We’re going to be running a couple of contests this week, but the first is very near and dear to my heart.

We are working with T-Shirts.Com to give away two Star Wars shirts.

They have some really cool designs and I like these shirts a lot better than the unlicensed mashups you get at other sites. I enjoy those, but there’s just something about these that make them of a much better quality.

Be sure to check out the website and see all the different designs there are to choose from. And even if you don’t win, there’s some great designs here you should be picking up anyway.

We will be giving two lucky readers from the United States a T-Shirt. To enter, all you need to do is shoot us an email at editor (at) bigshinyrobot.com. Make the subject “I LIKE STAR WARS”. For an extra chance to win, post on your Facebook wall asking all of your friends to like our Facebook page. Or you can ask your followers on twitter to follow us @BigShinyRobot. Or both.

Just be sure to mention in your email that you’ve done it.

And be sure to hit up T-shirts.Com since they’re sponsoring the contest.

The contest will be open until Monday, so be sure to spread the word.

The reason I like The Walking Dead, both the comic book series and the television show, is that it ties me up in knots. A good issue or episode will keep me sick from intensity, almost like I’m ready to throw up.

I don’t want to have to be in situations that would cause that feeling myself, but I love when a piece of finely crafted art can force those feelings from me, without even trying too hard. Perhaps I invest too much of myself into a story when I decide I like it. At the point where I decide I’m all in, I trust the ride it’s going to take me on and I’ll probably like the end result (like LOST). And unless it gets just completely godawful (the way Heroes did) I’ll stick it through to the end.

As far as The Walking Dead is concerned, I’ve never been given a reason to whine or complain. Every episode, no matter how long they’ve stayed in one place or stagnated as a group, it’s been for a reason. The writers on this show are much more clever than people give them credit for. This entire season has been an epic, stakes-raising game that led directly to this episode. That we’re getting another after this is just icing on the cake.

This episode begins with Dale’s funeral and takes us all the way to the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Carl killing Shane.

Perhaps more has happened in this episode than any other in the season, and it felt like someone lit a fuse and we just had to watch the fireworks. This episode is about very, very hard choices. That’s what the whole series is about. And I think we’ve seen Rick at his absolute lowest now. It’ll take a lot of doing to bring him lower.

But all the credit for the impact this episode had goes to Jon Bernthal. He is an amazing actor and I’ve loved to hate him over the last season. He’s caused problems, made terrible decisions, driven wedges into the group, and now he’s tried to kill their leader. His constant manipulation of situations to get them to play out exactly how he feels they should go finally bit him in the ass and the group will be better for it.

This episode was a carefully constructed piece of music, building to a crescendo that played out beautifully, but the musical notes were tensed emotions and the cymbals crashing were lives at stake. Plenty of things have come to light that need to be discussed with the group (Shane’s plot, they’re all infected, etc.) but that is just going to have to wait.

In classic Walking Dead fashion, the bullet that saved Rick’s life from zombie Shane is also the shot heard ’round the woods, calling a herd of walkers down on the farm.

Just because Shane is dead, it doesn’t mean things are going to get any easier. Will the season finale be the episode that puts the group back on the road and off of Hershel’s farm? Or will be left hanging until October?

We’ll just have to wait until next week to find out.

On a side note: I want to speak to some comments that were made on my review of last week’s episode. There are two things that are completely surprising to me about this show. The first is that there seems to be a contingent of conservative Walking Dead viewers who couldn’t empathize in the least with Dale’s calls for humanity, but actually revelled in his death because “liberals have somehow convinced people [that] standing by and not stopping those crimes is fine.” That comment was particularly scary to me and I think for obvious reasons.

The other thing that I still can’t wrap my head around is that there are people who only watch this show because there are zombies on it, and if there aren’t zombies, or not enough zombies, they couldn’t care less. This is a drama. This is essentially a soap opera. Zombies are the canvas this story of survival is being painted on. Embrace it. Care about the characters. That’s the point. Don’t get upset if there’s an episode that deals with the relationships of the characters. Because THAT’S what this show is about. Not zombies.

If you don’t like that, fine.

But don’t complain to me that there aren’t enough zombies, just go re-watch Zack Snyder’s mindless, soulless Dawn of the Dead remake one more time.

This show is much more mature than that and I’m grateful of that fact.

I’ve long felt that Attack of the Clones and The Empire Strikes Back are sister films, tied together with similar themes, motifs and struggles. This episode of The Clone Wars unites the looks and themes of these film episodes of Star Wars but from a twisted version fueled by the Dark Side.

This episode picks up where the Season 3 finale left Savage Opress, on his search for Darth Maul. He’s on some backwater planet that has visual cues right out of Attack of the Clones, even recreating sets and characters from Dex’s Diner. (I was actually hoping it would be Dex’s Diner, after Pong Krell I need a likable Besalisk.) Savage is searching for his brother, questing for him at the behest of Mother Talzin (much like Luke is sent to Dagobah by Obi-wan), and it leads him to a planet called Lotho Minor.

Lotho Minor is the dark side’s equivalent of Dagobah. Where Yoda’s exile is on a planet steeped in nature, allowing him to live a quiet, dignified life off the land, Lotho Minor is a scrap heap, a burning world. Scavengers and snakes are everywhere, and Darth Maul has spent his life amongst the wreckage, forced to wallow in his anger and hate.

Yoda spent his time in exile in focused quiet. Maul spent it living in a hole like a broken insect.

I’ll be honest, this episode provides no answers. It raises more questions that, I hope, can be answered in the next episode.

Understandably, Maul is lost, confused, and thirsty for revenge.

A shockwave in the force alerts everyone, Dooku, Asajj, Yoda, Obi-wan, and Anakin, that something sinister is brewing.

There is a lot to like in this episode from a themes and Star Wars lore standpoint. It was incredibly satisfying on that level. As far as the action and the actual motions the characters went through, it felt a little bland and by the numbers. Before the episode started, I felt assured that we’d see two acts of Savage’s quest for Maul, then in the third act he’d find him. We’d then be teased for the finale. This was so by the numbers, I predicted it before the episode even started.

I’m not saying this is a negative, I’m just saying the risks they were taking in this episode didn’t necessarily have to do with the telling. Which is fine, since they took some very compelling risks elsewhere.

For starters: Darth Maul’s spider-body.

The entire single sequence Maul appeared in was creepy, unnerving… It just felt as though the captured the unsettled spirit of the primal madness of the dark side and put it on screen and I liked it very much.

This is one of those episodes that was solid in its way, but doesn’t work as a standalone. It has to be coupled with the knowledge that something is coming next, that so much came before it and something is coming next. Taking that into account, it did exactly what it was supposed to do: bring back Darth Maul to the Star Wars universe in a way that’ll send shivers of unsettling fear down your back.

As for the technical aspects of this episode, it felt top notch as always, but I really want to download it on iTunes to really immerse myself in it. I won’t have to deal with those annoying lower-thirds, glaring ratings boxes, promos for what’s on next… They’re really disrespectful to the artistry on display and I can’t wait to see this episode in HD. I want to see the detail on the scavengers, and on Darth Maul’s body. I want to see the firebreathers on Lotho Minor up close on my monitor in all the detail it deserves… So, yeah, I’m going to have to buy it on iTunes tomorrow.

The more I watch the SD cable signal on my HD tv, the more I hate watching this show on a television, but this is as soon as I can see it.

The season finale airs next week.

It’s been no secret around these parts that I’ve been excited for the release of John Carter (of Mars). I’ve been posting every trailer, chiding people to read the books, previewing Marvel’s comics. I’ve been a fan of this franchise for a while and it’s been evident in all of my coverage.

Where some people saw doubt, I saw the team behind the film and expected that they would give me something better than the average Hollywood blockbuster fare.

My trust in them was not misplaced.

Andrew Stanton, Michael Chabon, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Michael Giacchino, Ryan Church, Willem Dafoe, Bryan Cranston, Samantha Morton. It’s names like these that made this film one of my most anticipated films of 2012.

And it came off beautifully.

There’s one thing you have to do for this movie, and that is this: forget that you’ve seen every other cliched, formulaic blockbuster of the last thirty years. The source material is the thing that inspired all of the tropes we’ve seen in cinema since the old Flash Gordon serials and somehow John Carter’s adventures have remained sacred and off the big screen.

Watch this and understand that it’s true to the source material. You’ll have fun.

But on a subconscious level, you’ll be entertained by a level of filmmaking much more even handed, capable, and mature than you’re used to. The story is told elegantly, the wraparound sequences serve a purpose, the characterizations are deep and complex. The princess, Dejah Thoris, isn’t just a damsel in distress, she’s vulnerable but can take care of herself. The hero, John Carter is that devil-may-care rogue we all love in films, but he has a complexity to him that makes him truly human, which is an important distinction when you’re in a land full of martians. There’s so much more going on in this story beneath the surface and behind all of the characters, it’s just incredible.

But it’s still a Saturday afternoon serial, perfect for a matinee.

The action and adventure in this film is top notch. Just like the books, it’s breathless and fun. I had a hard time keeping the dopey grin off of my face. Not only did the characters and situations cause that reaction, but so did the level of care that went into the craft of the filmmaking.

The editing and visual storytelling was much, much better than your average Hollywood fare. Plot points and character motivations aren’t spelled out for the dolts in the audience, it’s doled out to you like an excellent three course meal. You have to work for the understanding and context provided in the film and are rewarded with one of the most fun adventures that’s been on the big screen. This is easily one of the best films to come out this year so far, and I wouldn’t hesitate to say that it will probably outshine most of the summer movies this season.

Ignore the marketing they’ve done for this film and just trust me. I can’t impress upon you enough how entertained I was by this movie. You don’t need to know anything going in. All you need to do is just go.

You’ll like it.

A lot.

Trust me. I left this movie with a big grin on my face, fulfilled. Satisfied. People always seem to complain about today’s movies not being as good as movies used to be. I assure you, this movie will not have that problem. If you’re even half a fan of good adventure movies, this is how you should be spending your weekend.

This originally appeared on The Huffington Post:

If you would have asked me five years ago who I thought the most positive and progressive major comics publisher was, I’d have been hard pressed to give you an answer. Comics cover the gamut of politics, civics, and social issues, but no one was really leading the pack. Today, the answer is both simple and surprising.

In the past two years, Archie comics has grown from what was viewed as an anachronisim to the most supportive and all-inclusive universe in comicdom. From bringing Barack Obama and Sarah Palin together to discuss their differences over a milkshake to promote civility, to having a same-sex wedding in a critically acclaimed issue of Life With Archie.

Because of that specific issue, the conservative lobby group “One Million Moms” launched a boycott of Archie and of Toys ‘R Us for their distribution of the issue. The issue in question, Life With Archie #16 is now sold out and fetching $30-$50 on eBay. Amazon has them going for $60.

Thanks to the foofaraw, I decided it was time to talk to Archie CEO Jon Goldwater once more about the boycott and the progressive movement that Archie comics has embraced.

Bryan Young: What was more surprising to you, the proposed boycott over Kevin Keller’s marriage? Or the fan response to the boycott?Jon Goldwater: To be honest, we weren’t really surprised by either. We knew that, at some point, one of these organizations was going to set their sites on Kevin, a character that’s gotten so much positive attention and love from our readers and the world. Thankfully, the fans spoke out in the best way possible – by buying the book. Life With Archie #16 has sold out, and that’s the best, most direct response to those saying Kevin shouldn’t exist.

As I’ve said everywhere I can – Kevin is here to stay. He’s a part of Riverdale and is the most important character we’ve introduced in Archie Comics since Archie first appeared. We are committed to a diverse, welcoming and current Riverdale. To create a world for Archie that is retroactive, disconnected from reality and unrealistic would be unfair to our readers. Archie and his friends live in today, not in someone’s idea of what was or in a world that is not inclusive or welcoming to everyone.

BY: How did the decision to have Kevin get married come about?

JG: It really stemmed from the fact that Kevin had become such a key part of Archie and Riverdale. People kept asking about Kevin. “What’s Kevin doing in the future?” We wanted to give the story we started with Kevin’s early appearances a happy, loving and new chapter. We wanted to show that things worked out for Kevin – and, in a way, that things can work out for people who find themselves in a similar position to him. Things get better. Not everyone can live in a place like Riverdale – where you’re not judged or treated harshly because of who you are – but we’re going to continue to show the potential and hope that a place like Riverdale provides.

So, I sat down with our Editor in Chief Victor Gorelick, President Mike Pellerito, Kevin Keller’s writer/artist Dan Parent and Life With Archie writer Paul Kupperberg and we hashed it out. We knew we wanted Kevin’s appearance to not only bring the two timelines together, but we also wanted it to be a natural progression for him. Once the idea of him getting married – and allowing us to speak out on not only gay marriage but gays in the military and everything else Kevin’s own series had been working toward – was thrown out, we were sold and pushed forward with it. It’s really been an organic and story-based initiative. We always want to stay true to Kevin and show him living his life like any other character in our books, because that’s what he is: a normal kid growing up and, eventually, finding love and happiness. It’s what we’d wish for all our characters.

BY: With all of the controversy surrounding Kevin, what steps are being taken to make sure that he’s about character first and not defined strictly by his sexual orientation?

JG: It’s always been about story with Kevin. He was a product of a story meeting. We got some initial criticism that tabbed him as a token character that we’d created just to get a one-time PR hit. Hopefully, we’ve disproven that. Kevin is an important part of Riverdale and will be part of the Archie gang moving forward. He’s going to go through the same adventures and misadventures that Archie, Betty and Veronica and Jughead all deal with. He’s one of the gang. He’s not “the gay character” or however people want to pigeonhole him. He’s a funny, cool, smart kid hanging out with other funny, cool and smart kids. He just happens to be gay.

BY: I love that Riverdale is so inclusive to everyone. Will we see any more of the LGBT community represented there?

JG: We’re going to continue to explore diversity and show a Riverdale that reflects the world we live in today. We want Riverdale to feel vibrant, modern, relevant, and real. You’ll continue to see us introducing new characters that reflect what’s happening today.

BY: With the upcoming Occupy Wall Street issue, it seems like you have a very easy set of characters that can play in that world. What do you hope people will get by reading Archie’s take on the protests and the level of unfairness Occupy represents? How will Reggie deal with that?

JG: Talking about the Occupy movement just seemed like such a natural fit for Archie. His entire life has been about choosing between two people! But seriously – like I said earlier – Riverdale is a city in the world today. The Occupy movement has affected the entire country and really made us all think about our financial systems and what we’d like changed or not changed. That’s reflected in the story by writer Alex Segura and artist Gisele. It’s still very much an Archie story, mind you. Jughead jokes about food and Reggie pokes fun at Archie, etc. But it brings the characters into contact with something that people in most of our major cities see every day.

As for Reggie…well, it seems to me his choice is an obvious one! But read the issue. It’s got a few fun surprises. We think people will be pleasantly surprised. It’s not preachy, but it shows both sides fairly and with all the elements of a classic Archie story.

BY: Obviously, the issue of Kevin Keller’s wedding sold out. Is it the readers of Archie that are the ones up in arms about things like this? Or is it people who don’t read the books anyway?

JG: I can’t speak for the American Family Association or MillionMoms.com – I’d love for them to read Life With Archie #16 and see that the issue is probably the most family-friendly comic series on stands today. Archie has never been about sex, violence or extremity. Like our President, Mike Pellerito says – everything we do is built around love. Love, inclusion, friendship and family. This issue is an extension of that.

To answer your question, though – I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the protesters haven’t read the issue. Which is a shame, because, controversy aside, it’s one of the best comics out there. Hands down.

BY: Never more than in the last few years has it seemed that Archie has been in the news getting out in front of social issues, what changed at Archie? Or has it always been this way and I hadn’t noticed?

JG: No, there’s definitely been a shift. For a while there, before I came in as Co-CEO about three years ago, Archie was very much living in the past. We were resting on our laurels and kind of fading into a kind of retro, nostalgia brand. When I got to Archie my first mandate was to talk to the staff and creators and say “Change things up. Try new things. Be bold. Be daring. Be creative.” If there was an idea I felt was out of line or too crazy, I’d nix it. But for the most part, people like Dan Parent came to me with excellent ideas and suggestions. Kevin Keller is a perfect example of that. I don’t think you would have seen the previous regime publish Kevin.

BY: Why do you feel it’s important that Archie gets in front of these social equality issues?

JG: Because it’s what’s happening outside our windows and in our homes. If Archie continued on, in a bubble of nostalgia, we’d run the risk of becoming an anachronism. Archie is at his best when he’s connecting with what’s going on in the world and in the lives of his readers and fans. Archie and his friends are of the moment, and Kevin is just a part of that.

BY: What’s the next big issue we can expect Archie Comics to handle as just another day in Riverdale?

JG: Well, we have Occupy Riverdale in July, which we discussed. We also have a major, major announcement slated to hit in the next few months. If you thought Archie Meets KISS was a big deal, this kicks it to another level.

BY: What is Archie doing to get their books in front of more kids? I know because of these issues, I added Archie to my comics hold for my kids because I feel it’s good to see these positive messages… If anything, I’d love to see more of these things in the book.

JG: Great question. Our mantra, day in and day out, is “Archie is everywhere.” That means digitally, in print and beyond. Our Archie Comics app has been downloaded close to 4 million times and we’re on every tablet and device you can imagien, we’ve seen our bookstore sales spike considerably since we partnered with Random House and we continue to make inroads via the newsstand and comic shop markets. Archie’s here to stay, and we’ll continue to explore ways to get books in front of anyone who’s interested in reading about Archie and his friends.

So there you have it. If you want progressive messages and inclusive storylines in comics for your kids, Archie Comics is the place to find them.

Bryan Young is the editor of the geek news site Big Shiny Robot! and the author of God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut.

“Don’t Stop Believing” and  “Wheel in the Sky” are probably some of the greatest rock songs that have ever been created but of course, everyone knows Journey for these songs. In this review, I aim to bring light to some of their lesser known musical creations that are just as good. With founding vocalist Gregg Rolie,  the band was on its way to…..nah….just messin’ with ya.

Journey is the latest game to be released from those artistic fellows over at thatgamecompany. It’s slated to release next Tuesday but us Playstation Plus-ers get it a week early. I knew it was worth it. Thatgamecompany brought us such games as “Cloud,” “How Flower Petals Saved the World” and “That Cell Stage from Spore.” I honestly really enjoyed these games, for their artistic aspirations and wonderfully composed music, mostly that of their latest game, “Flower.” The beauty of the environment and the ability to get lost in the colors and music was a very engaging idea and even now I show it to new people all the time. I have been anxiously waiting for the next game in their catalog to be released so I could have this experience again.

I would like to share my experience of the game with you as I played it:

The game opens with the most impressive looking sand I have ever seen. I mean, sand in real life doesn’t look this good. I rotate the camera, my character stands up and then I’m free to do whatever I want. There are dunes as far as I can see and a mountain, maybe Sauron, off in the distance. I started running in the opposite direction the game obviously wanted me to go and quickly decided I was about to get very lost in this expansive wasteland of nothingness and it would probably be a good idea to turn around. I came over the crest a hill with posts sticking out of it and I am presented with the title screen. Very nice presentation, thatgamecompany. I SSX my way down some hills (which is actually really fun) and into this graveyard looking area where I find some floating pieces of cloth that bestow upon me the greatest video game power of all; jumping. Yadda yadda yadda, three hours pass and I beat the game. Woot!

Now my thoughts:

I would like to first point out that the graphics and ambient music are top notch.  More than a couple times I just had my character sit down and look at the environment for a couple minutes. I never once thought that getting lost in a desert would be this soothing…

The game itself seems to be driven by nothing other than the curiosity of the player. I feel that people who want fast-paced action or an intensive plot might not find this game very appealing. However,  I absolutely love playing games that aren’t the same thing I’ve experience hundreds of time so I welcome thatgamecompany’s creations.

As you progress through “levels,” you come across new obstacles and environments to traverse which keeps things interesting. Later in the game, there are a few moments that were truly breathtaking (especially the end) but I really don’t want to give anything away. Not long after starting the game you will inevitably run into another wayward traveler. If I’m not mistaken, you can progress through the entire game with this other player if you choose to. If not, you’ll find another person shortly after separating from the previous one. From my experience, there is pretty much always someone else running around with you, whether you notice them or not. You can only communicate with them through making your character shout at different volumes which really adds to the anonymity.

The biggest downside to these games they put out is usually the length. I beat the entire game in about three hours and I know, that’s pretty damn short. The experience itself makes up for it though. The $14.99 price tag might scare some people away but if it’s any consolation, the game definitely has re-playability. I missed some of the collectibles and secrets and I actually like the idea of going through the game again. Then ending sequence was also pretty damn cool and had me yelling at my in-game partner.

If you can get past the price tag and the how short the game is, this is definitely a game worth getting.

I give “Journey” 4/5 current members of the band Journey

Also, I’d like to leave you with one of my favorite music cross-overs involving the aforementioned band:

I’m starting this week off with a video. Why? Because one of our awesome readers (thanks Matt!) sent me this Gundam Rap album preview and I can’t get the song “White Reflection” out of my head! This was recently featured on TOKYOPOP but if you didn’t catch it you need to watch now:

Richie Branson, keep up the good work. You’ve made my week! You can find more about Branson’s album here.

And now for to the update:

This week we’ve got Hetalia: Axis Powers – the Complete Series out on DVD. What will become of my favorite characters: Japan, Germany and Italy? I suppose I’ll have to pick up the collection and find out! This is one of those series that just has to be seen to be believed, and I highly recommend the English version for the terrible accents and ridiculous translations for U.S. distribution. The release should also hopefully mean that we’ll soon see World Series on the Netflix instant streaming service, too! You can pick up the whole series now for list price $44.98 or the Amazon price at $34.99.

Here’s another clip from Friday’s episode. There’s no Darth Maul, but gives us a glimpse of Savage’s quest, and lets us know that Mother Talzin is still alive and kicking.

From the press release:

This week, in “Brothers,” the dark warrior Savage Opress is on a quest to find his long-lost brother. Could Darth Maul truly be alive, after more than a decade since his gruesome bisection at the blade of Obi-Wan Kenobi? Savage voyages into the depths of a twisted planet to find whatever became of the fallen Sith Lord.

“Brothers,” airs at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT Friday, March 9th on Cartoon Network.

After months of hype and speculation, the debut of DC’s “New 52” version of Captain Marvel, excuse me, Shazam has finally been unveiled. Via the New York Post, we got our first glimpse this morning. Honestly, it’s not that bad, apart from the cape, the belt, and the attitude behind it. I’ll elaborate on what I mean in a second, first let’s take a look at the outfit itself.

"Captain Marvel: #1 in the hood, G."

At first glance, there isn’t anything incredibly different, silly looking hood aside. The gauntlets look a bit more mystical, and the belt is metal rather than a sash.  He’s definitely still recognizable as Cap–Shazam, which is a definite plus. On the negative side, much of what has been changed are the design elements that set “Captain Marvel” apart from other heroes, namely the military-type styling of his original outfit…

The original ashcan appearance of Captain Marvel

I love this costume. Not only is it clean and simple, the squared shoulders, front flap, sash, and to the side cape give a very “regal” feeling. This is a character that exudes power with presence, not a bunch of willy nilly lightning leaking out of his body. As I said before though, I am mostly OK with the new duds, and still want to give the new take on my favorite character a chance. Then I read the DC Source Blog today, mainly the comments from editor Brian Cunningham:

“You’ll notice that SHAZAM! looks different from many of the other heroes we’ve seen in DC COMICS-THE NEW 52. That was definitely intentional. His powers come from a different place, and we wanted to see that reflected in the design. We’ve removed the “circus strongman” elements from his costume. Rather than a traditional cape, he wears a cloak with a hood; there’s more of a mystical, magical, fantasy feel to that.”

I’m half tempted to go into an even longer rant about how people just don’t “get” Captain Marvel, but here I’ll just say that as shown above, his cape wasn’t traditional to begin with, and if you want to get away with “circus strongman” elements, you always had the military stuff to fall back on. Oh well. I get it now, this isn’t the character I grew up with, and that’s OK too. And I’m still going to read it, because if nothing else, writer Geoff Johns makes it sound compelling.

“With SHAZAM! Gary and I will be focusing on the magic hero instead of the super hero. For centuries, science has ruled the world, but now magic is returning. We’re telling the story of the hero’s young alter ego, Billy Batson, a foster kid at a crossroads in his life. The question is, how does the emotional journey of this troubled teenager collide with the fate of the world? The Rock of Eternity and the legacy of SHAZAM! will be explored in a different way as the extent of Billy’s connection to the magic world around him is greater than ever before. The story will have a profound impact on Justice League later in the year and you’ll see new characters, locations and creatures along with the classics from the SHAZAM! universe. Billy’s friends and enemies will be along for the ride.”

So yes, while (some of) the names and locales will be the same, this is going to be a decidedly different version of my favorite hero. It’s cool. I wish DC , Johns, and Frank all of the best. They have a story in mind, and time will tell if this is the take that finally relaunches the Shazam franchise back into the mainstream. And for those of you who are focusing on the hood, there’s a precedent for that, too.

This episode of The Walking Dead was nothing short of brutal, but has it pushed us over an edge we can’t return from?

There’s really no way to avoid spoilers in talking about this episode in any scholarly fashion. So, consider that your warning.

After the events of last week, the group spends most of this episode deciding the fate of their prisoner. Most everyone is arrayed against Dale who is working tirelessly to prevent the execution of this kid. He’s absolutely right, too. Can they kill him for a crime he might commit without selling out themselves and their ideals and their humanity.

I think the answer is clear that they can’t. But because Shane is pushing so hard to prove Rick, Rick can’t back down on the execution. He can’t get out of it and expect to lead the group. And he can’t let Shane lead the group, because that way leads to madness.

Though Dale pleads his case well to everyone, his pleas are falling on deaf ears and the course of action is set.

The character who really plays the most important part in this drama, though, is Carl.

One of the things I love most about the comic book is trying to imagine what a world like this would look like to the next generation. How would they act? How would they see things? How would their sense of morality and justice, right and wrong, be shaped by the volatile nature of constant survival?

Carl is so damaged by this world that he seems almost sociopathic. He has no empathy whatsoever. He breaks in to observe the prisoner, not because he wants to help him or set him free, but to observe him like an animal in a cage. Somehow, the world seems less dangerous to him under that harsh light and he has no qualms exploring in the woods. There, he finds a walker and there is absolutely no fear for him until it’s actually trying to eat him. Up until then, he’s content to get close enough to observe so long as he’s out of reach.

But the walker gets loose and Carl runs.

Does he go running home to cry? No. He internalizes everything, never mentioning the incident. What good would it do?

Then, after he gets back, he wants to witness the execution. It reminded me quite a bit of Yukio Mishima’s “The Sailor Who Fell From Grace With the Sea” about the adolescent boys who commit a murder as a lesson in objectivity.

I found it ironic that the only thing that invoked Rick’s sense of empathy was Carl’s lack of it. When Carl chides him to kill the boy, Rick simply can’t continue. How do you react to a world where your innocent little boy is egging you on to kill a man in cold blood in some misguided attempt to “save” the group.

But Carl’s lessons in objectivity have consequences. His adventure with the walker came back to haunt him.

For all of Dale’s logic and reasoning, he’s still no match for the walker that Carl let loose and is literally torn open. And somehow, killing this man, this friend, out of mercy seems so much easier to do than killing the unarmed stranger execution-style. But will Dale’s hope of retaining their humanity die with him?

This is the part of the episode that’s troubling me. I thought this was a fantastic episode on its own face, but the show needed the balance Dale provided. He was a steady voice of reason, a man of logic, and an incredibly entertaining character. Now we’re left with Shane, Rick, and Daryl to lead the group, all super-macho alpha males, nary a thinker among them.

Will Dale’s death throw the show out of balance along with the group?

As we gear up toward the season finale, only time will tell.