that’s the tagline? Ugh. 

‘LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom!’ Announced

“LEGO DC Comics Super Heroes – Justice League: Attack of the Legion of Doom!” will be a new direct to video movie released on August 25th. The last several direct to video movies have built up the Justice League, now Lex Luthor is gathering villains to form the Legion of Doom. From the press release:

 

Crime is on the run as the newly formed Justice League keeps Metropolis safe and this makes evil genius Lex Luthor very unhappy. Together with Black Manta, Sinestro and a gang of ruthless recruits, Lex builds his own league and declares them the Legion of Doom. With this super powered team of terror and a plan to attack the top-secret government site, Area 52, can Lex finally be on the verge of victory? Sound the alarm and get ready for the bricks to fly when Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the Justice League face off against the world’s greatest Super-Villains! It’s the next all-new original movie from LEGO® and DC Comics!

 

Attack of the Legion of Doom cover

 

…now that I look at it, it looks more like the Justice League is attacking the Legion of Doom. Poor Lex Luthor. Poor Gorilla Grodd. 

 

Like most of the LEGO direct to video releases, the DVD/blu-ray versions will include an exclusive minifigure; this time the Trickster, a member of the Flash’s rogues gallery. He’s the character played by Mark Hamill on both the 1990 “The Flash” and the current series, and he’s voicing the Trickster in this feature as well. This makes him one of only a few actors to have been immortalized as three different characters as a LEGO minifigure — Luke Skywalker, the Joker, and Trickster. Other members include Chris Pratt and Alfred Molina. But I digress. 

 

Exclusive Trickster Minifigure

 

These little LEGO movies are consistently funny, with enough adventure for true superheroics, but safer for kids than DC’s standard direct to video fare. With no version of the Justice League on tv in animation, or in the theaters, this is the way to get your fix. And a keen Trickster minifigure. 

 

 

That’s the trailer — see you on August 25th! 

 

The LEGO Justice League

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

Straight from PREVIEWSworld itself is the list of new releases of comic books and comic related merchandise you can expect in shops this Wednesday. Anyone interested in what was in shops last week can find that list here.

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

PREMIER PUBLISHERS

DARK HORSE COMICS

JAN150089   –   ANGEL & FAITH SEASON 10 TP VOL 02 LOST AND FOUND   –   $18.99
JAN150129   –   APOCALYPTIGIRL AN ARIA FOR THE END TIMES TP   –   $9.99
MAR150033   –   ARCHIE VS PREDATOR #2 PARENT MAIN CVR   –   $3.99
MAR150081   –   BPRD HELL ON EARTH #131   –   $3.50
JAN150100   –   BPRD PLAGUE OF FROGS TP VOL 04   –   $24.99
MAR150094   –   BTVS SEASON 10 #15 MORRIS MAIN CVR   –   $3.50
MAR150029   –   DARK HORSE PRESENTS 2014 #10   –   $4.99
MAR150025   –   EI8HT #4   –   $3.50
FEB150075   –   GOON ONCE UPON A HARD TIME #3   –   $3.50
JAN150130   –   GRENDEL VS SHADOW HC   –   $19.99
MAR150037   –   GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #5   –   $3.99
MAR150019   –   MIND MGMT #33   –   $3.99
MAR150032   –   RESIDENT ALIEN SAM HAIN MYSTERY #1   –   $3.99
MAR150026   –   SHAPER #3   –   $3.99
MAR150087   –   STRAIN NIGHT ETERNAL #9 (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR150038   –   USAGI YOJIMBO #145   –   $3.50
OCT140122   –   WORLD OF THE WITCHER HC   –   $39.99

DC COMICS

JAN150366   –   BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS HC VOL 06 ICARUS (N52)   –   $24.99
FEB150249   –   BATMAN DETECTIVE COMICS TP VOL 05 GOTHTOPIA (N52)   –   $16.99
MAR150163   –   CONVERGENCE #7   –   $3.99
MAR150211   –   CONVERGENCE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN #2   –   $3.99
MAR150213   –   CONVERGENCE BATMAN & THE OUTSIDERS #2   –   $3.99
MAR150215   –   CONVERGENCE FLASH #2   –   $3.99
MAR150217   –   CONVERGENCE GREEN LANTERN CORPS #2   –   $3.99
MAR150219   –   CONVERGENCE HAWKMAN #2   –   $3.99
MAR150221   –   CONVERGENCE JUSTICE LEAGUE AMERICA #2   –   $3.99
MAR150223   –   CONVERGENCE NEW TEEN TITANS #2   –   $3.99
MAR150225   –   CONVERGENCE SUPERBOY & THE LEGION #2   –   $3.99
MAR150227   –   CONVERGENCE SWAMP THING #2   –   $3.99
MAR150229   –   CONVERGENCE WONDER WOMAN #2   –   $3.99
FEB150282   –   EX MACHINA TP BOOK 05 (MR)   –   $19.99
JAN150402   –   FBP FEDERAL BUREAU OF PHYSICS TP VOL 03 STANDING (MR)   –   $14.99
MAR150261   –   INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #11   –   $3.99
FEB150260   –   JLA TP VOL 07   –   $24.99
MAR150310   –   KITCHEN #7 (MR)   –   $2.99
MAR150293   –   MAD MAX FURY ROAD NUX & IMMORTAL JOE #1 (MR)   –   $4.99
MAR150263   –   SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #10   –   $3.99
FEB150288   –   UNWRITTEN TP VOL 11 (MR)   –   $16.99

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

NOV140347   –   DC COMICS SUPERMAN & BATMAN BOOKENDS   –   $299.95

IDW PUBLISHING

MAR150369   –   ANGRY BIRDS #11   –   $3.99
MAR150340   –   DIRK GENTLYS HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY #1   –   $3.99
MAR150341   –   DIRK GENTLYS HOLISTIC DETECTIVE AGENCY #1 SUBCRIPTION   –   $3.99
MAR150347   –   DONALD DUCK #1   –   $3.99
MAR150451   –   DRONES #2   –   $3.99
MAR150416   –   EMPIRE UPRISING #2   –   $3.99
MAR150465   –   INDESTRUCTIBLE TP VOL 02 FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT   –   $19.99
MAR150414   –   INSUFFERABLE #1   –   $3.99
MAR150354   –   JEM & THE HOLOGRAMS #3   –   $3.99
AUG140500   –   KILL SHAKESPEARE BACKSTAGE ED OVERSIZED HC VOL 01   –   $49.99
DEC140577   –   LOCKE & KEY MASTER EDITION HC VOL 01   –   $49.99
MAR140356   –   MAXX MAXXIMIZED LTD ED HC VOL 01   –   $125.00
MAR150357   –   MY LITTLE PONY FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #30   –   $3.99
MAR150372   –   POPEYE CLASSICS ONGOING #34   –   $3.99
MAR150379   –   SKYLANDERS #9 RTN OF DRAGON KING   –   $3.99
JUL140377   –   TMNT SECRET HISTORY OF THE FOOT CLAN DLX WORKPRINT ED   –   $75.00
MAR150381   –   TRANSFORMERS #41 COMBINER WARS   –   $3.99
MAR150390   –   TRANSFORMERS TREASURY ED   –   $9.99
MAR150443   –   WEIRD LOVE #7   –   $3.99
MAR150453   –   WINTERWORLD FROZEN FLEET #1   –   $3.99
MAR150405   –   X-FILES SEASON 10 #24   –   $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

JAN150684   –   FADE OUT #6 (MR)   –   $3.50
MAR150564   –   GHOSTED #20 (MR)   –   $2.99
MAR150535   –   GRAVEYARD SHIFT TP   –   $14.99
MAR150538   –   INTERSECT TP VOL 01 METAMORPH (MR)   –   $14.99
MAR150571   –   KAPTARA #2   –   $3.50
MAR150582   –   ODDLY NORMAL #7 CVR A FRAMPTON   –   $2.99
MAR150583   –   ODDLY NORMAL #7 CVR B ROOS   –   $2.99
MAR150591   –   SATELLITE SAM #14 (MR)   –   $3.50
MAR150593   –   SECRET IDENTITIES #4   –   $3.50
MAR150597   –   SHUTTER #12 (MR)   –   $3.99
FEB150643   –   SPARKS NEVADA MARSHAL ON MARS #3   –   $3.50
FEB150635   –   SPAWN #252 (MR)   –   $2.99
FEB150637   –   STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #4 (MR)   –   $3.50
MAR150544   –   STRAY BULLETS TP VOL 02 SOMEWHERE OUT WEST (MR)   –   $19.99
MAR150609   –   TITHE #2 CVR A EKEDAL   –   $3.99
MAR150610   –   TITHE #2 CVR B EKEDAL   –   $3.99
MAR150512   –   TREES #9 (MR)   –   $2.99
MAR150484   –   VALHALLA MAD #1 CVR A MAYBURY   –   $3.50
MAR150485   –   VALHALLA MAD #1 CVR B PITARRA   –   $3.50

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

JAN150661   –   VELVET TP VOL 02 THE SECRET LIVES OF DEAD MEN (MR)   –   $14.99
FEB150581   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK LG MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150586   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK LG WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150580   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK MED MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150585   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK MED WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150579   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK SM MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150584   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK SM WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150582   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK XL MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150587   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK XL WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150583   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER BLACK XXL MEN T/S   –   $22.99
FEB150572   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE LG MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150577   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE LG WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150571   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE MED MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150576   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE MED WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150570   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE SM MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150575   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE SM WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150573   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE XL MEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150578   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE XL WOMEN T/S   –   $19.99
FEB150574   –   WICKED & DIVINE LUCIFER WHITE XXL MEN T/S   –   $22.99
JAN150724   –   WYTCHES #6 (MR)   –   $3.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

JAN152237   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 AF   –   PI
JAN152240   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 ANTHONY RIZZO AF   –   PI
JAN152243   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 GIANCARLO STANTON AF   –   PI
JAN152241   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 JOSE ABREU AF   –   PI
JAN152238   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 MIKE TROUT AF   –   PI
JAN152242   –   TMP MLB SERIES 33 ROBINSON CANO AF   –   PI

MARVEL COMICS

MAR150665   –   A-FORCE #1 SWA   –   $3.99
FEB150869   –   ALL NEW GHOST RIDER TP VOL 02 LEGEND   –   $19.99
MAR150697   –   AVENGERS WORLD #21   –   $3.99
FEB150859   –   AXIS REVOLUTIONS TP   –   $12.99
FEB150872   –   CIVIL WAR TP MS MARVEL   –   $19.99
FEB150782   –   DAREDEVIL #15.1   –   $4.99
MAR158003   –   DARTH VADER #4 GRANOV 2ND PTG VAR   –   $3.99
MAR150644   –   DEADPOOLS SECRET SECRET WARS #1 SWA   –   $4.99
MAR150736   –   DEATHLOK #8   –   $3.99
FEB150863   –   FANTASTIC FOUR EPIC COLLECTION: STRANGE DAYS TP   –   $34.99
MAR150742   –   GUARDIANS OF GALAXY #27   –   $3.99
MAR150625   –   LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #14 SWA   –   $3.99
MAR150636   –   MASTER OF KUNG FU #1 SWA   –   $3.99
MAR158004   –   MAX RIDE FIRST FLIGHT #1 HANS 2ND PTG VAR   –   $3.99
MAR150759   –   MOON KNIGHT #15   –   $3.99
MAR150672   –   PLANET HULK #1 SWA   –   $4.99
DEC140942   –   POWERS #3 (MR)   –   $3.99
FEB150871   –   SECRET WARRIORS COMPLETE COLLECTION TP VOL 01   –   $34.99
MAR150640   –   SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #1 ACTION FIGURE SWA   –   $3.99
MAR150638   –   SECRET WARS BATTLEWORLD #1 SWA   –   $3.99
MAR150676   –   SPIDER-VERSE #1 SWA   –   $4.99

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

MAR150683   –   STAR WARS #5   –   $3.99
MAR150632   –   ULTIMATE END #1 SWA   –   $3.99
FEB150851   –   UNCANNY AVENGERS TP VOL 04 AVENGE EARTH   –   $19.99
FEB150819   –   UNCANNY X-MEN #34   –   $3.99
FEB150865   –   UNCANNY X-MEN TP VOL 04 VS SHIELD   –   $24.99
MAR150776   –   WOLVERINES #19   –   $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

MAR151666   –   A CERTAIN MAGICAL INDEX GN VOL 01   –   $13.00
MAR151511   –   AAMA GN VOL 03 DESERT OF MIRRORS (MR)   –   $19.95
MAR151027   –   ACCELERATORS MOMENTUM #1 (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR150833   –   ADVENTURES OF AERO GIRL #1 MAIN CVR   –   $3.99
FEB151588   –   ALICE I/T COUNTRY OF CLOVER TWIN LOVERS GN (MR)   –   $13.99
MAR151667   –   ANI IMO GN VOL 03 (MR)   –   $13.00
FEB151577   –   AQUILA #2   –   $3.99
MAR150915   –   ARCHIE COMICS SPECTACULAR ROCK ON TP   –   $5.99
FEB151586   –   ART MASTERS SERIES GN VOL 02 PABLO   –   $27.50
FEB151262   –   BAD KARMA HC VOL 01   –   $34.99
JUN141120   –   BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #5 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR   –   $3.99
JUN141118   –   BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #5 FRISON CVR   –   $3.99
MAR152621   –   BLOCK CITY INCREDIBLE MINECRAFT WORLDS   –   $22.50
MAR151669   –   BLOOD LAD OMNIBUS GN VOL 06   –   $20.00
MAR151575   –   BLOODSHOT REBORN #2 CVR A SUAYAN (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151576   –   BLOODSHOT REBORN #2 CVR B JOHNSON (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151577   –   BLOODSHOT REBORN #2 CVR C ALLEN (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151578   –   BLOODSHOT REBORN #2 CVR D 25TH ANN SANDOVAL (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151670   –   BTOOOM GN VOL 10 (MR)   –   $14.00
FEB151601   –   CAPTAIN STONE #6 (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151389   –   CARPE NOCTEM #1 (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151711   –   CHARMED SEASON 10 #8 A CVR CUOMO (MR)   –   $3.99
APR151608   –   CHIRO GN VOL 01 STAR PROJECT   –   $11.99
MAR151367   –   CHRONICLES OF CLAUDETTE GN VOL 02 DRAGONS BEWARE   –   $14.99
MAR151282   –   CIVIL WAR ADVENTURE GN VOL 01   –   $9.95
MAR151033   –   CLIVE BARKERS NIGHTBREED TP VOL 01 (MR)   –   $14.99
APR151435   –   DF SPIDER-GWEN #2 DF EXC OPENA CVR   –   $10.00
APR151436   –   DF SPIDER-GWEN #2 DF EXC OPENA CVR PLUS ONE   –   $29.99
SEP141405   –   DF SPIDER-WOMAN #1 LAND SGN   –   PI
MAR151217   –   DJANGO ZORRO #7 CVR A LEE MAIN   –   $5.99
NOV141637   –   DOCTOR WHO 10TH #10 REG WILLIAMSON   –   $3.99
NOV141638   –   DOCTOR WHO 10TH #10 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO   –   $3.99
FEB151609   –   DOCTOR WHO 11TH #12 REG FRASER   –   $3.99
FEB151610   –   DOCTOR WHO 11TH #12 SUBSCRIPTION PHOTO   –   $3.99
MAR151663   –   DREAM FOSSIL COMP STORIES SATOSHI KON GN   –   $24.95
MAR151671   –   EMMA HC GN VOL 01   –   $35.00
JAN151620   –   EVIL INC ANNUAL REPORT TP VOL 05   –   $19.95
JAN151621   –   EVIL INC ANNUAL REPORT TP VOL 06   –   $19.95
AUG141671   –   EVIL WITHIN HC (MR)   –   $19.99
MAR150948   –   FATHOM KIANI VOL 4 #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR A   –   $3.99
MAR150949   –   FATHOM KIANI VOL 4 #4 DIRECT MARKET CVR B   –   $3.99
MAR151648   –   GANGSTA GN VOL 06 (MR)   –   $12.99
MAR151701   –   GFT LITTLE MERMAID #4 A CVR KROME (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151702   –   GFT LITTLE MERMAID #4 B CVR PANTALENA (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151703   –   GFT LITTLE MERMAID #4 C CVR CAFARO (MR)   –   $3.99
APR151609   –   GIVE TO THE HEART GN VOL 03 (MR)   –   $11.99
JAN150977   –   GOLD DIGGER #221   –   $3.99
MAR151672   –   GOONG GN VOL 18 ROYAL PALACE   –   $25.00
FEB151585   –   HENCHMEN I HENCHBOT #4   –   $3.50
MAR151510   –   HENCHMEN I HENCHBOT #5   –   $3.50
MAR151067   –   HEXED #10   –   $3.99
MAR151674   –   HIGH SCHOOL DXD GN VOL 05 (MR)   –   $13.00
MAR151675   –   IM NOT POPULAR GN VOL 07   –   $13.00
MAR151676   –   IS IT WRONG TRY PICK UP GIRLS IN DUNGEON GN VOL 01   –   $13.00
MAR151232   –   JUNGLE GIRL SEASON 3 #2 CHO MAIN   –   $3.99
MAR151443   –   KAIJUMAX #2   –   $3.99
MAR151015   –   LADY MECHANIKA TABLET OF DESTINIES #2 MAIN CVRS (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151155   –   LARGO WINCH GN VOL 15 CROSSING PATHS   –   $11.95
MAR151276   –   LEGENDERRY GREEN HORNET #4 RARE DAVILA VIRGIN   –   $50.00
MAR151204   –   LEGENDERRY VAMPIRELLA #4   –   $3.99
MAR151450   –   LETTER 44 #16   –   $3.99
MAR151081   –   LUMBERJANES #14   –   $3.99
MAR151279   –   MASKS 2 #2 RARE GUICE VIRGIN   –   $50.00
MAR150920   –   MEGA MAN #49 REG CVR   –   $3.99
FEB151615   –   MONO V2 #2 PACIFIC   –   $3.99
MAR151266   –   NEW VAMPIRELLA #12 CVR A MAYHEW MAIN   –   $3.99
MAR151597   –   NINJAK #3 CVR A LAROSA (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151598   –   NINJAK #3 CVR B JOHNSON (NEXT)   –   $3.99
MAR151035   –   OH KILLSTRIKE #1   –   $3.99
MAR151285   –   OPTIC NERVE #14 (MR)   –   $6.95
MAR151098   –   PEANUTS VOL 2 #28   –   $3.99
MAR150935   –   PSYCHO BONKERS #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR A   –   $3.99
MAR150936   –   PSYCHO BONKERS #1 DIRECT MARKET CVR B   –   $3.99
MAR151280   –   REANIMATOR #2 RARE FRANCAVILLA VIRGIN   –   $50.00
MAR151647   –   RESIDENT EVIL MARHAWA DESIRE GN VOL 04 (MR)   –   $12.99
MAR158203   –   SABRINA #2 2ND PTG (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151260   –   SHAFT #6 CVR A COWAN MAIN (MR)   –   $3.99

New Comics Releases For May 20, 2015

MAR151031   –   SIMPSONS SUMMER SHINDIG #9   –   $4.99
DEC141459   –   SOLITARY #3 (MR)   –   $3.99
MAR151056   –   SONS OF ANARCHY #21 (MR)   –   $3.99
APR151610   –   SWEET BLOOD GN VOL 01   –   $11.99
MAR151677   –   SWORD ART ONLINE GIRLS OPS GN VOL 01   –   $13.00
MAR151182   –   SWORDS OF SORROW VAMPIRELLA JENNIFER BLOOD #1   –   $3.99
MAR151649   –   TERRA FORMARS GN VOL 06 (MR)   –   $12.99
MAR151678   –   TRINITY SEVEN GN VOL 01 (MR)   –   $13.00
MAR151679   –   UBEL BLATT GN VOL 02 (MR)   –   $20.00
MAR151051   –   UFOLOGY #2 MAIN CVR   –   $3.99
MAR151680   –   UMINEKO WHEN THEY CRY GN EP 5 VOL 01 END OF GOLDEN WITCH   –   $20.00
MAR151681   –   UNTIL DEATH DO US PART GN VOL 09   –   $25.00
MAR150919   –   WORLD OF ARCHIE COMICS DOUBLE DIGEST #50   –   $4.99
FEB151596   –   WORLD WAR BLUE GN VOL 08   –   $12.99
MAR150848   –   ZOMBIE TRAMP ONGOING #11 MAIN CVR (MR)   –   $3.99

MAGAZINES

FEB151575   –   2000 AD PACK APR 2015   –   $26.75
MAR151787   –   ACE MAGAZINE #3   –   $7.99
MAR151792   –   COMIC SHOP NEWS #1457   –   PI
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‘The Flash’ 1.22 “Rogue Air”

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.22 “Rogue Air” (9 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Wentworth Miller, Robbie Amell, Stephen Amell, Liam McIntyre, Paul Anthony, Anthony Carrigan, Doug Jones, Peyton List, Britne Oldford. First broadcast May 12, 2015.

 

Sometime it really hits the particle accelerator, you know? That’s what happens in “Rogue Air,” the kind of high stakes all-in episode that I’ve been hoping would end this first season of “The Flash.” This season has had Barry Allen find his share of allies in the S.T.A.R. Labs team, but also in other heroes, like Firestorm, Arrow, and Atom. When Reverse Flash finishes his adjustments to the particle accelerator and brings it back online, the S.T.A.R. Labs crew has less than a day to find something to do with the five criminals they’ve got locked up in the “pipeline”…or let them all die. With the other villains either escaped or set free or killed over the course of the season, it’s somewhat surprising that there are only five villains in the pipeline, but I like the ones that are there: Peekaboo, Deathbolt, Rainbow Raider, Weather Wizard, and the Mist. It’s enough to keep Barry busy. 

 

Peekaboo, Weather Wizard, Rainbow Raider, Deathbolt, Mist

 

This creates a crisis not just for Barry, but for Detective West. Always uneasy about the vigilante justice they’ve been handing out…but knowing that local prison Iron Heights wouldn’t be able to keep a metahuman on ice. What’s a cop to do? The need to do something else with the super criminals brings that uneasiness to a head. The solution Barry proposes is moving the five criminals to Lian Yu, the island where Oliver Queen has his own version of “Arkham Asylum” — a place to store super baddies. More a vault/prison than an asylum, but still. A lockup. But they’ve got to get the prisoners to the airport on the other side of Central City to get them to the island. Barry asks West to arrange a police escort…and West gives it a shot. He goes to the D.A. and tentatively, hypothetically brings the subject up…and she makes clear that he’d lose his job, his badge, and end up in Iron Heights himself. So…Plan B. 

 

It’s enough to keep Barry busy

 

Plan B is pretty damn crazy. Plan B should not be tried. Plan B shows us just how desparate Barry is to save the lives of five superpowered criminals who want him dead. Plan B…means asking Captain Cold for help. Remember, several episodes back, the Flash and Captain Cold struck a devil’s bargain of sorts. Cold stops killing, Flash lets him…have his fun. Morally problematic, and this scenario–asking the villain to help move a set of villains–just deepens that quagmire. 

 

Captain Cold

 

This episode got everything right. Against a darkening backdrop that has Reverse Flash proving to Flash and his allies just how powerful, just how ahead of the game he is, we have this other crisis boiling over. How much can one scarlet speedster take? I’ve loved every episode with Captain Cold–Wentworth Miller is chewing the scenery, but in a more sly, more clever way than we usually get from comic book villains. He’s developing into an antihero, and when he proves that no, duh, he can’t be trusted, it’s both delightful and disappointing. The interplay between Cold and his sister (finally getting her moniker “Golden Glider” from Cisco) and Team Flash is perfect. The amount of villainy afoot? Perfect. The final ten minutes of the episode? Perfect. Everything that this series is getting right, from the themes to the shared universe with “Arrow”…is on display here. They even threw in that they were at the Ferris Air hangar–a Green Lantern reference–and mentioned that “since that test pilot disappeared, it’s been empty.” So Hal Jordan is somewhere out there. Hells yes. 

 

Team Flash

 

I was surprised at how little Reverse Flash was in this episode, but his presence is always there, looming. With the particle accelerator charged up and ready to fire in time for the season finale–what’s going to happen? Another explosion of metahumans? Reverse Flash’s return to the distant future? More time travel? Next week is the final episode of this season, and I’m on the edge of my seat. Plus the couch. And a few ottomans. Barry Allen is at the breaking point–a perfect cliff to hang from. 

‘Arrow’ 3.22 “This Is Your Sword”

‘Arrow’ Episode 3.22 “This Is Your Sword” (8 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Paul Blackthorne. Guest Starring Katrina Law, Matt Nable, Colton Haynes, Rila Fukushima. First aired May 6, 2015. 

 

“It’s like super, super hard to get to Nanda Parbat, you guys. Let’s go there ten times this season.” That’s the thing that bugs me most about this storyline. And it shouldn’t, because there’s some cool stuff happening. “This Is Your Sword” starts out in Starling City, where Diggle and Black Canary are beating up on meth gangs. She uses the Canary Cry, which shatters windshields and eardrums, and is pretty much everything I wanted it to be. You may be wondering why she doesn’t use it later in the episode when dozens of League of Assassins…assassins are attacking them. That’s a good wonder to wonder. In any case, it worked well in Starling City, and Diggle, Black Canary, and Felicity are doing pretty okay at holding their own. 

 

Felicity heads back over to her day job, vice president of Palmer Technologies. Where her previous boyfriend/boss/third superhero she’s had a thing for has her sign some paperwork…without her reading that it’s a Transfer of Ownership. So yeah, she just became a billionaire, and didn’t realize it. It makes me wonder, with all the things I sign without reading, if I’m actually the owner of say, Apple or sumpin. I’ll look into that. 

 

Felicity just became a billionaire

 

Diggle’s still pissed at Oliver Queen for kidnapping his wife, leaving his infant daughter alone, and basically destroying what was left of their loyalty and friendship and bro-ness. So when Malcolm Merlyn shows up telling Team Arrow to “trust me this time you guys, really, let’s go to Nanda Parbat and save Oliver from Ra’s Al Ghul”…they’re pretty indifferent. And then Merlyn brings out Tatsu as a special witness to testify that Merlyn’s legit…but they don’t know who she is. Eventually they’re convinced to board a plane (again) and go to Nanda Parbat (again) to try and spring Ollie from Ra’s evil clutches. Part of me likes the Nanda Parbat thing–if nothing else, it gives Starling City and the SCPD a breather. I mean, it’s not Gotham. 

 

Team Arrow at Nanda Parbat

 

We get a pretty sweet battle as Diggle, Black Canary, Merlyn, Felicity, Atom (he flew over on his own, Iron Man-style) and the newly masked Katana take on the League of Assassins, this time in broad daylight. some good swordplay, lots of arrows, guns, and at least one iPad are in the melee. The key figure for me in this one was Katana, as she (Tatsu) and her former husband Maseo fight to the death. There’s some good heartbreaking dialogue here, and the actors both sell it. When Tatsu takes Maseo’s life with her katana, it’s the final piece to transforming her into the comic book character she’s based on. In the comics, the soul of her husband inhabits the sword–but “Arrow” makes Katana the one who wielded it. Brutal. And kind of poetic and lovely. I mean, when my wife offs me, I’m gonna haunt the shit out of her. Anyway. Loved seeing Katana in action. If she becomes a recurring character we see now and then in CW’s DC Universe, I’m down with it. 

 

Oliver (or Al Sah-him) and Ra’s Al Ghul are victorious, capturing the six heroes and bringing them into the palace dungeon in chains. This is only a slight distraction for the preparation for the wedding of Oliver and Nyssa Al Ghul, which will complete his ascension to become the Heir to the Demon. Oh yeah, and he has to destroy Starling City.

 

Team Arrow in chains in Ra's Al Ghul's dungeon

 

Do you feel like there’s a lot going on in this episode?  Because in addition to all that, you’ve got Thea heading to Bludhaven (I think that’s where it was) to visit the recently not-dead Roy Harper, and bring him his red Arsenal suit. They have some good talk and good lovin, and pretty much get to say their goodbyes, before he goes back to Abercrombie and Fitch or whatever. He also leaves her the Arsenal gear, saying “red was always more your color”…even though he’s pretty much worn a red hoodie every time we’ve ever seen him. But hey. She inherits the Speedy. We’ll see her sidekicking some ass soon. 

 

Oliver and Nyssa, ready to tie the knot

 

Even with all of…this going on, this episode came together better than most of the recent “Arrow” episodes. We don’t spend much time with Oliver at all, and it lets us catch up on some of the other stories. Even though characters like Black Canary and Atom are pretty much set dressing, the characters are still there for the fight, and won’t have to get caught up in expositions later. This episode finished putting the pieces in place for a finale that looks like it will need every minute to wrap up storylines and characters and probably leave some cliffhangers–a fitting way to end season three of “Arrow.”

 

‘The Flash’ 1.21 “Grodd Lives”

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.21 “Grodd Lives” (8 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Clancy Brown. First broadcast April 15, 2015.

 

With only two episodes to go in the first season of “The Flash,” they’re still steaming ahead, not leaving every reveal, every Big Moment for the finale. This episode, has two major plot points that are the culmination of season-long arcs, and could change the course of the series. 

 

The more important event is that Iris West has discovered Barry’s secret. The key came in last week’s episode, when Iris recognized a physical spark of electricity that the Flash gave off, the same that the comatose Barry gave off the year before. Iris hasn’t been my favorite character on this series. Most of the time, she’s the weakest part of any episode. But the writers/showrunners did some things right by her tonight.

 

Iris West

 

First, she’s the one who makes the connection. Too often the characters on a superhero series who don’t know the secret identity but are an intimate part of the superhero’s life come across as being blind, and often stupid. How could Iris be an investigative reporter, and not make the connection using that final piece of evidence? Happily, she did.

 

Second, Iris goes directly to Barry Allen in S.T.A.R. Labs(catching Barry, Caitlin and Cisco by suprise, even though the place has to be covered in security cameras). She confronts Barry, letting him know immediately that she knows, and she’s “disappointed” (much worse than angry), and betrayed. As she learns that her dad also kept her out of the loop, she confronts him as well. Other series would have let her know, but spent half a season with her sneaking around, playing dumb. I’m glad they gave Iris the ladyballs to confront the matter head-on.

 

“disappointed” is much worse than angry. 

 

Third, even though she feels betrayed, she joins the S.T.A.R. Labs team to help Barry locate her father and take on Gorilla Grodd. She didn’t run away and pout (not permanently at least), but she helped the team, and will probably become a regular part of Team Flash.

 

Fourth, she didn’t just fall into Barry’s arms, declare her undying love for him, and forget oh yeah, she has a fiance who’s in the captivity of Reverse Flash. Other, similar series have had the love interest do just that; here they kept Iris and Barry attracted, but apart, and feeling all the very real-seeming and complex emotions that this relationship would have. It’s taken them a season to get to this point, but it feels genuine, and I appreciate that. 

 

So much for Iris. Still not my favorite character, but all of those things have raised the bar, improving the character and making her…make sense. Well-done.  

 

Grodd holding Flash by the throat.

 

The other Big Event is the debut of Gorilla Grodd as a major adversary for Flash. Unlike Captain Cold, Heat Wave, Golden Glider, Weather Wizard…Grodd isn’t a “Rogue.” Like Reverse Flash, he has enough rage that he wants the Flash dead. He’s got an axe to grind against General Eiling (who he took captive earlier in the season, and has been mind controlling to wreak havoc on Central City), and calls Reverse Flash “father.” This is going to be a problem. Grodd’s not a dude in an ape suit, he’s a CGI character…but for the most part it works. He’s mostly in shadows in the sewers and tunnels beneath the city, but he’s still seen enough to be impressive–and frightening. The experiments Eiling had done on Grodd, plus the particle accelerator explosion have combined to give Grodd a super telepathy that can cripple anyone within range; the flashes of images and sounds we see when Grodd uses that superpower are disturbing. Which is great. 

 

Grodd is huge, more than a physical match for the Flash, and smart. Also, he hates bananas. Showing the entire team scared out of their minds is a good way to set him up as a supervillain; they’ve had so many villains-of-the-week who have been laughable, Grodd is one they know they can’t screw around with…and aren’t even sure what they’ll do with him if they can catch him. He’s handled better than I imagined, and having him be a mutated lab animal works better than his comic book incarnation, where one of a tribe of superintelligent apes from “Gorilla City” in Africa. It also gives him connections to Caitlin and S.T.A.R. Labs, although his vendetta aginst Flash in particular has yet to blossom. Getting hit by a train might help that along. 

 

Also, he hates bananas.

 

The episode came back around to Reverse Flash/Eobard Thawne having heart to heart conversations with Eddie Thawne in his secret hideout…I’m enjoying Wells-turned-Thawne as a villain more than I expected. Tom Cavanaugh is such a cuddly actor, and has been son nurturing on this series that I wasn’t sure I’d buy it. But he’s got menace, intelligence, and power. And he’s loving that he doesn’t need to hide between the Wells persona anymore. He assures his captive that Eddie is the Worst Thawne Ever, and “you don’t even get the girl.” All of this has to be festering within Eddie, and we’ll see where this takes that character, who up until now has been pretty forgettable himself. 

 

Eddie as Reverse Flash's captive

 

All in all, this was a solid episode, although not as tight as last week’s. It did tie up some loose ends, and put the players into position for their endgames for the season. Next week looks like an all-out hero and villain extravaganza, with Arrow and Firestorm coming to help the Flash with his little villain problem. 

WB and DC Entertainment Launch ‘Super Hero Girls’

Last week, Warner Bros and DC Entertainment made a Big Announcement

 

“A New Super Hero Universe Designed Just For Girls, Slated For Fall 2015” 

 

The press release has some interesting information about what shape that universe will take, and how girls will be able to take part (purchase, consume, etc.) in it:

 

Mattel to Launch Company’s First Action Figures for Girls

Unprecedented Initiative to Include Digital Content, TV Specials, Made-For-Videos, 
Publishing, Toys, Apparel and Other Products

Random House Children’s Books to be Master Publishing Partner
The LEGO Group to be Exclusive Construction Partner

 

Developed for girls aged 6-12, DC Super Hero Girls centers on the female Super Heroes and Super-Villains of the DC Comics universe during their formative years—prior to discovering their full super power potential. Featuring a completely new artistic style and aesthetic, DC Comics’ icons such as Wonder Woman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Harley Quinn, Bumble Bee, Poison Ivy, Katana and many more make their unprecedented teenaged introduction. Each character has her own storyline that explores what teen life is like as a Super Hero, including discovering her unique abilities, nurturing her remarkable powers and mastering the fundamentals of being a hero.  

 

“DC Entertainment is home to the most iconic and well-known Super Heroes including Wonder Woman, Supergirl and Batgirl,” said Diane Nelson, President of DC Entertainment. “DC Super Hero Girls represents the embodiment of our long-term strategy to harness the power of our diverse female characters.  I am so pleased that we are able to offer relatable and strong role models in a unique way, just for girls.”

 

They have also released a single poster-style image, with some of that “completely new artistic style and aesthetic.” It’s cute. I like the style, and if their target audience is 6-12 year olds, I think it’s keen. 

 

DC Super Hero Girls

 

So…why is it bugging me?  I’m a lifelong DC Comics fan, and I love the female heroes and villains and civilians of the DC Universe as much as I love the male heroes and villains. Along with the characters in that poster, I’d love to see Black Canary and Zatanna and Hawkgirl and Fire and Ice and Catwoman and Raven and Starfire and Donna Troy and Lois Lane and…well, everyone. I’m sure what we see above is just the beginning, and we’ll get more characters included in the different toy and clothing and made-for-home-viewing-media as we go.  

 

I’ve written before on how LEGO has tried to expand its reach to girls. They’ve done that on two fronts — having a completely separate “Friends” (and now Disney Princesses, and Elves) line intended for girls, but also increasing the representation of female characters in their traditional LEGO lineup. I would rather see WB and DC Entertainment try that approach…at least for part of their mission.

 

I’m not female, and I’m a father to two sons. I don’t have daughters. I’m not an expert on “how girls play” or anything. I am a schoolteacher, and I’m an observant human being. Based on my own experience, this is how I see this playing out:

 

This will sell. It will do well at least for a while. Superheroes are hot these days, and as far as I know, Marvel/Disney isn’t touching this market yet. They should be. It’s not just boys going to all of these superhero movies, not just boys watching “Agents of SHIELD” and “The Flash.” That stylized version of the superheroes and villains seems about on target for what’s selling these days. I see girls and girls’ parents getting on board with it. And that’s a good thing. Encouraging and empowering girls is a good thing, as it is for boys. 

 

I would rather (also?) see another front added to this campaign. Get Mattel to include female characters in their action figure line. Don’t just have LEGO create a new subset of “Super Hero Girls” that uses the LEGO Friends “minidolls,” but have them include more female heroes and villains as standard minifigures in their regular DC Super Heroes sets. Don’t just put out DVDs that have all-girl casts, but give women more representation in their mainstream media. 

 

They run the risk of thinking “well, we’ve done our part with Super Hero Girls,” and continuing to undercut women in their regular offerings. If I were say, a ten year old boy, I don’t know that I’m going to look at something branded exclusively towards girls, even though there are strong, positive characters who would enhance my action figure/LEGO/book readin’ experience. I only discovered all of those awesome heroines and villainesses because they were part of “team books.” Teen Titans, Justice League, those kind of things. Make sure you keep them on the team. And include them in the “stuff for the boys” alongside the 83,000 Batman action figures that clog every toy aisle. Hasbro pretty much craps all over Princess Leia and Padme Amidala and Hera and Sabine Wren every chance they get (worse, they ignore them completely) — don’t do the same thing to the women of the DC Universe. Keep the Super Hero Girls fighting the good fight, but don’t forget to invite them to the boy’s table too. 

Summer 2015 LEGO Sets

If you have a LEGO addiction like I do, you’re probably knee-deep in the Avengers: Age of Ultron sets right now. That Hulkbuster? The many Ultron drones? Maybe even Avengers Tower? They’re all beautiful and you should get them. That said, there’s more LEGOey goodness just around the corner. May 1st has “The Simpsons” Kwik-E Mart and Series 2 Minifigures, and later in the summer we’ll be seeing these superhero and Star Wars sets hitting the shelves:

 

LEGO Batboat

LEGO DC Super Heroes The Batboat Harbor Pursuit 

There’s another Batman sea vehicle still on store shelves, but it’s a submarine that comes with Aquaman and Black Manta. I like the twin-hulled design of this one, and it comes with the first Deathstroke/Slade Wilson minifigure LEGO has made. If you don’t already have a Batboat, this is a good buy, coming with both Batman and Robin, along with a pretty sweet villain. 

 

LEGO Jokerland

LEGO DC Super Heroes Jokerland

This is the kind of thing that would have been the centerpiece of my Christmas when I was a pup. I don’t know how many abandoned amusement parks there are in Gotham City, but it seems like they’re always around. This one has been rebranded as Jokerland, and has a Joker’s funhouse (with a slide into a vat of acid), Penguin’s Rubber Duck Ferris Wheel, Harley Quinn riding a motorcycle on a tightrope, Poison Ivy with a Venus Flytrap, and a big circus cannon. Oh yeah, and a pretty sweet Batmobile. Along with the villains, it comes with Batman, Robin, and the Teen Titans’ Beast Boy and Starfire. It’s kind of like the big Batcave sets that LEGO puts out every two years or so, but you know. Evil. Considering Cyborg is currently available in a Justice League set, the only one of the “big five” Teen Titans that hasn’t been made yet is Raven. I’d like to see her at some point. They’ll have to package her in with Batman like they do everyone else, but I’d still like her. Freaky little goth girl. 

 

LEGO Carnage SHIELD Attack

LEGO Marvel Super Heroes Carnage’s SHIELD Sky Attack

Most of the current Marvel LEGO sets are dedicated to the Avengers, although there are still some Guardians of the Galaxy sets out there. This is a token Spider-Man set, but it’s a pretty good one. We get our first Carnage minifigure, and another SHIELD agent (can never have too many) and an Ultimate Spider-Man variant. Considering this will be a pretty cheap set, not too shabby. 

 

LEGO Naboo Flash Speeder

LEGO Star Wars Flash Speeder

Fresh from “The Phantom Menace,” we’ve got a Naboo Flash Speeder, with Captains Panaka and Tarpals, a few battle droids and a Naboo Security Force dude. The speeder itself is a sleek design, and looks “swooshable” enough for kids or adults. 

 

LEGO Naboo Starfighter

LEGO Star Wars Naboo Starfighter

This is an “evergreen” vehicle that’s been available several times since 1999, and this isn’t one of the stronger models. But it’s been a while since it’s been available, so if you’re into the yellow and/or shiny, this is good. Comes with lil’ Anakin, a Naboo Pilot, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2-D2 and three battle droids. 

 

LEGO Final Duel

LEGO Star Wars Death Star Final Duel

This one Daddy like. An iconic setting for the final confrontation between Emperor Palpatine, Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader, this also throws in two of the Emperor’s Royal Guards. I love the stairs, the round windows, the beautifully shaped throne, and a “bottomless pit” to throw Emperor Palpatine down into. Ghostly scream and energy vortex not included. Seriously, this thing is beautiful, and I’ll be buying it. 

 

There’s plenty of other new LEGO coming this summer, including Ninjago, Friends, City, Technic, Elves, Creator, and Ultra Agents themes. I figure the Star Wars and superhero themes are of most interest to the Big Shiny Robot readers. 

 

‘Arrow’ 3.20 “The Fallen”

‘Arrow’ Episode 3.20 “The Fallen” (7 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Paul Blackthorne. Guest Starring Brandon Routh, Matt Nable. First aired April 22, 2015.

 

In the stinger at the end of last week’s “Arrow,” Thea got a sword through the chest. I guess the Queens have to do everything together. “Well, Oliver got stabbed and nearly died, I’ve gotta do it too…” All part of a ploy by the League of Assassins to get Oliver to become the next Ra’s Al Ghul, the only way to save Thea’s life is to get her to Nanda Parbat, where she’ll get dunked in the Lazarus Pit, to be revived, albeit it a pretty psychologically damaged way. And everyone’s going this time around. Oliver, Thea, Diggle, Malcolm, and even Felicity, who borrows Ray Palmer’s private jet in one last girlfriendy favor, even as they’re breaking up because she loves Ollie more than she loves him. It stings, it hurts, not just Ray, but me. I really liked the fun relationship that Ray and Felicity had. Knowing that Ray/Atom was going to be leaving Starling City for the Arrow/Flash spinoff series, I figured their relationship was doomed…but I liked them together. Wah. 

 

Ra's Al Ghul

 

Most of the episode takes place in Nanda Parbat, where the deal becomes clear — if Oliver agrees to become Al Sah-him (“The Arrow”) and Heir to the Demon, Ra’s will permit Thea to be revived. If he doesn’t…his sister dies. 

 

Of course, Oliver agrees to the deal, and by the end of the episode he’s all geared up in a new hoodie (because hoodies) and begins his training as the leader of the League of Assassins. 

 

Oliver as Al Sah-him

 

In nerdy debate, we’ve talked about the course that this could take. What I assume will happen is that this story line will collapse/resolve in the final four episodes of this season, with Oliver reclaiming his status as the hero of Starling City. What part of me hopes happens is that he’ll spend much of season four as Al Sah-him, shaping the League of Assassins to be more like a larger “Team Arrow,” training them to be vigilante heroes, not killers. There are hints that this could happen, with Maseo showing loyalty to Oliver over Ra’s Al Ghul, and Ra’s himself showing mercy to Maseo afterward. Could Oliver turn this into a force for good? 

 

Who’s the big bad for season four?

 

I’m also wondering who the Big Bad will be for Season Four. There hasn’t been much on the rumor front; by this point last year we already knew that Ra’s Al Ghul would be the main villain this season. We’ve seen Merlyn, Deathstroke, and Ra’s Al Ghul so far. Of these, Deathstroke was the clear favorite, but I don’t want to see him come back as a seasonlong villain. We’ve done that. Deathstroke was taken from the Titans rogues gallery, Ra’s from Batman…Green Arrow himself doesn’t have a big enough stable of villains to have someone strong enough to carry a season. I haven’t speculated much–more curiosity about who they’ll pull from the DC vaults to fight the Emerald Archer. 

 

There are some strong character moments in this episode. They come mostly in the form of one-on-one conversations between people we haven’t seen together before. Diggle and Maseo, talking about their friendship with Oliver, their personal losses, and how that motivates them. Felicity and (improbably, but I loved it) Ra’s Al Ghul, talking about what Oliver would be giving up as Al Sah-him. Both conversations are quiet, without over the top dialogue or acting, and they worked for each of the four characters involved. Well done. 

 

We also have the Hong Kong storyline, usually my least favorite part of each episode. I know it’s all supposed to give depth to Oliver’s character, but “The Flash” doesn’t use that gimmick, and I think it’s stronger and moves faster for it. This particular one moved at a faster pace, as Oliver, Maseo and Tatsu are trying to stop the Omega virus, but it’s released anyway in the final flashback of the episode. In Nanda Parbat, Maseo makes clear for for the first time that his son died; is this how it happened? I’m finally (a little) interested in what’s happening. Plus there was a pretty cool “Raiders of the Lost Ark”-inspired truck chase. And Tatsu got to use her katana! …I still have some hope we’ll see her as Katana eventually, whether on “Arrow” or the spin-off. 

 

It was steamy, it was a little gross.

 

The highlight of this episode for the Oliver/Felicity “Olicity” shippers was that the happy couple finally declared their undying-ish love for each other, and got it on. In a candlelit suite at Nanda Parbat. It was steamy, it was a little bit gross. As such things are. Part of me is happy for them? I guess? And part just sees it prolonging more episodes with teary Felicity, who has gone from being one of my favorite characters to somewhat wearisome. Please, don’t make her the Lana Lang of “Arrow.” Strengthen her, give her her spirit back. She can be a lover and a fighter. No more tears, man. That was Laurel’s thing, and I got tired of it. Felicity should be better than that. 

 

Felicity and Oliver

 

With only three episodes left in the season, it doesn’t look like this will end as strong as Season Two did, with an epic battle in the streets. And I’m okay with that. But knowing that the showrunners like to end big–what are they going to do? We don’t have a Deathstroke Army, we don’t have an Earthquake Generator. Could the League of Assassins be the Main Event? I guess we’ll find out. With no breaks between now and the season finale May 13, it’ll be here before we know it. 

‘The Flash’ 1.19 “Who Is Harrison Wells?”

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.19 “Who is Harrison Wells?” (8 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Kavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Brandon Routh, Katie Cassidy, Paul Blackthorne, Martin Novotny. First broadcast April 21, 2015.

 

As Barry Allen has brought more of his teammates into his circle of trust, every series regular except Iris West knows two important things: that Barry is the Flash, and that Harrison Wells is the Reverse Flash–the man who killed Barry’s mother. The thing they’re lacking at this point? Evidence. That’s the sticking point for Caitlin, who sees in Harrison Wells the man who helped her put her life back together, a mentor, an ally, a friend. And he is all of those things. So when the titular question goes unanswered for most of the episode, it’s mostly because she’s having the hardest time accepting the alleged truth.

 

Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin

 

To help answer the question, Detective Joe West and Cisco go on a road trip to Starling City. This affords a crossover of “Arrow” characters Quentin Lance and Laurel Lance. I love how much these two series are crossing over into each other, using characters where they make sense, broadening this reality, not limiting themselves to what they can explain in a forty minute episode. This crossover brings depth to both West and Lance, who share the cop dad/troubled daughter who they’re trying to protect thing. Even better, Cisco and Laurel’s interactions are pretty much everything I wanted. Cisco in complete fanboy boner heaven meeting Black Canary, and Laurel getting some technical help, up grading Canary’s sonic grenade things to a choker-mounted “Canary Cry” worthy of the name Black Canary. I’ve been waiting for that since we first knew a Canary was going to be on “Arrow;” knowing that Cisco is the one responsible for the tech and the “Canary Cry” name makes it all the better.

 

Cisco and Laurel

 

At home in Central City, a shapeshifting villain is on the loose. Hannibal Bates is able to take the form of anyone he touches, which makes him a slippery fella to get into custody. He’s been committing robberies, then getting caught on surveillance camera. It gives the mimicked dupe a hard time proving their alibi. That comes closer to home, when he takes Eddie Thawne’s appearance and shoots two Central City police officers. This puts (real) Eddie in police custody, and it’s up to the Flash and Caitlin to get him back out. 

 

There are some good discussions of justice and law and order and chunk-chunk, and we get a little more with Captain Singh and the Central City DA, who I actually both like. They seem competent and good, which is nice, because I assume if we’re going to get Henry “Geezer Flash” Allen out of the slammer, it’ll have to involve that DA somehow. 

 

The shapeshifter also provides some nice moments; a total cop-out way for us to see an out of character Barry Allen (because it’s not really him!) getting all dirty flirty with Caitlin, some actual police work from Eddie and Barry, and a final battle between Barry and Hannibal Bates that has Bates changing faces to each of his previous facades, so you have Iris fighting Barry, and eventually Barry fighting Barry. As villains-of-the-week go, he’s fun. 

 

Hannibal Bates

 

As a complete aside, as techy sidekicks go, I freaking love Caitlin Snow and Cisco Ramon. I like the actors playing the characters, but I love what the writers and producers have brought to them. When they announced the names, and they’re both alter egos for the villain Killer Frost and the hero Vibe respectively, I thought I’d be biding my time, waiting for them to take on their villainous and heroic mantles. But no. I love the characters as they are. They’re well thought-out, and screen time with them isn’t just me waiting to see the Flash again. Whether they become their Killer Frost/Vibe versions in season two or four or never, I’m fine with them the way they are. When/if Caitlin ever tips over the edge into super villainy, it’ll be heartbreaking. Which is exactly what it should be. Um….that’s all. I like her. And Cisco. Great characters I never thought I’d like. Well done, Flash tv-people. 

 

Barry, Joe, Caitlin, and Cisco with Harrison Wells' remains

 

So does the team ever answer the question? Who is Harrison Wells? In the final minutes of the episode, they do. Sort of. They find the evidence they need to convince Caitlin that “Harrison Wells” died on a road outside Starling City, and that their Harrison Wells is somehow from the future, with his Reverse Flash-cave hidden within the walls of S.T.A.R. Labs ever since. Things are building towards an epic confrontation; with four episodes left in this first season, things will happen fast.