The first image of Jared Leto’s take on The Joker released and predictably the response was somewhere between “I hate it” and, “It’s total Dog Scat.” I for one don’t understand the vitriolic fanboy/fangirl reaction to anything that isn’t the idealized image of characters from a fondly remembered past that only exists for a few storylines or a single animated series.

I’ll let the movie, the director, the cinematographer, the writer, the crew and the actor tell the story they want to and judge the character at that time. From what little we have though – a single image – I’m fairly excited. This Joker is something new, something I haven’t seen before. The first thing I like is that “Damaged” tattoo on his forehead. Have you ever met anyone who had a face tattoo that wasn’t at least a little off?

Leto’s Joker looks frantic and frenetic, modern and a bit classic. He looks like a gangster and an sociopath who is quite psychotic but maybe altogether sane in the fact that the image he’s going for is shocking. Maybe this Joker knows exactly the effect he wants to have on people, just like Batman with his effect on criminals.

The Internet’s reaction to Heath Ledger’s attempt at Joker was full of hate until those fans actually saw the actor’s performance. Fast forward 7 months and those same fans were crying foul that there would be a backlash if Ledger’s performance didn’t get the Oscar recognition it deserved.

After every great on screen or on the page Joker we’ve witnessed a reimagining of the character that’s gone on to become someone’s favorite. What each of those has in common with the screen ties directly back to Cesar Romero. No one wanted to follow a beloved rendition only to fall flat to the public’s disdain and hatred for a performance. Every actor who has taken on the role has done his best to pull genius from the creative aether and win over a doubtful audience. Like Ledger before him, I trust Leto will rise to the moment.

From the small glance behind the curtain we’ve been given, I have even more faith in the Academy Award winning actor’s ability. For any of those doubters and haters out there I’d like to leave you with the wise words of a Jedi who said about getting his role as The Joker in “Batman The Animated Series”:

“I was experimenting with that laugh for Amadeus and I brought it to the Joker audition and it playe(d) really well. And I felt cocky when I left and thought “That’s the best Joker they are every going to hear – too bad they can’t hire me.” And then two weeks later when they called and said I got the job I immediately lost my confidence.

And then my friend told me you’re pretty brave. And I said why is that? And he said I wouldn’t want to follow Jack Nicholson on anything. And then I got even more scared. But fear is a great motivator.” ~ Mark Hamill from his AMA on Reddit

Image: David Ayer’s Twitter Account @davidayermovies

Mark Avo can usually be found behind a keyboard coding for databases or reviewing the latest in tech and comic books. He can also be found writing and inking comic books for Utah indie publisher Hoffmangler Studio. You can delight or even heckle him with your tweets @MarkAvo and he’ll be totally thrilled.

‘Arrow’ Episode 3.19 “Broken Arrow” (8 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes. Guest Starring Brandon Routh, Douglas Jones. First aired April 15, 2015.

For weeks now, the producers of “Arrow” have been teasing this arc of episodes, saying “this will change everything!” Stephen Amell said something like “it will be an entirely new show after this.” After watching last night’s episode “Broken Arrow,” I’m seeing that what they’re saying could well be true. 

With that in mind, this is a more spoiler-filled recap than usual for me. Because there’s stuff that will need to be discussed.

The previous episode ended with Oliver Queen in handcuffs and the Starling City PD’s paddywagon. Is that what those things are called? Am I like 120 years old? Um. Police van used to transport prisoners. Anyway. As they were taking him Downtown, like cops do, BOOM Arrow jumped onto the roof. Arrow? But Ollie’s in the van–who? It was Roy Harper, dressed as the Arrow.

Roy Harper confesses that he’s really the Arrow. Captain Lance knows he’s not, partially because he’s sure Oliver Queen is, and partially because he already knows Roy’s Arsenal. So he knows. But thanks to legal wrangling via his own daughter Laurel Lance, Captain Lance has to let Oliver go. But he doesn’t let it go. He warrants his way into the Arrowcave, he threatens all of Oliver’s remaining friends and family–and it takes his own superior threatening him to make him back down.

Meanwhile, Roy’s in the big house getting his ass kicked, and kicking some ass of his own. Seems that convicts don’t like superheroes (or their sidekicks) all that much. He gets beat up, he eventually gets stabbed…and dies. With everything else that Oliver Queen has lost, losing Roy was the last straw. He’s sure he needs to give up superheroing. He feels guilt that he can’t overcome.

Meanwhile, oh yeah, there’s an actual metahuman in Starling City. No longer confined to Central City, this dude Deathbolt is in town, and he can shoot lasers out of his eyes and kill people. Since the Arrow is supposedly in prison (and later, dead) Ray Palmer steps up in his improved A.T.O.M. suit, and offers to help. There are some good moments between Oliver and Ray here, and some complicated moments between Felicty and Oliver and Ray that are still unresolved by the end of the episode. Knowing that Ray Palmer/Atom is spinning off into the new…spinoff…I’m wondering if the romantic entanglements are part of what sets him off on hiw own path…I guess we’ll see. As with other recent episodes, the Villain of the Week isn’t as important as the other things going on. I like Doug Jones, he’s a freak, I’m hoping we see him again.

Plot twist: Roy isn’t actually dead, but it was a way to get the Arrow absolved of crimes through his “death,” and Felicity and Roy and Diggle were all in on it. They send Roy on his way out of town, maybe we’ll see him again as a Special Guest Star, but he’s not going to be a part of Team Arrow anymore. Which…comic book-wise is kind of fitting. The sidekicks grow up and leave the nest. Usually it takes more than a season to do that. But the cave was getting crowded.

…if the “Arrow” just died in prison, what does that mean for Ollie? He can’t take up the hood again…not the same hood, at least. The end of the episode brings us back to Ra’s Al Ghul, who launces a final attack on Oliver Queen. Earlier this year he stabbed Oliver through the chest–now he does the same to Thea. Will this lead them all to Nanda Parbat? Will we finally see a legit Lazarus Pit in action? Is this the bait that leads Oliver to become the next Ra’s Al Ghul? Find out next week! …or…probably, dragged out over the final five episodes of the season! We’ll be watching.

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.18 “All Star Team Up” (6 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Kavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Emily Bett Rickards, Brandon Routh, Amanda Pays, Emily Kinney. First broadcast April 14, 2015.

“Arrow” and “The Flash” are becoming so intertwined with plots and characters, it’s hard to watch one without the other. It’s like they’re sharing a universe or something. And I love it. So when Felicity Smoak and Ray Palmer/Atom drop in to Central City and S.T.A.R. Labs, it’s no big deal. And Felicity having told Ray the Flash’s secret identity? No big deal. For geeks who love seeing their heroes working together to fight evil? That’s a pretty big deal. 

Most of the “action” tonight happens without masks

Atom and Felicity are in Central City looking for help from the brains at S.T.A.R. Labs. Atom’s been having problems sustaining power in his A.T.O.M. (Advanced Technology mumble mumble they shouldn’t have made it an acronym) suit, and they’re hoping Cisco and Caitlin can help. They can, of course, and the interplay between the characters from the different series is great. You have Felicity’s brains teaming up nicely with the S.T.A.R. Labs nerds, and Atom giving a few superheroey assists to the Flash. But most of the “action” in tonight’s episode happens without the masks on. 

In an arc of the last several episodes, Barry Allen has come to suspect, and then know, that Harrison Wells is the one who killed his mother. And that Barry was present as an adult, as the Flash. That’s led him to understand time travel, to actually time travel, and distrust the man who has been his greatest mentor. He brought Detective Joe West in to help with his investigation, but has been trying to hide his (new) secret from Caitlin and Cisco. He tells Felicity, who encourages him to spread the load with Caitlin and Cisco, telling Barry that of all people, they could be trusted. And they know something’s not right anyway. Of course, if Wells/Reverse Flash realizes that they know, everyone becomes a target. He all ready killed Cisco in one timeline, what’s to stop him from doing it again?

Barry struggles with that on one level during the episode, and on another, watches Felicity (his almost-girlfriend from his first episodes on “Arrow” and who he still kinda has a thing for) in a happy, fulfilling relationship with Ray…and watches Iris and Eddie in a happy relationship that’s falling apart as Eddie keeps Barry’s secret from her. In fact, he watches it all firsthand, because they go on a triple date together. A triple date where he doesn’t have a date. The very definition of a fifth wheel. Been there, my friend. And it’s great. By which I mean it sucks. Eddie’s only known about Barry’s superpowers for one episode, but it’s already tearing him up; we’re watching the character unravel. Where he shares the “Thawne” name with Eobard-who-killed-original-Dr-Wells-and-stole-his-identity-and-is-now-Reverse-Flash-Thawne, I can’t help but wonder if there’s some nastiness ahead from Eddie. Fans who already knew the name have anticipated it for the entire season; it’ll be interesting to see what happens with him.

Will we be seeing Atom shrinkage soon?

Oh yeah, there’s like a supervillainy threat thing. A weak villain of the week. Villain of the weak? A mad scientist-type, Brie Larvan, wants revenge, and can control swarms of robotic bees who will sting you right to death. Investigating the first death, the team knows it’s bees, after the second death, they know it’s robotic bees (who sting the hell out of Barry and kill (temporarily) Cisco), and they figure out that Dr. Tina McGee of Mercury Labs is a likely target. I’m glad they’re using McGee as a recurring character; she was the S.T.A.R. Labs brains for the 1990 Flash series, and it’s nice to see her playing the same character again, in a slightly different scenario. (brain tangent…what if Harrison Wells is revealed as Reverse Flash, is incarcerated, and they need a new boss at S.T.A.R. Labs, and that boss will be Tina McGee ZOMG I just put it all together and I’m okay with it)(of course, they could maybe figure out who to separate Eobard Thawne and Harrison Wells, and they’ve done stranger things before, and I’d be okay with that too) Brie Larvan, who gets the unfortunate villain moniker “Bug-Eyed Bandit” from Cisco and Ray, becomes irrelevant and forgettable pretty quickly. But the miniaturized technology in her robotic bees moves Cisco and Ray forward in new technology for Atom. With this and the nanobots used to cure Ray a few weeks ago…will we be seeing Atom’s shrinkage soon? After watching Marvels new “Ant-Man” trailer yesterday, I think CW needs to get on that, and in this season. 

This was an okay episode, but it didn’t do much. There were several cute moments, because I like Felicity and Ray, and I like the S.T.A.R. Labs nerds. Seeing them all together was fun. But without a massive threat that would jeopardize the entire city, why have a team-up at all?  In any case, it was an episode where a lot of exposition could happen without sacrificing action…because there was no action to have. It was okay. 

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.

PREMIER PUBLISHERS

DARK HORSE COMICS

FEB150015 – ARCHIE VS PREDATOR #1 – $3.99
DEC140098 – ART OF HE MAN AND THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE HC – $39.99
DEC140126 – BANDETTE HC VOL 02 STEALERS KEEPERS – $14.99
FEB150060 – BPRD HELL ON EARTH #130 – $3.50
DEC140081 – BTVS SEASON 10 TP VOL 02 I WISH – $18.99
DEC140141 – CRIME DOES NOT PAY ARCHIVES HC VOL 09 – $49.99
FEB150032 – DARK HORSE PRESENTS 2014 #9 – $4.99
FEB150020 – EI8HT #3 – $3.50
OCT140163 – FRANK FRAZETTA DEATH DEALER PLAYING CARDS – $4.99
OCT140162 – FRANK FRAZETTA WARRIOR COASTER SET – $9.99
NOV140116 – GAME OF THRONES MAGNETIC BOOK MARK SET 2 – $6.99
DEC140183 – GAME OF THRONES STATUE BRIENNE OF TARTH – $225.00
FEB150048 – GROO FRIENDS AND FOES #4 – $3.99
DEC140110 – HALO ESCALATION TP VOL 02 – $19.99
DEC140167 – OREIMO KURONEKO TP VOL 01 – $10.99
DEC140128 – POLAR HC VOL 02 EYE FOR AN EYE – $17.99
DEC140096 – PROMETHEUS FIRE & STONE TP – $14.99
FEB150025 – SHAPER #2 – $3.99
FEB150094 – STRAIN NIGHT ETERNAL #8 (MR) – $3.99

DC COMICS

JAN150409 – 100 BULLETS TP BOOK 02 (MR) – $24.99
JAN150393 – AMERICAN VAMPIRE SECOND CYCLE #7 (MR) – $2.99
JAN150400 – ASTRO CITY DARK AGE TP VOL 01 BROTHERS & OTHER STRANGERS – $19.99
NOV140306 – BATMAN ADVENTURES MAD LOVE DELUXE ED HC – $24.99
FEB150142 – CONVERGENCE #2 – $3.99
FEB150174 – CONVERGENCE AQUAMAN #1 – $3.99
FEB150176 – CONVERGENCE BATMAN SHADOW OF THE BAT #1 – $3.99
FEB150178 – CONVERGENCE CATWOMAN #1 – $3.99
FEB150180 – CONVERGENCE GREEN ARROW #1 – $3.99
FEB150182 – CONVERGENCE GREEN LANTERN PARALLAX #1 – $3.99
FEB150184 – CONVERGENCE JUSTICE LEAGUE INTL #1 – $3.99
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FEB150188 – CONVERGENCE SUPERBOY #1 – $3.99
FEB150190 – CONVERGENCE SUPERGIRL MATRIX #1 – $3.99
FEB150192 – CONVERGENCE SUPERMAN MAN OF STEEL #1 – $3.99
JAN150376 – DEADSHOT BULLETPROOF TP – $14.99
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JAN150378 – EARTH 2 TP VOL 04 THE DARK AGE (N52) – $14.99
DEC140414 – FILTH DELUXE EDITION HC (MR) – $29.99
AUG140391 – FRANK MILLERS RONIN GALLERY ED HC – $195.00
FEB150245 – INFINITE CRISIS FIGHT FOR THE MULTIVERSE #10 – $3.99
JAN150374 – INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR 2 TP VOL 01 – $14.99
DEC140390 – INJUSTICE GODS AMONG US YEAR TWO HC VOL 02 – $22.99
FEB150284 – KITCHEN #6 (MR) – $2.99
FEB150247 – SENSATION COMICS FEATURING WONDER WOMAN #9 – $3.99
NOV140315 – SHAZAM A CELEBRATION OF 75 YEARS HC – $39.99
FEB150286 – STRANGE SPORTS STORIES #2 (MR) – $4.99
FEB150271 – TEEN TITANS GO #9 – $2.99
JAN150410 – TOP 10 TP – $24.99

DC COMICS/DC COLLECTIBLES

OCT140411 – ARROW TV ACTION FIGURE – $24.95
AUG140390 – DC COLLECTIBLES ACTION FIGURE BASES (BAG OF 20) – $9.95
OCT140415 – WONDER WOMAN ART OF WAR STATUE BY TONY DANIEL – $79.95

IDW PUBLISHING

FEB150468 – 7TH SWORD TP – $19.99
JAN150546 – ARMY OF DOCTOR MOREAU TP – $19.99
FEB150425 – D4VE #3 – $3.99
FEB150377 – GI JOE SNAKE EYES AGENT OF COBRA #4 – $3.99
FEB150435 – GODZILLA RULERS OF EARTH TP VOL 05 – $17.99
FEB150431 – JUDGE DREDD CLASSICS DARK JUDGES #4 – $3.99
FEB150455 – MICHAEL KALUTA SKETCHBOOK SERIES SC VOL 05 – $9.99
FEB150365 – MILLENNIUM #4 – $3.99
JAN150547 – MONSTER MOTORS CURSE OF MINIVAN HELSING #2 – $3.99
FEB150319 – MY LITTLE PONY FIENDSHIP IS MAGIC #3 SIRENS – $3.99
FEB150421 – OCTOBER FACTION #6 – $3.99
JAN150498 – POWERPUFF GIRLS CLASSICS TP VOL 05 BLESS THIS MESS – $19.99
FEB150367 – STAR TREK ONGOING #44 – $3.99
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FEB150395 – TRANSFORMERS #40 COMBINER WARS – $3.99
JAN150446 – TRANSFORMERS SPOTLIGHT OMNIBUS TP VOL 01 – $24.99
FEB150358 – X-FILES SEASON 10 #23 – $3.99

IMAGE COMICS

FEB150501 – 68 BAD SIGN ONE SHOT CVR A (MR) – $3.99
FEB150502 – 68 BAD SIGN ONE SHOT CVR B (MR) – $3.99
FEB150598 – CHRONONAUTS #2 (MR) – $3.50
FEB158100 – CHRONONAUTS #2 CVR B MURPHY (MR) – $3.50
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FEB150608 – GHOSTED #19 (MR) – $2.99
FEB150620 – ODDLY NORMAL #6 CVR A FRAMPTON – $2.99
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FEB158258 – POSTAL #1 2ND PTG – $3.99
FEB158259 – POSTAL #2 2ND PTG – $3.99
JAN150650 – PUNKS THE COMIC TP VOL 01 NUTPUNCHER – $14.99
JAN150701 – REVIVAL #29 (MR) – $3.99
FEB150626 – REYN #4 – $2.99
FEB150487 – RUNLOVEKILL #1 (MR) – $2.99
FEB150631 – SECRET IDENTITIES #3 – $3.50
FEB150632 – SHUTTER #11 (MR) – $3.50
JAN150596 – SPAWN #251 (MR) – $2.99
DEC140691 – SPREAD TP VOL 01 NO HOPE (MR) – $14.99
JAN150712 – STRAY BULLETS SUNSHINE & ROSES #3 (MR) – $3.50
FEB150544 – SUPERANNUATED MAN TP (MR) – $17.99
FEB150488 – TITHE #1 CVR A EKEDAL – $3.99
FEB150489 – TITHE #1 CVR B EKEDAL – $3.99

IMAGE COMICS/MCFARLANE TOYS

DEC142228 – WALKING DEAD TV BUILDING SET BMB SER 1 – PI
DEC142232 – WALKING DEAD TV BUILDING SET LEVEL 12 – PI
DEC142230 – WALKING DEAD TV BUILDING SET LEVEL 3 – PI
DEC142231 – WALKING DEAD TV BUILDING SET MULTI-PK – PI

MARVEL COMICS

JAN158268 – ALL NEW HAWKEYE #1 PEREZ 2ND PTG VAR – $3.99
FEB150695 – AVENGERS MILLENNIUM #3 – $3.99
FEB150771 – BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD #2 – $3.99
FEB150772 – BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD #2 CROSBY CONNECTING B – $3.99
FEB150815 – CAPTAIN AMERICA AND MIGHTY AVENGERS #7 – $3.99
JAN150907 – DEADPOOL CLASSIC COMPANION TP – $34.99
FEB150804 – DEATHLOK #7 – $3.99
JAN150901 – FANTASTIC FOUR TP VOL 03 BACK IN BLUE – $14.99
FEB150738 – LEGENDARY STAR LORD #11 BV – $3.99

FEB150814 – LOKI AGENT OF ASGARD #13 – $3.99
FEB150823 – MAGNETO #17 – $3.99
JAN150911 – MARVEL UNIVERSE ALL NEW AVENGERS ASSEMBLE DIGEST TP VOL 01 – $9.99
JAN150882 – MEN OF WRATH TP (MR) – $14.99
NOV140866 – MMW AVENGERS HC VOL 15 – $75.00
JAN150899 – MOON KNIGHT TP VOL 02 DEAD WILL RISE – $17.99
FEB150758 – MS MARVEL #14 – $2.99
FEB150753 – NOVA #29 – $3.99
JAN150903 – NOVA TP VOL 05 AXIS – $15.99
JAN150905 – SKRULLS MUST DIE TP COMPLETE SKRULL KILL KREW – $34.99
FEB150719 – SPIDER-MAN AND X-MEN #5 – $3.99
JAN158269 – SPIDER-WOMAN #5 RODRIGUEZ 2ND PTG VAR – $3.99
JAN158253 – STAR WARS #2 CASSADAY 3RD PTG VAR – $3.99
FEB150800 – SUPERIOR IRON MAN #7 – $3.99
FEB150784 – THOR #7 – $3.99
FEB150765 – TRUE BELIEVERS HOUSE OF M #1 – $1.00
FEB150766 – TRUE BELIEVERS OLD MAN LOGAN #1 – $1.00
JAN150864 – UNCANNY X-MEN #33 – $3.99
FEB150827 – WOLVERINES #14 – $3.99

COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

JAN151443 – ANGRY YOUTH COMIX HC (MR) – $49.99
JAN151569 – AQUILA #1 – $3.99
JAN150999 – ARCHIE JUMBO COMICS DIGEST #260 – $6.99
DEC141598 – ARES & APHRODITE GN – $19.99
APR141151 – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #3 EXC SUBSCRIPTION CVR – $3.99
APR141149 – BATTLESTAR GALACTICA SIX #3 FRISON CVR – $3.99
FEB151200 – BEE AND PUPPYCAT TP VOL 01 – $14.99
FEB150971 – BETTY & VERONICA #275 REG CVR – $4.99
FEB151641 – BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR A DOE (NEXT) – $3.99
FEB151642 – BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR B SUAYAN (NEXT) – $3.99
FEB151643 – BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR C JOHNSON (NEXT) – $3.99
FEB151644 – BLOODSHOT REBORN #1 CVR D LAROSA (NEXT) – $3.99
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DEC141447 – BOBS BURGERS #1 REYNOSO MIDTOWN COMICS EXC – $10.00
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NOV140935 – CAVEWOMAN ZOMBIE SITUATION #2 CVR B – PI
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JAN151044 – DARK GODS #5 (MR) – $3.99
JAN151047 – DARK GODS #5 DEITY CVR (MR) – $3.99
JAN151046 – DARK GODS #5 SIREN CVR (MR) – $3.99
JAN151045 – DARK GODS #5 WRAP CVR (MR) – $3.99
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‘Arrow’ Episode 3.18 “Public Enemy” (8 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes. Guest Starring Brandon Routh, Matt Nable, Charlotte Ross. Written by Marc Guggenheim & Wendy Mericle. First aired April 1, 2015.

Starling City’s mayor was killed at the end of last week’s episode, struck down by…an arrow. It was fired by Maseo, Oliver’s friend in flashbacks, and current lackey of Ra’s Al Ghul and the League of Assassins. Maseo let some other arrows fly, and in this episode we see where they land. Ray Palmer’s hit, Felicity, Laurel and Captain Lance are safe. Ray’s rushed to the hospital, where his life is saved, but it turns out he has an inoperable thrombus–a blood lot that’s basically a ticking time bomb. His only hope is his own invention — nanobots that can be injected into him that will target and shrink the clot, destroying it. The doctor’s not willing to do that, but by the end of the episode, Felicity has injected them right into Ray Palmer, saving his life. Are these shrinking nanobots the source of (eventually) the Atom’s shrinking superpowers? Time will tell. 

The bigger story is that the vigilante known as Arrow has been branded a public enemy, and Captain Lance issues a “dead or alive” warrant. There’s an extended chase scene that’s one of the better set pieces the show’s had for a while, with cops trying to round up Arrow, Arsenal, and Black Canary. Across rooftops, through alleys, down streets, eventually getting separated. Captain Lance ends up backed into a corner himself, abducted by Ra’s Al Ghul (brought to a mysterious building where evidently he’s brought all of his weird brazier torches from Nanda Parbat), and is told straight up that Arrow is in fact Oliver Queen. This has Lance redoubling his efforts, pursuing Oliver with a vengeance that combines his outrage at the murders in Starling City with the heartbreak over the loss of Sara (and Tommy Merlyn, and Moira Queen). What has been an abstract pursuit for the last few episodes comes into sharp focus.

This episode is a lot like “Batman: Year One,” or the end of “The Dark Knight,” where our costumed hero has become an enemy of the police department, so you have the good guys being pursued by other good guys. Arrow and his sidekicks can’t kill the cops, and don’t even want to hurt them — but being captured would compromise their mission. But hey, Roy and Thea are back together, so good for them. 

Team Arrow is in a can’t win situation; Laurel’s in trouble with her dad in and out of costume, Roy’s still torn up over killing a cop when he was poisoned by the mirakuru, Felicity’s caught up with Ray, Diggle’s acutely aware that each mission could take him away from his wife and daughter. What can they do? Ollie could flee to another city (and may, with some “The Flash” crossovers coming up), but that’s delaying the inevitable. Oliver asks his allies to follow up a bit longer, to see this play out, and then turns himself in to the cops. The episode ends with an ally who evidently has decided not to keep following Oliver, and who also claims to be the Arrow, in a kind of Spartacus moment. 

Team Arrow is in a can’t win situation.

“Arrow” continues to be a strong series, kind of The CW’s answer to Batman. It may not be the hero I expected, but it’s the hero I hope I deserved. “The Flash” is lighter, and (appropriately) faster-paced, but this is a solid show. I think we’re starting to see the end game for Season 3, and I like where things are headed. 

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.17 “Tricksters” (9 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Kavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Mark Hamill, Devon Graye. First broadcast March 31, 2015.

When “The Flash” gets things right, it gets them very right. Yesterday’s episode “Tricksters” got things right. A new villain, Axel Walker AKA the Trickster, parachutes dozens of adorably tiny bombs into Central City. These Jokey Smurf-style presents pack a punch, but the Flash is able to save everyone’s lives. Even that stupid kid who, after seeing all the other bombs go off, still reaches a pudgy finger up to touch a gift-wrapped explosive. I think losing a hand would’ve been just the thing to teach him a lesson. 

It turns out this isn’t Central City’s first Trickster; twenty years ago another one menaced the city. James Jesse killed citizens and cops in a prank-filled crime spree, and has been locked up in solitary confinement in Iron Heights ever since. When he hears about this new Trickster in town, he’s outraged, and finds his way out of Iron Heights, taking Barry’s dad Henry Allen as hostage. 

Mark Hamill’s performance as the Trickster was why I watched. I mean…I watch all of them, every week, no matter what. But watching him in this was a delight on every possible level. I’m old enough that I watched his original appearance as the Trickster on the 1990 Flash series, and at the time thought it was just…weird. I mean–this isn’t the Luke Skywalker I grew up with:

Now, with decades of Hamill’s Joker under his belt, and the way he was written for this particular story — he knocked it out of the park. Every park. Everywhere. The brooding inmate in solitary confinement, only talking after he got his Twizzlers; the growing menace as he realizes that there’s a new Trickster in town; the gleeful, unhinged abandon he shows when he’s able to be back in his bizarre environment as a performing villain…I loved every minute. I was enjoying the episode for what it was, but at the same time my primordial geekbrain was saying “THAT’S LUKE SKYWALKER. THAT’S WHAT HE’S LIKE NOW. BUT LISTEN HE’S ALSO THE BEST JOKER EVER. AND ALSO HE’S THE TRICKSTER. AND IN DECEMBER YOU’LL SEE HIM AS LUKE SKYWALKER AGAIN. ZOMG I LOVE HIM.” There was even a “Star Wars” shoutout between the Tricksters that was worth the (free, probably) price of admission. The writers did a great job with Hamill’s Trickster, and the showrunners are already talking about bringing him back. Yes the hell please. 

A Star Wars shoutout worth the price of admission

As with most “The Flash” episodes, this main plot is important, but there are other developments that are equally big to the ongoing story the series is telling. Barry Allen continues investigating his belief that ally and mentor Dr. Harrison Wells is the Reverse Flash; Detective Joe West advises him to be patient, so even though Barry continues to side-eye Wells, he doesn’t push further. Iris enlists the Flash to help her locate Mason Bridge, and by the end of the episode, Barry has revealed his secret identity to Eddie Thawne. …side note, is Iris now the only regular character on the series who doesn’t know that Barry’s the Flash? I like that he has a team of allies, but wow. Used to be only Alfred knew stuff. Although, in Flash comics, eventually Wally West ditched the secret identity and was known by everyone in Central City as the Flash. Maybe they’re taking that route. But probably not.

The Flash accessed some new knowledge and abilities in this episode; in a moment of dire need, Dr. Wells almost meditatively guided Barry to faster speeds, explaining some principles of the “Speed Force.” Not unlike the Force in “Star Wars,” the Speed Force is something that’s like a background energy in the universe, an energy that’s the source of Barry’s powers. Barry tapped into the Speed Force when he was running, and then again as he used his speed to vibrate through an object–the first time that he’s manifested that particular ability. Waaaay back in October, I posted an article with my wishlist of things I’d like to see in the first season. One of those things was “going nuts” with the Flash’s superpowers. Running on water, up walls, time travel, vibrating through walls…all of which they’ve done. I love it. Love it so much.

The other great thing we got in this episode was more backstory on Dr. Wells. We find out that there was indeed a Dr. Harrison Wells, who was a good guy, who loved his wife, who was working on a particle accelerator and S.T.A.R. Labs for Central City. He was a good guy. For reals. A time-traveling speedster, Eobard Thawne, killed Wells’ wife and took his life and appearance, becoming the “Harrison Wells” that we’ve seen throughout this first season. This answered pretty much every question I’ve had about the Reverse Flash and Dr. Wells and Eobard Thawne, but opened up some new possibilties, and some new directions. Is there some kind of psychic remnant of the “good” Dr. Wells in there? Would there be a way to create a new “host body” for Thawne, and then split the two characters, Firestorm-style? That way we’d get to keep a Dr. Wells in S.T.A.R. Labs, but we could also incarcerate the Reverse Flash somehow. Or maybe time travel and split the two apart? It’ll be interesting to see how things play out.

Pretty much answered every question, but opened up possibilities

The episode ended with a cliffhanger of sorts that will lead us into next week’s episode, which promises to be jampacked with heroes and villains. And the reel of upcoming episodes show us an end of the season that opens up the Central City sandbox to…well…everything. This show gets better each week. You should be watching it. 

‘Arrow’ Episode 3.16 “Suicidal Tendencies” (7 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes. Guest Starring Brandon Routh, Matt Nable, John Barrowman, Audrey Marie Anderson, Michael Rowe, Steven Culp, Amy Gumenick. First aired March 25, 2015.

So Diggle and Lyla are officially that couple who has a baby and gets married (or in their case remarried) for the baby, staying together for the baby. Their wedding in the opening minutes of this episode was sweet and short, which I appreciated. Somehow Ray Palmer is some kind of minister (not ever explained how or why), so he gets to marry the happy couple. Oliver looks a little pained at Felicity being happy, and Roy and Thea are awkwardly infatuated, and Laurel sports a carpal tunnel wrist brace. It’s a CW wedding for all. Well. for Diggle and Lyla.

From that, an A.R.G.U.S. emergency pulls the happy couple from their honeymoon and to Kasnia, where they’re helping the Suicide Squad free a Senator Cray from a hostage situation. They’ve got squad regular Deadshot along for the ride, and newcomer Cupid. I don’t always like the Suicide Squad episodes, but this particular team and mission gelled particularly well. A lot of that has to do with the addition of Cupid to the group; I liked her in her single appearance earlier this season on “Arrow,” and here she brings enough comedy and unhinged pyschoness to lighten up the episode. Showrunners have said they wouldn’t be using Harley Quinn (a Suicide Squad staple for the last decade or so in the comics)(and a starring character in 2016’s “Suicide Squad” movie), but Cupid makes a handy stand-in.  

The flashbacks in this episode flesh out Deadshot’s story; an Afghanistan war veteran who comes home broken, and doesn’t quite get things back together. He falls into depression and alcoholism, and eventually threatens his wife and daughter, and is locked up. His ticket out? Working for Amanda Waller and the Suicide Squad. Knowing enough veterans, I wondered about the portrayal…but it doesn’t go too far or get too explicit with what he’s been doing. Killing people messed him up, but he’s very good at killing people. It’s a devastating cycle, and it made Deadshot who he is. 

The Suicide Squad storyline was the central part of this episode, and even though it didn’t involve Oliver Queen, it went a long way towards making Diggle and Lyla feel more like “real” characters. They reach some conclusions by the end of this episode that made sense for the characters, and I consider them progress for their fictional lives. I’ve been worried for a while that Diggle would be pushed further offscreen by Arsenal, and Black Canary, and Thea, and Nyssa, and Atom, and…he’s a great character. Don’t let all the sidekicks filling the Arrowcave crowd him out. 

don’t let the sidekicks crowd Diggle out.

Meanwhile, back in Starling City, Laurel’s trying to make peace with her dad; she lied to Captain Lance about Sara’s death (among other things), and that betrayal of trust has broken their bond as much as it did the bond between the Arrow and Lance. Ra’s Al Ghul and Maseo have been launching deadly attacks on Starling’s underworld, dressed as the Arrow; this spurs Ray Palmer in his shiny new A.T.O.M. suit to declare his own war on the Arrow. He quickly uses fancy software to ID the Emerald Archer as Oliver Queen, and a short battle with sparklies and arrows ensues. Ollie convinces Ray he’s been set up, and it looks like we’ve got the begining of a Super Friends style teamup on the rooftop. 

It’s the first time we’ve seen the A.T.O.M. suit in action, and it’s pretty much Iron Man. These billionaires, man. I’m fine with them revising the longstanding Atom superhero to be more an exo-suit-styled hero; I do hope we’ll eventually see some kind of Atom-y shrinking powers brought into the character. Where he’s one of the characters announced for the new CW DC Comics spinoff, I’ll be patient. 

The last scene in the episode (the one that gets cut off by DVRs) has Ray, Felicity, and the Lances in the Mayor’s office…we see Maseo dressed as the Arrow, he draws, shoots, and kills the mayor. He sets his sight on Felicity–and it fades to black, as we hear the “thwick” of the arrow being loosed. 

There’s been a lot of talk about one of the “Arrow” regulars leaving by the end of this season; will it be Felicity? I hope she sticks around. Even though there’s been a bit too much melodrama this season (please don’t make her the weepy “Smallville” Lana Lang), she still brings more light, more levity to this series than anyone else does. I don’t know which character I’d kill off, but there are a lot to choose from. And hey, with some of that Nanda Parbat Lazarus Juice, we can always bring them back. 

‘Arrow’ Episode 3.15 “The Offer” (6 out of 10) Starring Stephen Amell, Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, Colton Haynes. Guest Starring Brandon Routh, Matt Nable, John Barrowman, Audrey Marie Anderson, Katrina Law, Karl Yune, Adrian Glynn McMorran. First aired March 18, 2015.

In “Batman Begins,” it takes Bruce Wayne weeks to reach Nanda Parbat, the Himalayan kingdom of Ra’s Al Ghul. In “Arrow,” it looks like we can get there pretty much every other Wednesday. Sometimes, twice in an episode. This particular episode starts out in Nanda Parbat, where Oliver Queen and John Diggle have come to retrieve Malcolm Merlyn, who’s clearly the beatass bait in Ra’s trap. Turns out the trap isn’t meant to capture or kill Oliver as much as it’s to let Ra’s Al Ghul make him an offer. One he can’t refuse. One I wouldn’t refuse, personally. That offer? To become the next Ra’s Al Ghul. 

Turns out (and this is something nerds have been wondering about) Ra’s Al Ghul is more a title than a name, and the current dude, although he’s hundreds of years old, isn’t technically immortal. The rejuvenating waters that are called “Lazarus Pits” in the comic books are explained as the source of the Fountain of Youth legend inspiring Ponce de Leon and others in history. The magic waters of Nanda Parbat will heal you, they’ll sustain you, they’ll youthify you, but eventually you’re going to die. Ra’s sees his own time coming to an end, and wants Oliver Queen to replace him. There’s a prophecy — the one who survives the sword of Ra’s Al Ghul will become Ra’s Al Ghul. Or something.

Ra’s wants oliver to replace him

Oliver says “lemme think about it,” and heads back to Starling City with Diggle and Merlyn, with Ra’s Al Ghul yelling threats at him on the way out. “You’ll regret this! Nyaaaahh!” Ra’s breathes out a few more cryptic threats, but lets Oliver leave. Back home in Starling, Oliver releases Nyssa, who says she’ll chill for a while, and dumps Merlyn back on Thea’s couch. Return (almost) to the status quo. They go back to crimefighting, with Oliver and Roy taking on a new villain, Murmur — who has his mouth sewn shut. He’s a relatively new villain in the comics, and while he looks cool, sadly they didn’t do much with him in this episode. 

The big events of the episode happen around the Murmur storyline, not within it. Captain Lance finds out that the Arrow lied about Sara’s death, and his heart breaks again. Where Arrow and Lance were nearing a Batman/Commissioner Gordon kind of relationship (I was hoping for an Arrow Signal, dammit!), now that’s fallen apart. Lance swears he’s done helping Arrow…just in time for Ra’s Al Ghul, dressed as Arrow, to start killing criminals in Starling City. Nyssa, missing Sara, and Laurel, missing Sara, decide that they’ll work on training Laurel to be a better Black Canary. Then I was thinking about them hooking up the way Sara and Nyssa did, and lost track of time. 

This episode was sometimes confusing, sometimes dull, and didn’t have a good storyline to follow through the entire episode. Adding in flashbacks that show us Shado alive and well just muddies the waters further. It’s rare that I’ll like a flashback segment, but these were downright infuriating. Let’s put those on the back burner, and let the events of the present play out. I’m interested to see what happens with Ra’s Al Ghul in Starling City, and want to see him elevated to the level of villainy we saw in Deathstroke last season; this particular episode’s arrow missed the mark. 

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.16 “Rogue Time” (7 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Kavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Liam McIntyre, Malese Jow, Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Peyton List. First broadcast March 24, 2015.

When we left Barry Allen he had just accidentally time traveled. Not far, only skipped back in time one day…but it was a pretty horrific day. Weather Wizard had captured and tortured Joe, and had sumoned a tidal wave to destroy Central City. Even worse, Captain Singh had been attacked by Weather Wizard, putting him in the hospital and probably paralyzing him. Even worse, Cisco had sussed out that Dr. Wells was actually Reverse Flash, and Wells killed Cisco with a vibratey-hand-through-the-heart. Even worse, for those of us who don’t think near-incest is all that cool, Barry had revealed his secret identity to Iris, and they had some quality smooching time. Gross. 

Oh yeah, spoilers. 

But with Barry sent back in time one day, all of this could change. It takes him a few hours to figure out what’s happened, but when he does, he makes rounding up Weather Wizard his first order of business. Easy peasy, Mark Mardon is in a cell at S.T.A.R. Labs. Dr. Wells slips out, warning Barry that if you undo one tragedy by using time travel, time will find a way to resume it’s course. Different tragedies, sometimes worse, will result. 

undoing one tragedy will only multiply them

Barry sees that immediately as he breaks up with Linda Park, and goes straight to Iris, asking her for a coffee date. Iris agrees, but once she sees where the creepy wind is blowing, kicks him to the curb. Dr. Wells tells Barry that the traumatic events in the other timestream didn’t happen, therefore Iris didn’t have those feelings for Barry uncovered, therefore…no weird happy ending for Barry and Iris in this particular timeline. Not yet, at least. 

Other events replay, but differently. Last week, it was Reverse Flash who tortured Cisco, who had ditched his brother’s birthday party. This week, Cisco goes to the birthday party, and it’s Captain Cold and Heat Wave who torture Cisco and his brother. Reverse Flash still kills someone with a vibratey-hand, but this time it’s a reporter who was uncovering Wells’ role in the Simon Stagg disappearance. Wells and Cisco end up having a heart-to-heart in the basement of S.T.A.R. Labs, but it doesn’t end with Cisco dead. So that’s nice.

Captain Cold and Heatwave are the main villains for the episode, and this time they’re joined by Lisa Snart, AKA Captain Cold’s sister, AKA Golden Glider. She’s the flirty bait that’s used to trap Cisco, and he’s forced into rebuilding a Cold Gun, Heat Gun, and now a Gold Gun (???) for Lisa. The Gold Gun appears to encase people in gold…which seems to obviate the need to commit robberies in the first place. Then again, the classic Golden Glider had superpowered ice skates, and the current comic book version has golden ribbon/tendril things that extend out from her body. If anything a Gold Gun makes more sense. The villains also torture poor Cisco’s brother until Cisco reveals the secret identity of the Flash. I’m starting to wonder if Cisco will be the South Park’s Kenny of “The Flash,” tortured or killed by a different villain in each timeline. That…I might actually like that. But I like Cisco too much for it. Don’t do it, producery people. 

I’m really, really liking Wentworth Miller’s take on Captain Cold. It wasn’t at all what I expected it would be, but my only non-comic book experience with Cold has been on like, “Challenge of the Super Friends.” He’s creating this character pretty much from scratch, and he’s got a menace and a charisma and a glee that’s not as unhinged as a Batman villain, but makes for compelling watching. He’s emerging as the leader of his gang of villains, who get named “the Rogues” and “Rogues Gallery” in conversation with Barry at the end of the episode. This conversation is my favorite part of the episode — asking Cold why he’s doing these things, why doesn’t he go straight, get a job, leave Central City — and it boils down to Cold…being bored. He doesn’t want to live a normal life, he doesn’t want to get a job, he enjoys commiting crimes. Flash negotaiates him down to “okay, can you do those things, but not kill people?” …and Cold agrees. For the last few decades, the Rogues have been anti-heroes in Flash comic books, with a sort of honor code of their own. Still villains, certainly, but come to fight alongside the Flash as much as they fight him. It’s an interesting, complicated kind of villainy, and we’re seeing it take shape here. With the announcement that Captain Cold will be a lead character on CW’s next DC Comics television project, I’m interested to see where this will lead.

Will the events of this episode be enough to turn Barry away from the idea of using his powers to time travel? He tried to do it again in the lab, and failed. If going back in time one day caused so many changes to the timeline, what would happen if he went back 15 years and saved his mother’s life? I’m guessing we’ll be seeing some answers to these questions in the coming weeks. 

Next week, we get Mark Hamill reprising his most famous role. No, not Luke Skywalker. No, not the Joker. The Trickster! Aw, yeah. This will be good. 

‘The Flash’ Episode 1.15 “Out of Time” (9 out of 10) Starring Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Rick Cosnett, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Kavanaugh, and Jesse L. Martin. Guest starring Liam McIntyre, Malese Jow. First broadcast March 17, 2015.

Even as spoiler-filled recaps of geeky TV go, this is filled with spoilers. But I’m writing it a week late, and after the next episode has aired, so I figure it’s already been spoiled. If it hasn’t yet, you’re warned. 

Showrunners have been pitching this episode as “the one that changes everything,” and there are some huge developments that happen in a single episode. Enough that it felt like a season finale…but there were still eight episodes to go in the season. The main plot is that Mark Mardon, brother to the late Clyde Mardon, is in Central City, and wants revenge. Clyde was in the very first episode of “The Flash,” and could control weather, but in a clumsy kind of way. Mark is even more of a “Weather Wizard,” and is able to bring weather indoors, attack people with giant hailstones, command lightning and rain, and eventually summon a tidal wave. When he finds out that Detective Joe West is the one who killed Clyde, he wants to not only kill Joe, but everyone close to him. He’s a more bloodthirsty villain than we’ve seen in Central City before, and by the end of the episode has done more damage than others have.

Other story arcs are ultimately more important than what the Weather Wizard is doing. A double date with Barry/Linda and Eddie/Iris puts both relationships on the path to disaster, and pushes Barry and Iris together yet again. Even though I still think their semi-incestuous relationship is weird, it was nice seeing Barry find some happiness with Iris, even revealing his secret identity to her by the end of the episode. I can see them working out. Someday. Not today. 

The other, and most consequential, story arc is Cisco’s investigation of Dr. Harrison Wells. He asks Caitlin to keep Wells occupied and out of S.T.A.R. Labs so that he can check a few things…and he finds out a few things. That the containment field they used to capture the Reverse Flash was projecting an image of the villain, that Wells, while looking like he was getting his ass kicked by Reverse Flash, may have somehow been faking it, and that Wells, who’s always been secretive, may in fact be…the supervillain. Wells ends up giving Caitlin the slip (tricky for a guy in a wheelchair, not so much for a super speedster), and confronts Cisco in the lab.

Dr. Wells reveals a lot to Cisco here–in the way that only supervillains ever really do. Their life, their history, their evil plan…a lot of stuff that you’ll want to go back and re-watch if you happened to miss this episode. The most important points:

• His real name is Eobard Thawne
• He’s a “distant relative” of Eddie Thawne
• He’s from the future
• He’s the one who killed Nora Allen 15 years ago
• Barry was the actual target
• Killing Nora stranded Eobard/Wells in the past
• He’s been helping Barry build his powers, because it’s Eobard’s only chance of getting home to his own time

…I think that’s it. And then, boom, he kills Cisco. One channel of my mind knows that it’s not only a television series, but it’s one based on a comic book, so Cisco’s for sure not gone. The other channel though? Damn. This was brutal. And a brutal way to do it. And I loved it. 

The episode ends with Flash racing to stop a tidal wave from kiling Iris, Joe, and tens of thousands of people in Central City; he runs faster than he ever has before, and ends up time traveling, passing himself, to where he’s a day in his own past. Have the evils of the day been undone? Can he prevent them from happening?

These developments have the potential to be either greatly annoying or incredibly fun and satisfying. The writers, producers, cast and crew of “The Flash” have built up enough goodwill with me that I’m guessing it will the latter. Time travel has been a part of Flash comic books for as long as I can remember; either using his powers and a cosmic treadmill to go through time, or to vibrate through to alternate dimensions…and the way it was handled here seemed perfect. It’s something that wouldn’t seem plausible on “Arrow,” but here in Central City? Completely legit. I’m hoping they don’t use time travel on a regular basis, but keep in in their back pocket as something that opens up possibilities for storytelling, not a deux ex machina that will get them out of narrative dead-ends. I trust them. I believe in Harvey D–I mean, Barry Allen. Bring it on.