tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71905973759999386552024-03-18T20:33:20.468-07:00Super FanEach entry will highlight a TV show, comic book, movie, or related offering.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-35428870060176916062021-05-30T17:55:00.001-07:002021-05-31T16:03:43.558-07:00Blog Reborn-
<div>I'M BACK! Err... Kinda. </div><div><br /></div><div>It's been over a year since I've posted here. I can practically see the dust-filled cobwebs and hear the crickets chirping in the distance. I was wearing myself out trying to keep this blog current while maintaining three other blogs. Something had to go, so I dropped the, arguably, most frivolous content, SciFi & Comics. </div><div><br /></div><div>After fifteen months away, I feel like I have lots to say about the fun stuff. Thus, I've decided to drop by when I have something to say. I won't be posting on a regular schedule or listing this blog in my <a href="http://www.jameskiester.com/blogs.html" target="_blank">Blogogram Newsletter</a>. If enough people show an interest I'll look at doing a separate newsletter. Until then, I'll simply announce updates on <a href="https://twitter.com/Jamesk007">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/jameskiester/_saved/">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/JamesK007">Reddit</a>, & my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/thenerdherdprime">Facebook Group, The Nerd Herd</a>.</div>
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<div>Now lets talk comics. I should begin by explaining that I'm six months behind on DC's comic books, on purpose. No, I'm not crazy. When DC announced they were going to revamp their pay site into <a href="http://dcuniverse.com" target="_blank">DCUNIVERSE</a> they made their comic books available for free to monthly subscribers six months after their publication dates. So, for $75 a year (or $7.99 a month) I can read my DC titles and have more money for comics from Marvel, IDW, etc... on <a href="http://www.comixology.com" target="_blank">Comixology</a> as long as I don't mind not being completely current. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZWsLYg-g_1wcHI4rJ2DBeUjv-ggYNMeNpITM1PL89Bal2yiBQKJqmjbgi9mXmZDWBkpv-sWx31OLONAZ_xPSAe8KoXT9No35SofQxuYKY76FyR7PGoe4Qmd6UipJLcl0rWmbNOB_FGI/s2000/heroesreborn_triptych.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1307" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdZWsLYg-g_1wcHI4rJ2DBeUjv-ggYNMeNpITM1PL89Bal2yiBQKJqmjbgi9mXmZDWBkpv-sWx31OLONAZ_xPSAe8KoXT9No35SofQxuYKY76FyR7PGoe4Qmd6UipJLcl0rWmbNOB_FGI/s320/heroesreborn_triptych.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Right now, I'm enjoying <i>Marvel's Heroes Reborn</i>. Without giving away any spoilers, something has happened to time to prevent The Avengers from ever having assembled. Only a few characters know that time is broken. <div><br /></div><div>I love "time is wrong" stories! Love 'em. When I was in high school, I'd looked forward to <i>Quantum Leap</i> every Thursday night to see Dr. Sam Becket leap through time to, "put right what once went wrong." I was also a Whovian (Doctor Who fan) long before it was an "in thing" here in the states. </div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, I know, comic books and movies use time travel like McDonald's uses ketchup. Granted. It can be over used and often leaves plot holes you could fly a 747 through. I still can't wrap my head around John Connor sending his own father back in time to impregnate his mother. I keep wondering who sent Reese back the first time so John could exist to send Reese back the second time. It, literally, gives me a headache. </div><div><br /></div><div>Nevertheless, <i>Heroes Reborn</i>, not to be confused with the Rob Liefeld mess in 1996, is a time travel epic akin to DC's <i>Flash Point</i>. The story consists of eight main issues and ten tie-ins which serve as close-ups showing how different parts of the Marvel Universe have been altered. </div><div><br /></div><div>One can follow the story just by reading the eight primary core issues, but I'm probably going to end up reading most of the supplementary one-shots just because they’re fun reads. I don't care about a non-powered Peter Parker, but I'm looking forward to <i>Magneto & The Mutant Force, American Knights, </i>and <i>Weapon X & Final Flight</i>. I'll probably pick up a few others as well. (see the full list below 👇)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxFdgqq7XxtSW1aT54by7WvDaV335v1j3_FJ52ul52KhzK7GRYTvhyW4OmGgeAgpNrdKbDNvGFNpsQ9zNO6WMSqfjo5jP4LoZEZrRI3OsyoN2VF0DiQ4HmhYkK7lt_n5MxQNdWyEEsRk/s834/HRCL.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="834" data-original-width="619" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxFdgqq7XxtSW1aT54by7WvDaV335v1j3_FJ52ul52KhzK7GRYTvhyW4OmGgeAgpNrdKbDNvGFNpsQ9zNO6WMSqfjo5jP4LoZEZrRI3OsyoN2VF0DiQ4HmhYkK7lt_n5MxQNdWyEEsRk/w297-h400/HRCL.png" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-72288724733626405132020-02-07T14:47:00.000-08:002020-02-07T14:47:31.573-08:00Arrow-verse Strikes Multiple Targets-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 35%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Picard-Teaser/dp/B07S5HX14T/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=S2MN0F6A7JWQ&keywords=picard&qid=1580855350&sprefix=picassotiles,aps,225&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=7b899644ebdfb9720908125cfa950893&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07S5HX14T&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div><b><i>Space…, the final frontier, these are the voyages of the Starship E</b></i>___________________. Admiral Jean-Luc Picard hasn't been on the bridge of the Enterprise, or any starship, for the better part of two decades. Since leaving Starfleet in protest of policy, our, once, star trekking hero has been content to maintain his vineyard and produce wine under his family’s label. His golden years are suddenly disturbed by a mystery which, may, harken back to his days as a starship captain. <br />
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After having viewed the first two episodes, I have, so far, been treated to an exciting mystery. Like its online counterpart, Star Trek: Discovery, Picard isn’t as episodic as classic Star Trek series. Rather, it’s produced as one long novel with episodes as chapters. While I’ve found the new format to be tiresome on Discovery, it’s kept me interested to this point. I don't want to say too much about the show, but its runners have teased cameos from Data, Riker & Troi, and 7 of 9. <br />
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Fans can watch new episodes each Thursday, exclusively on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07S5HX14T/ref=atv_wl_hom_c_unkc_1_18">CBS ALL ACCESS</a> for $9.99 per month ($5.99 with commercials). Oh, and for those wanting more backstory, it can be found in the three-part comic book series <a href="https://www.comixology.com/Star-Trek-Picard-Countdown-1-of-3/digital-comic/802431">Star Trek: Picard---Countdown</a>.<br />
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<hr /><b><u>Arrow-verse Strikes Multiple Targets: (SPOILERS AHEAD!)</u><br />
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<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 40%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Arrows-Perfect-Crossover-Crisis/dp/1419737384/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1419737384&pd_rd_r=b1273d2a-b573-4b3f-91de-7fb7d2b2d388&pd_rd_w=S01Av&pd_rd_wg=OzpVU&pf_rd_p=bdd201df-734f-454e-883c-73b0d8ccd4c3&pf_rd_r=5TFEC8TJT986N3ZP7CDW&psc=1&refRID=5TFEC8TJT986N3ZP7CDW&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=72f38d54403725d344725cd868b8f2fc&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1419737384&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" ></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>On October 10, 2012 Oliver Queen found his way off of Lian Yu, and began his journey toward becoming Green Arrow. When Arrow premiered on the CW Network, showrunners, Greg Berlanti and Marc Guggenheim, meant for it to be a quasi-realistic vigilante crime drama rather than a superhero show. That strategy lasted for one season. <br />
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Once The Flash spun off of Arrow, super powers, time travel, mysticism, and heroic teams became staples of both shows. Before long, Green Arrow was fighting alongside; Black Canary, The Atom, Mr. Terrific, and Speedy/Red Arrow; while The Flash teamed up with Kid Flash, Vibe, Killer Frost, Firestorm, and, later, Elongated Man.<br />
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As each show was forming a miniature Justice League of its own, Supergirl was forming alliances with Martian Manhunter, Valiant, and others over on CBS. Eventually, Supergirl jumped over to the CW in order to make annual crossovers easier. Once that happened, the franchise added Legends of Tomorrow, Black Lightning, and Batgirl. They even retroactively included NBC’s Constantine after it had been off the air for three years. <br />
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The lone show, Arrow, had blossomed into an intertwined universe of its own. Although all the shows tell superhero stories, each has succeeded in maintaining its own tone. Arrow, Batgirl, and Black Lightning offer dark gritty tones while Flash, Supergirl, and Legends keep things light and, occasionally, comedic. In fact, Black Lightning was so dark, there was online debate as to whether it was part of the shared reality. <br />
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Ironically, the recent mega crossover, Crisis on Infinite Earths, which removed all doubt that the tales are connected, saw the death of Green Arrow and the cancellation of his show. Fear not though, there's an upcoming spinoff featuring Green Arrow’s daughter on the way. And, now that Green Arrow's soul has adopted the mantle of The Specter, God's Spirit of Vengeance, there's every reason to believe Steven Amell will pop up from time to time.<br />
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Plus, fans are about to be treated to a Stargirl series, a Superman series, and a purportedly connected Green Lantern series over on HBO.<br />
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The televised DC Universe is the realization of one of my childhood fantasies. Seriously. I’d have loved to have seen Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman interact with other superheroes. Yet, back then we were lucky to see one comic book TV series per season, and even then they almost never fought super villains. <br />
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The televised story telling fans have been treated to within CW’s DC Universe is vastly superior to televised comic book fare of the past, which doesn't mean there's not room for growth. We know Batman has disappeared from Gotham, but we haven't seen, this universe’s, Robins or Nightwing. Plus, fans of Charmed & Legacies could easily be drawn to a, magic based, Dr. Fate series. <br />
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Future plans aside, what's being produced now is some quality comic book TV. <br />
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James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-62905958034882229952020-01-06T15:33:00.000-08:002020-01-06T15:33:20.052-08:00Disguised As A Mild Mannered Reporter No More-<br />
The holidays are finally over, and life is slowly returning to what passes for normal. My main piece this time is on Superman’s big reveal. But first, since I’ve been gone so long, I want to shine the spotlight on two other properties first.<br />
<hr><b><u>Spotlight 1:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 25%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Wars-Episode-Individual-Regulars/dp/B082Q3F5ZN/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=16JB9BEOWQGLE&keywords=star+wars+poster&qid=1578275485&sprefix=star+wars+p,aps,218&sr=8-9&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=bae23eb6c97b0589bab96500e748ed93&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B082Q3F5ZN&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>Let’s face it, the period from Phantom Menace to Solo gave Star Wars audiences nothing to really get excited about. Out of our love for Episodes; IV, V, and VI; we desperately wanted to like what we were given next, but bad acting and annoying characters (Yes, I’m pointing at you Jar-Jar) made it hard to remain fans of the franchise. <br />
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The long night is finally over. Over the past few months, Star Wars fans have been treated to <i>The Mandalorian</i> on Disney’s streaming service and the theatrical release of <i>Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker</i>. Disney and Lucas Films have finally figured out what fans want to see and how to deliver it. Heck, there's a fan craze centered around Baby Yoda alone. If these two productions are any indication, Star Wars finally has a bright future. <br />
<hr /><b><u>Spotlight 2:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 25%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Paul-Renaud/dp/1302915258/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=3O70ZSKQC1J46&keywords=marvel+tarot&qid=1578209444&sprefix=marvel+tar,aps,222&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=b6e46e9a1cc4c5addebb9237f143afd8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1302915258&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>Years before most of the Avengers were even born; Captain America, Namor, the original Human Torch; formed The Invaders in order to combat the Nazi scourge during World War II. Years later, within the pages of Tarot #1, Namor is remembering a battle Captain America doesn't have any recollection of. This memory may be connected to a magical threat being faced by the Avengers. <br />
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Having the Avengers and Defenders working together gives readers a book with superhero action on almost every page. Of course, The Incredible Hulk is a founding member of both teams, so he serves as the glue which ties the teams together. <br />
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This was a very fun read. I find myself looking forward to Alan Davis’ next three issues more than I usually look forward to a miniseries. <br />
<hr /><b><u>Disguised As A Mild Mannered Reporter No More:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b> <b></b><u></u><strike></strike>In the landmark issue, <i>Action 1000</i>, Brian Michael Bendis restored the classic version of Superman to comics by putting his red briefs back on the outside of his pants, after an eight-year absence. I cheered, feeling Superman was actually Superman again. Fans, such as I, praised Bendis for restoring our hero back to his status quo. Ironically, he’s ended 2019 by shattering the aforementioned status quo.<br />
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<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 35%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Superman-2018-Brian-Michael-Bendis-ebook/dp/B081QXCVWL/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=9O0EOWJCT2QR&keywords=superman+18&qid=1578101740&sprefix=superm,aps,225&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=04e5f430d6c1d7bff2f982b37baa139f&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B081QXCVWL&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>In Superman 18, Bendis had Superman come out of the closet. No, not that closet; although that might be interesting someday….. But no, he had our hero tell the world his secret identity. That's right, Superman held a press conference to announce he’d been living as mild mannered reporter, Clark Kent, the whole time. Perry gave him a big hug; it was all very touching. <br />
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I’ll be honest, I have very mixed feelings about the whole thing. On the one hand, I totally understand the “pro-reveal” argument. Superman is known for his honesty, so he doesn't want to keep living a lie. Plus, Superman and Clark are close to the same people, so the dual identity isn’t protecting anybody. Perry, Jimmy, and Lois still find themselves tied to their share of time bombs. I get it, I do. <br />
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Be that as it may, the big reveal makes me uncomfortable. I’m what you call a “comic book purest.” I like Batman to have Robin. I like Aquaman to have short blond hair. Ray Palmer should be The Atom, Wonder Woman should have an invisible plane, the Hulk should smash things, and Superman’s identity should be a secret. <br />
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Lois learned Clark Kent’s secret back in 1991, and I’m still trying to get used to that one. As hokey as it may have been, I enjoyed seeing Clark Kent make an excuse to leave the room mere seconds before Superman shows up. It was classic Superman schtick.<br />
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Of course, Peter Parker held a similar press conference during “Civil War” (the comic book story, not the movie), and it only lasted a year or so before the world was magically made to forget who Spider-Man really is. Thus, this particular development may be undone eventually, perhaps by Mister Mxyzptlk. Who knows?James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-45668943974331234562019-12-01T20:29:00.000-08:002019-12-01T20:29:32.512-08:00Disney Plus Is Worth A Look-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 50%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/2099-Alpha-1-Marvel-ebook/dp/B07WSFS7H2/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=2099&qid=1575157786&sr=8-14&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=b50e6d316cc0a90f8cdc7746f5dacdda&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07WSFS7H2&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
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Long time Marvel readers will remember the 2099 line of comics from the mid-90s. It was a chance for Marvel’s writers to reimagine popular superheroes one-hundred years in the future. <br />
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This fall the company is revisiting these characters with a series of one-shots loosely tied together by a “time’s being rewritten” story. The series comes in “Parts” and “Tie-Ins.” The main story's parts, beginning with the Amazing Spider-Man series and the “2099 Alpha” one-shot, tell the time travel/alteration saga, while the Tie-Ins offer glimpses into the futuristic world in question. <br />
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I’ve posted the reading order below. Honestly though, I’m only going to collect the main story a few Tie-Ins featuring the namesakes of characters I already read. <br />
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<span style="color: firebrick; font-size: large;"><u>"Marvel 2099" Reading Order</u></span><br />
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Amazing Spider-Man #32</strong> (Prelude)<br />
Available October 23rd.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Amazing Spider-Man #33</strong> (Prelude)<br />
Available November 6th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">2099 Alpha #1</strong> (Part 1)<br />
Available November 20th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Fantastic Four: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available November 20th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Amazing Spider-Man #34</strong> (Part 2)<br />
Available November 20th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Conan: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available November 27th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Punisher: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available November 27th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Ghost Rider: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available December 4th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Amazing Spider-Man #35</strong> (Part 3)<br />
Available December 4th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Venom: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available December 4th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">Doom: 2099 #1 </strong>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available December 11th.<br />
<b>Spider-Man: 2099 #1 </b>(one-shot tie-in)<br />
Available December 11th.<br />
<strong style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;">2099 Omega #1</strong> (Part 4)<br />
Available December 18th.<br />
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<b><u>Disney Plus Is Worth A Look:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 50%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disney/dp/B07Y8SJGCV/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=1YH0ESK97AQY2&keywords=disney+plus&qid=1575158444&sprefix=di,aps,213&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=08ab78dbbac13fa186f7743654886fb5&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07Y8SJGCV&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Classic Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic are the divisions which comprise the internet’s hottest new entertainment site. My main blog is on Disney Plus, which went live on November 12th, 2019. <br />
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Being a self-professed nerd, I plopped down my $6.99 a month (or $69 per year) for access to the Star Wars and Marvel content. <br />
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The Star Wars section has everything a Padawan Jedi could want. Viewers can watch every Star Wars movie and almost every cartoon series, except for the “Droids” and “Ewoks” series of the 1980s. Also included are an array of shorts (mostly Legos based), specials, and, of course, “The Mandalorian,” the section’s first original series. <br />
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The Marvel section features every Marvel Cinematic Universe movie and a respectable number of series, specials, and cartoons. Notably absent are the Spider-Man movies, which are owned by Sony, and the X-Men films, which have been owned by FOX until recently. Also absent are the Incredible Hulk series starring Bill Bixby and the Spider-Man series starring Nicholas Hammond. While several original series are in the works, the first offering, a live action series centered around Loki, isn’t slated to premiere until 2021.<br />
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While I have no interest in Pixar or National Geographic, I have spent some time exploring the Disney section. It has selections ranging from Mickey Mouse to the Simpsons; from Herbie the Love Bug to Indiana Jones. I even found a few gems, from my childhood at the drive-in movies, to add to my watchlist.<br />
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<a href="http://disneyplus.com/">Disneyplus.com</a> still has some rough edges to smooth out, especially in regard to its Marvel section. Nevertheless, there's enough streaming content to make the site worth checking out.<br />
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<b>Site’s Greatest Strength:</b> The Mandalorian series<br />
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<b>Site's Greatest Weakness:</b> Gaps in Marvel’s content <br />
<br />James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-2999693593390859182019-11-02T16:40:00.000-07:002019-11-02T16:40:22.546-07:00Terminator's Back On Track-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 25%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sandman-Universe-Presents-Hellblazer-2019-ebook/dp/B07Z4638BJ/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=2UVJ37S4DQJI4&keywords=hellblazer+sandman+universe&qid=1572721177&sprefix=hellblazer+sa,aps,209&sr=8-1&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=0b745f067e099141ab5393520a96eaae&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07Z4638BJ&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>John Constantine is an exorcist/paranormal P.I.. Think Harry Potter meets Phillip Marlowe. I’ve been getting a pretty good dose of him within the pages of Justice League Dark, but DC has given him his own title again as part of “The Sandman Universe.” <br />
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Personally, I’ve never thought of Hellblazer as being under Sandman’s umbrella. They’re both magic though, so eh… OK. I can see Constantine as a bridge between mainstream Superheroes and Neil Gaiman’s dark world of dreaming. <br />
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No matter which category it’s being published under, Simon Spurrier and Aaron Campbell have created a beautiful first issue. The art keeps dipping into the psychedelic, while the text tells the story of a hero battling inner demons as well as satanic demons. <br />
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Although I found the book to be worth the $4.99 ($4.24 with my Comixology discount) price, it’s NOT FOR KIDS! Our hero drops several F bombs and makes crude references to female anatomy. The crass language is true to the character it helps paint; I simply wouldn't let my nephews read it. <br />
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<hr /><b><u>They’re Back!:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 50%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Terminator-Dark-Music-Motion-Picture/dp/B07Z27BPD3/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=23NDWZ7SENKZ3&keywords=dark+fate+soundtrack&qid=1572721688&sprefix=dark+fate+soundtrack,aps,225&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=a475f6c527ffc6dd5e2d1bfb9cad3f1b&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07Z27BPD3&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>In our top story, we take a look at Terminator 6: Dark Fate. <br />
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In 1984, audiences were introduced to a killer robot from the future, bent on preventing the birth of humanity’s greatest military leader, John Connor. Seven years later, a duplicate of the first movie’s villain played the role of hero trying to protect a teenage version of John from a more sophisticated Terminator. <br />
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Following the success of these two blockbusters, audiences were subjected to the sleepers; Rise of The Machines, Salvation, and Genisys. While fans wanted to like these three offerings, they just didn't capture the magical excitement of the first two films. I won’t say why, incase you haven't seen it, but the end of 2015’s Genisys left a bad taste in my mouth. <br />
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Yet, when I heard Linda Hamilton would be reprising her role as Sarah Connor, I decided to catch Terminator: Dark Fate on opening day. I’m glad I did. <br />
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Hamilton and Schwarzenegger may be 35 years older than when they began this joyride, but they can still play ass kickers with the best of them. Although the action was top notch, what made Dark Fate great was the script. <br />
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James Cameron, and his writing staff, fixed the timeline so that the last three movies never happened. Now, one can watch the first two films and this one, and get “the whole story,” without having to sit through the three weak chapters. <br />
James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-91722569521334779362019-10-27T13:09:00.000-07:002019-10-27T13:09:37.395-07:00Who's Watching HBO's Watchmen?-<br />
<b>Watchmen</b> was a 12 issue comic book series which ran from September of 1986 until October of 1987. Rather than giving readers the well-adjusted noble superheroes we were accustomed to; Alan Moore painted a very dystopian picture of selfish emotionally damaged heroes. On October 20th, HBO premiered the first episode of <b>Watchmen</b>, a series supposedly inspired by Moore’s classic tale. Below are my thoughts on the show. Spoilers ahead. <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Watchmen-Deluxe-Alan-Moore/dp/1401238963/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=1678IHGFVY3H7&keywords=watchmen&qid=1572047608&sprefix=watch,aps,229&sr=8-6&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=1fdbc92dc9f25259bc4e4f8262721d69&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1401238963&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
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Going in, I knew the show would deliver an original story, instead of a retelling of the, now, classic comic book tale. However, I expected a story featuring the superheroes from the <b>Watchmen</b> super team.<br />
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Instead of a story featuring <b>Dr. Manhattan, The Comedian, Silk Spectre</b>, or <b>Night Owl II</b>, the focus of the series is on an original character, Sister Night, a stealthy police detective serving a small town’s police force where all police hide their identities for fear of reprisal. We do see news reports about the superheroes in the background, but they’re there more to justify the use of the “<b>Watchmen</b>," label than they are to move the story forward. <br />
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The <b>Watchmen</b> character we saw the most of was Rorschach. Well… sort of. Replacing Rorschach, the noir-esc hero, was a cult donning Rorschach masks. We know the cult is on the wrong side of the law, but weather they’re heroes or villains is unclear. Equally unclear is their connection to the hero they’re modeled after, or if he exists at all.<br />
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It’s a textbook example of bait & switch. Imagine going to an “Avengers” movie only to have it be about Luke Cage living in a small town. The product may very well prove to be an exciting story. It’s just not the one fans, like me, tuned in to see.<br />
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<b><u>Final Note:</u></b><br />
Interestingly enough, Amazon Prime streams a dark superhero show called <b>The Boys</b>, which reminds me more of the <b>Watchmen</b> comic book than the show which bares its name.<br />
- James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-38688466708810614582019-08-27T17:08:00.000-07:002019-08-27T17:08:57.780-07:00Say It Aint So Batman, Say It Aint So!<br />
Unless you've been in solitary confinement in Arkham Asylum, you know what happened at the end of <b>Batman #77</b> last week. Even if you haven't read the latest chapter of <i><b>City of Bane</b></i>, it’s been all but impossible to surf the internet without bumping head long into a spoiler for the last page. Nevertheless, I’m going to leave ample spoiler space below this paragraph just in case you've wandered in here by mistake and you’re still planning to read the issue. Although, I have no idea WTF you’re waiting for?<br />
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OK, those who haven't read the issue yet should be gone. OMG, BANE KILLED ALFRED!!!!!!!!!!! I freaked when I’d initially read <b>#77</b>’s final panel. I doubled back, looking for the page I’d missed, when Alfred was replaced by a clone. Of course, it wasn’t there. Robin (Damian Wayne) had called Bane’s bluff by continuing to fight crime in Gotham City, and Bane broke the neck of his hostage, Bruce Wayne’s loyal butler, Alfred Pennyworth. <br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Batman-2016-77-Tom-King-ebook/dp/B07TT84RXB/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=batman+77&qid=1566871800&s=gateway&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=5a38ff6be276971601ebdd929deb8b75&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07TT84RXB&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/DETECTIVE-COMICS-328-4-0/dp/B07845TGHH/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=detective+comics+328&qid=1566866788&s=gateway&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=453ac4a15096f1134534b598f2b13fe2&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07845TGHH&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
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I was as upset as if a real person had just been killed. I told myself they couldn't do this. It would be like killing off Perry White or Jimmy Olsen, I told myself. I mean, he’d always been there, or so I thought. As it turns out, this isn’t the first time Alfred has died.<br />
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Back in <b>Detective Comics #328 (June, 1964) </b>Pennyworth threw himself in front of an on coming boulder to save the lives of the dynamic duo. Being seven years before the debut of Ra’s Al Ghul, there was no such thing as a Lazarus Pit yet. Thus, he remained dead for two years before a mad scientist would resurrect him as a scaly white super villain called The Outsider (Batman’s team of the same name wouldn't appear until 1983).<br />
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Being comics, I don't expect this death to last long. Either Damian will take Alfred’s body to Nanda Parbat for resurrection in the Lazarus Pit, or, given the role the multiverse is currently playing in DC’s current titles, we may see an orphaned version of Alfred being adopted by our universe's Bruce Wayne/Batman.<br />
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Think about it, even without the precedent from the 60s, it’s a good bet they won’t leave Pennyworth dead for long, just as he’s starring in his own hit series on EPIX.<br />
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<b><u>Note of Interest:</u> Detective Comics #328</b> not only saw the original death of Alfred, but also introduced the character Aunt Harriet, whom I’d thought was created solely for the 1966 TV series. <br />
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<u><b>Editor’s Note:</b></u> So far, I’m not really impressed with the <b><i>City of Bane</i></b> storyline. It seems like a rehash of <b><i>No Man’s Land</i></b> to me.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-68488978903285521582019-08-13T14:40:00.000-07:002019-08-13T14:56:43.008-07:00Powers Of X & House Of X Mean New Direction Of X-<br />
This summer Jonathan Hickman is writing two interlocking X-Men miniseries (House Of X and Powers Of X), which will spawn a new direction for upcoming X-Titles.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Powers-X-2019-1-6-ebook/dp/B07QMNWLJK/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=15IFVBTHM587H&keywords=powers+of+x&qid=1565732819&s=gateway&sprefix=powers,aps,208&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=dab8e6ffcc188a66e6a0e7aabfa89abf&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07QMNWLJK&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" width="260" /></a><br />
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House Of X #1 hit stands first, for $7.99. Without spoiling anything I can say, the issue picks up during, what feels like, the middle of the story. After reading a few pages I actually put the book down and checked the internet to make sure I hadn’t missed something between the final issue of Uncanny X-Men and the book I was currently reading. I hadn't. The issue simply began after an entire new “world order” (for lack of a better term) had been created for mutants.<br />
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I almost pulled the title from my subscriptions list. However, I’m a huge X-Men junkie and if these books were setting up new ongoing titles, I didn't want to go in blind down the road. I’m happy I stuck it out.<br />
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The fourth season of Babylon-5 showed fans the future of humanity one-hundred years, five-hundred years, one-thousand years, and one-million following the end of the Earth Alliance Civil War. Powers Of X #1, for $5.99, does roughly the same thing with the future of mutants. I was hooked. Seriously, I can’t remember when I’ve enjoyed a book more.<br />
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A week later, I picked up House Of X #2, for $4.99, which rewrites the history of one well known character without contradicting anything which has been published previously. Hickman gives the character a power I’ve always wished I had, to tell a brilliantly creative quasi time travel story. Then he reshows readers a seen from Powers Of X #1 from a different point of view, which had me thinking about mutant history for few hours after I’d read it. Thanks for costing me sleep Hickman. <br />
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Each issue is peppered with pages mimicking computer readouts to convey important story elements to the reader. These can take the form of historical facts, mutant population statistics, political insights, etc….<br />
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Both #1s feature extra long stories which increase their price. Plus, I mistakenly bought the “Director’s Cut” of House Of X #1, featuring a cover gallery, script notes, and other extras, which add nothing to the story, but increase the cover price by $2.00.<br />
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The new take on the X-Men takes some getting used to, but now that I’m a few issues in, I like where it’s going. James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-84198968911293491332019-07-23T20:37:00.000-07:002019-07-23T20:37:19.113-07:00Super Hero Prequels-<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In 1999, George Lucas gave fans the first chapter of Darth Vader's origin story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While <i>Phantom Menace </i>was, unquestionably, the worst movie of the Star Wars franchise (at least until <i>Solo</i> hit the big screen), it made over $1 billion and reignited the <i>Star Wars </i>universe. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smallville-Complete-Various/dp/B004XWLN20/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=1IITNHLXCZ8K2&keywords=smallville+complete+series+dvd&qid=1563923585&s=gateway&sprefix=smallv,aps,208&sr=8-3&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=951e3da131050f77e8f09f62dddd07f8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B004XWLN20&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Perhaps inspired by the success of the prequel, DC gave TV viewers a prequel of its own two years later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i>Smallville,</i> told the story of young Clark Kent coming to terms with his powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the syndicated <i>Superboy</i> series of the early 90s, <i>Smallville </i>focused as much on teen angst as on super powered plots.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">I made the mistake of writing the show off early on, because I felt it was a cross between <i>Superboy </i>and <i>Dawson’s Creek. </i><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite what I thought, the show developed a huge following and lasted ten years. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gotham-Complete-Fifth-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B07MWRJM6L/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1563925147&sr=8-5&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=217edc9e6d8014eadba4519130b2b2fe&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07MWRJM6L&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">In 2014, FOX aired <i>Gotham</i>, the story of the city about ten years before Batman took to the mean streets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While young Bruce Wayne definitely played a major role in the series, it really focused on a heroic Jim Gordon earning his future job as Police Commissioner. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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</span></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">The series just wrapped up a few months ago, and I was sorry to see it go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only were we given rich foundations for our heroes, but popular villains such as the Riddler, Penguin, and Catwoman were portrayed as multi-layered characters rather than one dimensional evil foils for Wayne and Gordon. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Right now, the Syfy Channel (don’t get me started on the whole Syfy vs. Sci-Fi thing) is airing season 2 of <i>Krypton</i>. Basically, <i>Krypton </i>is to <i>Superman </i>what <i>Caprica</i> was to <i>Battlestar Galactica (2004)</i>… with a bit of <i>Terminator </i>thrown into the mix. The series chronicles Adam Strange traveling back in time to protect Superman’s grandfather, Seg El, from Superman’s enemies seeking to prevent Superman’s birth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Krypton-Complete-First-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B07KLFJD3N/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=1BGZKIJIHISPJ&keywords=krypton+season+1&qid=1563925569&s=gateway&sprefix=kry,aps,217&sr=8-3&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=e7864c500620197000c635f8f89049fe&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07KLFJD3N&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=B07KLFJD3N" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Setting aside the fact that if one can travel through time and space one can probably shoot down a rocket solely occupied by a baby, Krypton is an immensely fun show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only have we been treated to live action versions of classic characters such as Brainiac, Lobo, Doomsday, and the aforementioned Adam Strange, but the scripts and production values are movie quality. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">This Sunday, July 28, 2019, epix is scheduled to premiere the prequel series, <i>Pennyworth, </i>about a young Alfred meeting Thomas Wayne. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I thought, “Who cares about a pre prequel about a butler?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I remembered the character was a British intelligence agent before he came to work for Wayne Manner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">Judging by the trailers, <i>Pennyworth </i>looks like it has the potential to be an exciting TV show filled with humor, action, and Easter Eggs (allusions to related material).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Based solely on what I’ve seen, it looks to me as if the main antagonists will belong to the Court of Owls, but I wouldn't be surprised to see the League of Assassins being involved in some way too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">There's room for lots of other fresh material to be produced within the prequel genre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn't mind seeing a pre-Hal Jordan Green Lantern series featuring Abin Sur.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever the powers that be have in store, it’s a pretty safe bet that fans will be shown back stories of our favorite characters for some time to come.</span><br />
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<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 30%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wolverine-Exit-Wounds-Chris-Claremont-ebook/dp/B07PTCP47W/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=wolverine&qid=1563926285&s=books&sr=1-16&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=09d4faf2f9f3ada404b74f0db319ad46&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07PTCP47W&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" width="130" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Wolverine</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"> is the best at what he does, selling
comics. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since returning from the grave late
last year, <b>Wolverine</b> has been featured in <i>Uncanny X-Men, War of the Realms,
Infinity Watch,</i> and other series which I’m probably not aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, he has yet to return to his own series</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Instead of relaunching a <b>Wolverine</b>
title, <b>Marvel</b> has spent the Summer putting him in a bunch of one-shot stories.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These solo appearances include; <i>Wolverine
vs. Blade, Wolverine + Captain America, Wolverine: Exit Wounds, </i>and bizarrely
a <i>Wolverine Annual #1 </i>for a title which doesn't exist. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">Granted, this format has the benefit
of allowing readers to by only the stories they want, without having to wait
for another story to end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, in order for that to work, one has
to be aware of each one-shot coming out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Keeping track of multiple publications can be a daunting task, even for
a mega-nerd such as me; a casual reader doesn't stand a chance. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif;">It would make much more sense to
release the stories sequentially under a single title, so readers can sign up for
<i>“Wolverine”</i> and know they're going to get every story.</span>James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-40223065574855996382019-06-06T16:05:00.000-07:002019-07-23T17:17:01.927-07:00Bye Bye Westeros-<br />
It's been way too long since I’ve written one of these blogs. I have no excuse. Well, that’s not true. I have multiple excuses, but simply none that are any good. I think my sails lost some wind when I couldn't get to the movies to see Captain Marvel or SHAZAM!<br />
<br />
While I’ve been gone, the world of geekdom has seen several major developments. I’m not going to address them all, but I want to touch on two of them.<br />
<br />
SPOILER WARNINGS FOR AVENGERS/AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D & GAME OF THRONES<br />
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I'm not going to address the events of End Game, it's been analyzed by a good portion of blogosphere has already picked it apart. That being said, I feel the need to address a plot hole regarding Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The show was synced with the Avengers’ timeline at the end of last season. This season picked up one year later, which should put it a year after the snap. Yet, the show completely ignores the fact that half the people on Earth are gone. It's just lazy writing. Grrrrrrrrrr……. Enough said about that.<br />
<br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 50%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Game-Thrones-S8-BD-Blu-ray/dp/B07QDC7GCY/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1559861689&sr=8-1-spons&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=2971667201e0cd7ada3974f8d562eb89&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07QDC7GCY&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07QDC7GCY" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>I’d rather spend time giving my impressions of the Game of Thrones’ finale. I know that’s been picked apart too, but I’ve been hashing it over with my friend Kyle, so I thought it'd be fun to post my thoughts here too. Kyle, you can take a nap, I’ve told you all this.<br />
<br />
I liked the way the story ended, for the most part. Although, I wanted Sam to kill Daenerys to avenge his father and brother. Jon doing it though was powerful, but having Daenerys inadvertently create her own worst enemy would have been so much more epic.<br />
<br />
In a similar vain, I REALLY WANTED Jaime to kill Sersi. It would have been a great moment of redemption for his character. Going from an incestuous sleaze who pushes boys out of windows to a knight who kills his lover for the good of the kingdom would have made a complete hero’s journey. Still dying in each other's arms, while Bran came out on top was poetic justice.<br />
<br />
When I watched it, I groaned at Bran becoming king. I thought they did it just for the sake of the big twist. I thought about it though, and given all the people who struggled to protect him, it made sense. Hodor died holding the door to protect the one who would be king. We live for the one, we die for the one. Oh wait, that’s from a different saga.<br />
<br />
I think Arya served her purpose. Some people think she should've killed Sersi, but given that she had already killed the Night King and saved humanity from the White Walkers, it seems like a lot to ask. Just saying. There is a rumor she may get her own spin-off showing us what's west of Westeros. We’ll see.<br />
<br />
Right now, I’m gearing up for The Dark Phoenix Saga. I know going in that they have to combine The Phoenix Saga with The Dark Phoenix Saga, so that won't bother me. I just hope they do better with The Dark Phoenix Saga than they did with Apocalypse.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-24923554255937158482019-04-04T18:10:00.000-07:002019-04-04T18:10:19.987-07:00Enjoying War Of The Realms-<br />
<b><u>Enjoying War Of The Realms:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b> When Odin of Midgard, Thor’s father, is, supposedly, murdered by Malekith’s forces, the Ten Realms are drawn into a war which will determine the fate of all existence.<br />
<br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 50%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/WAR-REALMS-1-Jason-Aaron/dp/B07Q3ZCDL7/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=war+of+the+realms+#1&qid=1554335291&s=gateway&sr=8-4&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=e22d0bc130717d41e4b018fc950f003a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQ0TYfh7QjuDLv_Y9FJ_kUV0k_NfYYaOErvHyHzcgjRFALt5dY2a6pnku2tJajwerbZaX1PGyhx816de9XDsb9YGWjeAKgORVNQkcpN2hhUc5HUuzDRcxSKwHSq2o6k9hUn6EZgtLCIU/s320/wotr1.jpg" width="206" height="320" data-original-width="662" data-original-height="1026" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&l=li3&o=1&a=B07Q3ZCDL7" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>After reading issue #1, this is my non-spoilery synopsis of Marvel’s latest mega event, <i><b>War Of The Realms</b></i>. Like all mega events, since the original <i>Secret Wars</i>, the story consists of a main title, several tie-in titles, and relevant issues of ongoing titles. <br />
<br />
<u><b>Act 1: The World at War - April Books</b></u><br />
War of the Realms #1 |<br />
War of the Realms #2 |<br />
Asgardians of the Galaxy #8 |<br />
Avengers #18 | <br />
Thor #12 |<br />
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #43 | <br />
Venom #13 |<br />
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #1 | <br />
War of the Realms: Punisher #1 | <br />
War of the Realms: War Scrolls #1 | <br />
War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #1 |<br />
<br />
<u><b>Act 2: (Title Unknown) - May Books</b></u><br />
War of the Realms #3 | <br />
War of the Realms #4 | <br />
War of the Realms Strikeforce: The Dark Elf Realm #1 | <br />
War of the Realms Strikeforce: The War Avengers #1 | <br />
War of the Realms Strikeforce: The Land of Giants #1 |<br />
War of the Realms: Spider-Man and the League of Realms #1 | <br />
War of the Realms: Spider-Man and the League of Realms #2 | <br />
War of the Realms: War Scrolls #2 | <br />
War of the Realms: Punisher #2 |<br />
War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #1 |<br />
War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #2 |<br />
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #2 |<br />
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #3 |<br />
War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #2 | <br />
Fantastic Four #10 |<br />
Venom #14 | <br />
Giant Man #1 |<br />
Giant Man #2 |<br />
Asgardians of the Galaxy #9 |<br />
Thor #13 | <br />
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #44 | <br />
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur #43 | <br />
Champions #5 | <br />
Tony Stark: Iron Man #12 |<br />
Avengers #19 | <br />
<br />
<u><b>Act 3: (Title Unknown) - June Books</b></u><br />
War of the Realms #5 |<br />
War of the Realms #6 |<br />
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #4 | <br />
War of the Realms: Journey Into Mystery #5 | <br />
War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #3 | <br />
War of the Realms: New Agents of Atlas #4 | <br />
War of the Realms: Punisher #3 | <br />
War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #3 |<br />
War of the Realms: War Scrolls #3 | <br />
Thor #14 | <br />
Champions #6 |<br />
Avengers #20 |<br />
Captain Marvel #6 |<br />
Captain Marvel #7 |<br />
Deadpool #13 |<br />
Deadpool #14 |<br />
Asgardians of the Galaxy #10 |<br />
The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl #45 |<br />
Tony Stark: Iron Man #13 | <br />
War Of The Realms: Omega #1<br />
<br />
Make no mistake, I DO NOT plan to collect every single tie-in. Not only would it eat up way too much of my bank account, I learned long ago (in 1991 with DC’s <i>Armageddon 2001</i> and <i>War Of The Gods</i>) that many tie-in issues don't add much to the over all story. <br />
<br />
As for me, I’m going to collect the main title, <i><b>War Of The Realms: Punisher, War Of The Realms: Uncanny X-Men, War Of The Realms: Scrolls</b></i> (because Captain America is in it), and the tie-in issues of the titles I normally collect. I recommend you do the same; find a few tie-in titles featuring heroes you really like, and don't knock yourself out trying to collect every single skirmish. <br />
<hr><br />
<b><u>Editor's Note:</u></b><br />
<br />
To make these blogs easier to post on social media, I'm moving the Spotlight section back to the end of each entry.<br />
<hr><br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 65%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/What-IS-Happy/dp/B077Z65N92/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=2IFVRJ16DZOP4&keywords=happy+tv+series&qid=1554417769&s=gateway&sprefix=happy+tv,aps,214&sr=8-1&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=650619fd39d66780349df1ba6e394214" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaT7v-Qhkm07KCSsi4gpRQMbglLSi0p64MmJPVFp5mdqpchT7E_u5206ipkSFqp886Oy7qV7P53EKhaqGi-HhT1oPeBQ9exR7HavwdhGQVbjP8DlhfUFvJHZACIKUFWNXkYSpT4VucLbg/s320/Happy.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="380" data-original-height="285" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div><b>Happy!</b>, arguably one of most bizarre shows on TV, has returned to SyFy for a second season. The show, based on the graphic novel of the same name, tells the story of, alcoholic ex-detective, Nick Sax being guided by his daughter's imaginary blue unicorn. <br />
<br />
The first season was about rescuing his daughter from a sadistic Santa. This season revolves around a sado-masochistic Easter Bunny and a plot to control the Easter holiday by scamming the Pope. <b>Happy!</b> is a show jam packed with graphic violence, adult language, and sexually suggestive content. While the show is crude, violent, and COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN, adults will find a hilarious exciting series.<br />
<br />
<b>Happy!</b> airs Wednesday nights at 10pm on SyFy.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-14235042927003694722019-03-21T16:51:00.000-07:002019-03-21T16:51:04.920-07:00SHAZAM Is Just The Magic Word!-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
Based on Neil Gaiman’s book of the same name, American Gods has returned to Starz for a second season. <br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 40%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Gods-Novel-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0062572237/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=5TLQ2B8CYEE1&keywords=american+gods&qid=1553197316&s=gateway&sprefix=Ame,aps,221&sr=8-3&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=3a160e18c077e1909130900cbc008136&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0062572237&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0062572237" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>Starring Ian McShane as “Mr. Wednesday," the show tells the story of the old Gods (Odin, Belquis, Czernobog, Anansi, etc…) trying to find their place in a world which worships Technology, Media, and similar new Gods. If such an array of characters wasn’t eclectic enough, Gaiman throws a zombie, a six foot tall leprechaun, and an excon named Shadow into the mix for good measure. <br />
<br />
Stir the pot and the result is an exciting, mind bending tale filled with violence, dark humor, and profoundly thought provoking ideas about why we believe what we believe. <br />
<br />
Due to the use of graphic violence and adult language, this is not a show for the little ones. Yet, adults, who tune into Starz on Sunday nights, will find new episodes of an intelligent entertaining series. <br />
<br />
<hr><u><b>SHAZAM Is Just The Magic Word!</u></b><br />
The movie Captain Marvel opened on March 8th, and has been breaking box office records. SHAZAM opens in theatres on April 5th. Bizarrely, at least to us old farts, the two movies are about two completely different characters. <br />
<br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 40%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shazam-Complete-Live-Action-Michael-Gray/dp/B009M4KT3I/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=3S116NIF7UFQU&keywords=shazam&qid=1553198003&s=gateway&sprefix=shaz,aps,216&sr=8-41&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=831c5cae00bccb803082fcc96b1e8c40&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?
_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B009M4KT3I&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" ></a><img src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B009M4KT3I" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>When I was growing up, Billy Batson shouted SHAZAM (Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles, Mercury) in order to transform into the world’s mightiest mortal Captain Marvel. Now SHAZAM is the name of the hero Billy Batson turns into, and Captain Marvel is a female heroin in a different universe. So, WTF happened ?<br />
<br />
Fawcett Comics, the original publishers of Captain Marvel/SHAZAM comics, cancelled the title in the 1950s. In the 1960s, Marvel Comics trademarked the name Captain Marvel for their own Kree alien superhero, which meant when DC licensed the Fawcett characters in 1972, they had the Fawcett character named Captain Marvel, but couldn’t call the comic Captain Marvel, so they used his magic word “SHAZAM!” for the title.<br />
<br />
The rule applied to non-print media as well. When Billy Batson made his TV debut in 1974, his show was titled The SHAZAM/Isis Hour, which I looked forward to every Saturday morning. Eventually, DC grew tired of making the distinction, and renamed the character SHAZAM when they rebooted their line of comics as “The New 52.”<br />
<br />
In my mind, SHAZAM will always be Captain Marvel, mainly out of tradition. Plus, if you think about it, it just makes more sense. If his name and magic word are the same, how can the hero tell someone his name without reverting to Billy Batson? James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-1768472206569077302019-02-28T15:47:00.000-08:002019-02-28T15:47:03.220-08:00The Umbrella Academy Graduates To Netflix-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
<br />
In 1975, the Justice League of America hit ABC’s Saturday morning air waves as the Super Friends. The first, kid friendly, season saw Wendy, Marvin, and their Scooby-Doo-esc pet Wonder Dog serving as the Super Friends’ interns. The second season saw the interns suddenly replace with the shape shifting Wonder Twins; Zan, Jayna, and their pet space-monkey Gleek.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Twins-2019-Mark-Russell-ebook/dp/B07L49BB8T/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=3MEBLSHIF43V&keywords=wonder+twins+#1&qid=1551221115&s=gateway&sprefix=wonder+tw,aps,218&sr=8-2&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=b8834a34f98978495591577f5ccfafb4&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07L49BB8T&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07L49BB8T" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Unless you were fortunate enough to have read Super Friends #7, you had no idea the original interns had gone to Ivy University (Ray Palmer’s fictional university) and Paradise Island to further their educations, and the Wonder Twins had been sent from their planet, Exxor, to learn how to be super heroes. You only knew that when they touched hands, to activate their powers, he could turn into any water construct and she could turn into any animal. <br />
<br />
Since the end of the Saturday morning series, in 1984, the twins have made occasional appearances in Extreme Justice, Teen Titans, Young Justice, and Smallville Season 11. Now, written by Mark Russell, with art by Stephen Byrne, DC has finally given the siblings their own title. <br />
<br />
The new incarnation depicts the twins as exiles, rather than exchange students. Yet, like their TV predecessors, they're again being shepherded by Superman, and interning in the Hall of Justice, as they try to adapt to their new planet.<br />
<br />
Wonder Twins is a light hearted comic book geared toward kids and teens, with plenty of super hero cameos and high school hijinks. Think Archie meets the Justice League.<br />
<hr />
<br />
<b><u>The Umbrella Academy Graduates To Netflix:</u></b><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Umbrella-Academy-Apocalypse-Suite-ebook/dp/B01663Z6BM/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=2JRY6O9UUTSYH&keywords=umbrella+academy&qid=1551226301&s=gateway&sprefix=umbrella+,aps,215&sr=8-8&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=919abbebab4dbd527b20e659a5647ddd&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B01663Z6BM&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B01663Z6BM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>.</span></div>
</div>
On October 1, 1989, 43 women around the world give birth simultaneously, despite none of them showing any sign of pregnancy until labor began. Seven of the children are adopted by eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves. This is the first bit of information the audience is given as the Netflix series, based on the Dark Horse comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, begins. <br />
<br />
What follows is a majestically off beat super hero drama. Seeing a loosely knit team of super powered individuals who don't all get along invites comparisons to the X-Men. Yet, the grand mansion and non-human staff reminded me of SyFy’s Sanctuary. <br />
<br />
Without revealing spoilers, it’s safe to say we meet our characters just as their lives change and they're thrust into a mystery. As soon as we start to get into the mystery, another, more ominous threat rears its head.<br />
<br />
I’m only three episodes into the series, and so far I'm having a lot of fun with it. Not only is their plenty of high powered action, but the characters are written with layers of complexity, making them come across as believable despite their powers. <br />
<br />
Although this is a superhero show, I’d recommend watching it when the little ones are in the other room. Violence and use of adult language makes this a show for adults and mature teens. James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-40608042256896033292019-02-07T16:48:00.000-08:002019-02-07T16:48:02.037-08:00Reading Comics In The 21st Century-<br />
<u><b>Spotlight:</b></u><br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Batman-2016-64-Joshua-Williamson-ebook/dp/B07L48R5JP/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1549571953&sr=8-1&keywords=batman+64&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=9e01ca7eec7f9d9da9dad18f4f3e9292&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07L48R5JP&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07L48R5JP" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
As a result of <i>Flashpoint</i>, during which Barry came to know Bruce’s father, the two heroes formed a bond. Batman and The Flash reunited in 2017’s <i>The Button </i>(Batman 21 & 22 and The Flash 21 & 22), which laid the foundation for the maxi-series <i>Doomsday Clock</i>. <br />
<br />
The two detectives are together again in <i><b>The Price </b></i><b>(Batman 64 & 65 and The Flash 64 & 65)</b>. Without spoiling any significant plot points, Batman 64 opens in the middle of an exciting Justice League battle with a classic foe. From there our heroes are immediately thrust into a mystery, the result of which may have as great an impact on the DC Universe as <i>Flashpoint</i> and <i>The Button</i>. We’ll see.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<u><b>Reading Comics In The 21st Century:</b></u><br />
When I was a kid, I’d pick up the odd comic book at 7-11 to kill time. I didn't start regularly reading and collecting comic books until I was 19, in 1989. Through the decades I’ve amassed a sizeable collection. <br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 30%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Book-Comics-Condition-various-distributors/dp/B002095J4G/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1549577566&sr=8-7&keywords=comic+books&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=5a413447189ddcd9794efc9886cfdeba&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B002095J4G&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B002095J4G" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
<br />
I have jam packed boxes of comic books in my bedroom, the garage, and in a rented storage space in town. That’s right, I’m paying to store comics which I’ll probably never read again. It’d be one thing if I had loads of rare collector items worth loads of cash, but that’s not the case.<br />
<br />
Back when the medium was in its infancy, most kids bought, read, and traded comics as though they were toys (which is how they were intended to be used and enjoyed). If the occasional copy was found in mint condition, decades later, it was worth something.<br />
<br />
Then news of a <a href="https://www.fortressofsolitude.co.za/10-valuable-comic-books/">Captain America Comics #1 selling for $343,000, or an Action Comics #1 selling for $3,200,000</a> circulated through Nerdtopia and became folklore. Pretty soon everyone with a copy of Batman in their attic thought they had a golden ticket to Easy Street. <br />
<br />
Comic book companies caught wind of this mania and began labeling certain issues as “Collector Items.” Savvy collectors began buying up, and carefully storing, these gems as investments. Of course since the things were mass produced, they'll never be rare enough to be valuable. Thus, I’m storing thousands of books for no reason.<br />
<br />
I still enjoy reading new stories, but have nowhere to put them. While I will miss the gang at my local comic book shop, I’ve decided to read my stories on <a href="http://comixology.com/">ComiXology.com</a> from now on. They get all issues every Wednesday, just like the brick and mortar shops. <br />
<br />
I'm not sure what the future of comic books is. The romantic in me hopes the physical shops don't go away completely. However, for me, until I have a mansion with unlimited storage space, digital comics are the way to go. -<br />
<br />
<br />James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-44691722768934328572019-01-29T14:06:00.002-08:002019-01-29T15:07:34.848-08:00The Best Star Trek May Be Non-Canonical-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight:</u></b><br />
Planetary Union Captain Ed Mercer commands the Starship Orville as he, and his eclectic crew, explores the galaxy.<br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orville-Season-1-Seth-MacFarlane/dp/B075K23YTM/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1548795641&sr=8-3&keywords=the+orville&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=20425a86cdbd1c5abe87c1a9c3a3e6a9&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B075K23YTM&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B075K23YTM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Show creator, and star, Seth MacFarlane brilliantly straddles the line between literary allusion and plagiarism with this hit Fox series. While the alien races, ship designs, and technical babble are different from those of Gene Roddenberry’s well established universe, <i>The Orville </i>throws an obvious nod toward <i>Star Trek: The Next Generation</i>. The color coded uniforms, pristine well-lit ship, and bridge layout all remind one of televised tales of Picard’s heroic crew. <br />
<br />
Sure, this show focuses much more on comedy than its predecessor, but between the jokes one will find well written science fiction stories filled with excitement, intelligence, and heart.<br />
<br />
Technically it’s not Star Trek, but Thursday nights, at 9pm, it’s a fun way for fans to get their Trekkie fix.<br />
-<br />
<br />
<u><b>The Best Star Trek May Be Non-Canonical:</b></u><br />
I've been watching Star Trek since 1977, and attending conventions since 1985. I'm a Trekkie in every sense of the word. <br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 50%;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_A16q46WTkSRdv4cO_WusGjO1dSf8COuRrEXJHy9DqPO2ovd2vCbL5XS3Wa8uHdMhO1WvYhFP0hkvQnHQnKTkOdGfr30IotzEnlXlWXcfElH03VPB4AUonQ-c7rjzIbDcw7rq9xYEag/s1600/NewVoyages.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="404" data-original-width="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_A16q46WTkSRdv4cO_WusGjO1dSf8COuRrEXJHy9DqPO2ovd2vCbL5XS3Wa8uHdMhO1WvYhFP0hkvQnHQnKTkOdGfr30IotzEnlXlWXcfElH03VPB4AUonQ-c7rjzIbDcw7rq9xYEag/s1600/NewVoyages.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Subject: This image is a promotional poster for the Star Trek: New Voyages series</b></span></div>
</div>
Star Trek fans, in general, are known for being... exuberant. Most of us get our "Trek on" by dressing up and attending conventions once or twice a year. However, a hand full of zealous fans, apparently, weren't satisfied with this level if fantasy, so they've taken it to the next level. They've written and produced their own episodes.<br />
<br />
The first of these fan-run production companies, I was aware of, was James Cawley's <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/startrekphase2DE">Star Trek: New Voyages</a></i>. <br />
<br />
With himself in the starring role of Captain James T. Kirk, Cawley & company produced 10 episodes of Star Trek, complete with authentic looking sets and costumes. <br />
<br />
If the quality of the production wasn’t impressive enough, somehow they were able to pay Trek stars, including; George Takei, Walter Koenig, Denise Crosby, William Windom, and others; to do guest spots in episodes. Keep in mind, since they don’t hold the copyright to Star Trek, they’re not allowed to make ANY money from these episodes. These are purely products of the love of Star Trek. <br />
<br />
Star Trek was always at its best when it used stories to talk about contemporary issues. The writers of this series didn’t forget that simple truth. One story arch, beginning with episode 4, involved Kirk’s gay nephew coming out to his womanizing uncle. Seeing Captain Kirk officiate a same sex wedding was marvelous. <br />
<br />
Sadly, after ten episodes production ceased in 2015 and their website came down. However, the web series can still be found on YouTube. <br />
<br />
I thought Cawley’s series was the only game in town. Not so, Number One Son. As it turns out, YouTube is peppered with such productions. The makers of the movie, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFjKV9IcGV8&t"><i>Starfleet Academy</i></a>, hired William Shatner, George Takei, and Christopher Plummer to star in their story. Walter Koenig stars as Admiral Chekov in <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE2Wgop9VLM&t=951s"><i>Star Trek: Renegades</i></a>, while the crews of the <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS-imGQ-GaNiQI_KPAgAy0A">Farragut</a> and</i> <i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkuJG1_2MnU">Exeter</a></i> explore space with entirely original casts of characters. <br />
<br />
Of course the quality of the special effects, sets, acting ability, and wardrobe varies from production to production. Yet, motivated by love for the show, they've each captured the spirit of Star Trek in a way <a href="https://meganerdgasm.blogspot.com/2018/09/star-trek-discovery.html">CBS’s current offering</a> hasn’t.<br />
-<br />
<br />James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-50503026488357875692019-01-14T15:21:00.003-08:002019-01-14T15:21:59.304-08:00The Punisher Returns-<br />
<br />
I haven't posted here for a while, partly because of a busy holiday, and partly because it's been hard to care about writing about nerdcentric pop culture when our country is self-destructing. Yet, it could be argued that diversion, via comics & scifi, may be the only thing keeping some of us sane.<br />
<br />
I'm still polishing my piece on fan-made Star Trek productions, but I wanted to get this spotlight up ASAP. I think I'm going to post a "Spotlight" each week, whether, or not, I have a main feature ready.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<u><b>Spotlight:</b></u><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); float: right; padding: 5px; width: 326.5px;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Punisher-Max-Complete-Collection-Vol/dp/1302901877/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1547504984&sr=1-9&keywords=punisher&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=6a31eb84cc1548cf93f30e1496633a08&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1302901877&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1302901877" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>.</span></div>
</div>
This Friday, 01/18/2019, Netflix will be dropping season 2 of <b>Marvel's Punisher</b>. Being a long time fan of the character, I devoured season 2 of Dare Devil (where Jon Bernthal debuted as <b>The Punisher</b>) and season 1 of <b>Punisher</b>.<br />
<br />
While I liked Bernthal's portrayal of the psychotic brooding hero, Frank Castle, season 1 wasn't without its problems. It's not a spoiler to reveal that the story involves Frank befriending a single parent family. Seeing Frank visit a family in the burbs didn't feel like the Punisher to me. Frank works best in either an urban downtown, or jungle combat, setting. If he'd watched out for a poor, but honest, single parent family in Hell's Kitchen it might have been a better fit.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, the writing & urban combat action scenes were good enough to make me look forward to season 2 this week. Plus, like I told my friend, Kyle, <a class="" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrLhP5sK2wI">Jigsaw looks awesome in the trailer</a>! It looks like they're making him a hands-on criminal thug instead of a mob boss. Can't wait!<br />
<hr />
James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-55862039782288107852018-12-10T14:43:00.001-08:002019-02-06T16:42:02.008-08:00SHAZAM? -<br />
<b><u>Editor's Note:</u></b><br />
Hey there readers, my Star Trek piece will require a bit more work. In the meantime, find out how <i style="font-weight: bold;">SHAZAM #1</i> became a gripe, instead of a pick.<br />
<hr />
<u><b>Spotlight <strike>Pick </strike> Gripe:</b></u><br />
Last week DC fans were able to pick up the first issue of <i><b>SHAZAM!</b></i> to be published in twenty years. The title is, undoubtedly, being revived now in order to energize a fanbase for the April 5, 2019 movie release. <br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shazam-2018-1-Geoff-Johns-ebook/dp/B07HKY615C/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1544154589&sr=1-3&keywords=shazam&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=5af7fb0ed422347208af9038a497aa78&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07HKY615C&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07HKY615C" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
I REALLY wanted to like this #1, I did. I grew up with the character, and was anxious to read his comic book again. Boy, did I waste $4.99. <br />
<br />
OK, I had resigned myself to the fact that they could no longer call the character <i style="font-weight: bold;">Captain Marvel</i>, even though he was using the name long before Marvel Comics' Carol Danvers ever met the Kree. Still, I'd begrudgingly accepted the fact going in.<br />
<br />
The name was the least of this book's problems. My main gripe is the fact that there was no action in the story. Yes, there was a run-of-the-mill hold up, but with 6 Marvels/SHAZAMS to answer the call, there was no fight or tension to speak of. If I'm going to pay $5 for a comic book, I want to see some high-powered action damn it!<br />
-James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-75031120256031332692018-12-03T16:09:00.000-08:002019-02-06T16:40:31.975-08:00A Fond Farewell to Old Man Logan<b>-</b><br />
<b><u>Editor's Note:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b> This week I only have a Spotlight Pick for my readers, but it's a must read for anyone who's a fan of the X-Men. Coming soon though, I'll be sharing my thoughts on fan produced Star Trek movies in and episodes. Stay tuned compatriots. ☺<br />
<hr />
<br />
<b><u>Spotlight Pick:</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b> In the fall of 2014, as the result of an alien virus, Wolverine lost his healing factor and was supposedly killed.<br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/DEAD-MAN-LOGAN-MAIN-COVER/dp/B07KTSGQ9F/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1543615298&sr=8-3&keywords=dead+man+logan&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=d9a6ae312ac9608675abac9ae6e9fd1c&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07KTSGQ9F&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=B07KTSGQ9F" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Rather than leaving their X-Titles Logan-less, Marvel Comics brought Old Man Logan, from a parallel universe, into the main 616 universe to keep fans from going into Adamantium withdrawal. While he never donned the blue and yellow tights, he delivered the same razor-sharp style of action and gruff attitude we were accustomed to.<br />
<br />
Now that they're bringing the primary <a href="https://meganerdgasm.blogspot.com/2018/09/sometimes-darker-works.html">Wolverine back</a>, Old Man Logan is getting a 12 issue send off. I just read #1, and without giving anything away, which isn't in the promotional material, Logan knows he's dying, and he's determined to take down one last villain.<br />
<br />
The first issue, released on November 28th, 2018, is a bit spendy at $4.99, but if you can swing it it's worth the read. Future issues will drop to $3.99.<br />
<hr />
James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-68037478277367037392018-11-19T17:34:00.000-08:002018-11-19T17:37:06.432-08:00Picking Nits With The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina-<br />
<u><b>Spotlight <strike>Pick</strike>:</b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Excelsior-Amazing-Life-Stan-Lee/dp/0684873052/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1542331022&sr=8-1&keywords=Stan++Lee&dpID=51M2nfxjRgL&preST=_SY291_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=ee3c9dba998cfa9c14498f8a19b91d83&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0684873052&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=0684873052" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
On November 12, 2018 the comic book world lost its, arguably, greatest creator, <b>Stan Lee</b>, at the age of 95. If you're reading this blog, it's a pretty safe bet that you know who Lee was and you're familiar with his work. Yet for those of you who live under a rock, Stan Lee was a prolific writer and creator at Marvel Comics.<br />
<br />
In 1939, Lee, age 19, was hired by Timely Comics, which would eventually become Marvel Comics. After two decades of working on romance comics and western comics, he was given a crack at the superhero genre. The rest, as they say, is history.<br />
<br />
Stan Lee went on to create some of comic books', and pop culture's, greatest icons including; <b>Spiderman, The Fantastic Four, The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Ant-Man, the original X-Men</b>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Characters_created_by_Stan_Lee">and hundreds of others</a>.<br />
<br />
He will be missed by true believers everywhere.<br />
<hr />
<u><b>Picking Nits With The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina:</b></u><br />
<u><b><br /></b></u>
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chilling-Adventures-Sabrina-Roberto-Aguirre-Sacasa/dp/1627389873/ref=as_li_ss_il?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1627389873&pd_rd_r=1969d26f-e949-11e8-964f-c758f514dd56&pd_rd_w=uAwhi&pd_rd_wg=ZPmHV&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=6725dbd6-9917-451d-beba-16af7874e407&pf_rd_r=E94W3N6XVS5BCHJFJV2Q&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&psc=1&refRID=E94W3N6XVS5BCHJFJV2Q&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=8efe6254ba2710d85a3629e637f9f91f&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1627389873&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US&l=li3&o=1&a=1627389873" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
October 26, 2018 Netflix dropped the first 10 episode season of <b style="font-style: italic;">The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina</b>. <br />
<br />
Because one of her parents was a witch and one was a mortal, Sabrina belongs to both worlds the same way Aquaman, Namor, and Starlord do. Walking the line between the two realms allows her to use her magical super powers to help her mortal friends.<br />
<br />
I knew going in that this show would be a darker version of the character <i>Sabrina The Teenage Witch </i>the same way that The CW's <i>Riverdale</i> in her darker version of <i>Archie and Jughead</i>. I was prepared for an action oriented drama about good verses evil. What I was not prepared for was the focus on devil worship.<br />
<br />
While I am a Christian, I am not what you would you call a "bible thumper". I can enjoy a <i>Spawn</i> or <i>Hellboy</i> comic book same as the next guy. I can enjoy magic based shows such as <i>Midnight Texas </i>and <i>Charmed </i>as well. However, those show don't feature heroic characters spouting, "Hail Satan," and referring to Christ as, "the false God," in almost every episode, in a bizarre attempt to hit viewers over the head with the satanic angle.<br />
<br />
I could almost write it off as part of a fictional world if they had not gone out of their way to use the term Wicca. By using the term, the show associates their characters with a real religion. After college I dabbled with the Wiccan religion for two years, and it has nothing to do with devil worship. Real life witchcraft is about harnessing the power of mother earth and using it in a positive way. To equate Wicca with devil worship reinforces the negative misconceptions which already exist in the world.<br />
<br />
If your not like me, and a focus on devil worship does not bother you, you will enjoy 10 episodes of a magic based super hero show along the lines of <i>Charmed</i> and <i>Legacies</i>. As for me, it makes me feel just uncomfortable enough to make me avoid season 2 unless they do a crossover with <i>Riverdale. </i><br />
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<br />James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-29751972152307822582018-10-29T16:21:00.000-07:002018-10-29T16:21:02.532-07:00Women Can Be Doctors Too-<br />
<u><b>Spotlight Pick:</b></u><br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Daredevil-Born-Again-Marvel-Refrigerator/dp/B00EM2PRU0/ref=as_li_ss_il?crid=39HPW02UJ83ZI&keywords=daredevil+born+again&qid=1540591696&sprefix=daredevil:,aps,619&sr=8-16&ref=sr_1_16&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=4c99e144aa28d99e942f21a940bfebdc&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B00EM2PRU0&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Since I last updated this blog, Netflix dropped the third thirteen episode season of its inaugural Marvel Comics series, <b>Daredevil. </b>Picking up shortly after the end of the first season of Defenders, season 3, based loosely on the graphic novel <i style="font-weight: bold;">"Daredevil: Born Again,"</i> tells the story of Matt Murdoch trying to recoup from his injuries and put his life back together.<br />
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While I'm a little disappointed that Matt utilizes his black costume from season one, rather than his red costume from season two, I'm enjoying the show. The highlight of the season is seeing Vincent D'Onofrio reprise his role as the villainous Wilson Fisk AKA Kingpin.<br />
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On a related note, although the second season of <b>Iron Fist</b> was far better than the first season, Netflix decided to cancel the season after season two.<br />
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<hr />
<br />
<u><b>Women Can Be Doctors Too:</b></u><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 80%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trailer/dp/B07H135Z6V/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=Doctor+Who&qid=1540595052&sr=8-3&ref=sr_1_3&linkCode=li2&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=136eefb8fc51c79c1bccddc99ac51404&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/91OIAMaR2ZL._RI_SX380_.jpg" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
Since 1963, the Doctor has traveled through time and space rescuing people from the forces of evil. Being a Time Lord is dangerous work, which has resulted in the Doctor's death more than once. Fortunately, every time the Doctor dies he regenerates into an all new person. The 13th incarnation (not counting John Hurt as the War Doctor) of the doctor happens to be a women played by Jodie Whittaker.<br />
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There was speculation for almost a year about how audiences would receive the a female Doctor. So far fans have welcomed the lady doctor with open arms. While I'm sure that the liberal attitudes towards sexualilty in England helped, I don't think it was the only factor. Over the last two decades audiences have been softened up to the idea of gender transformation.<br />
<br />
In 2004, the Sci-Fi Channel aired a revamped version of Battlestar Galactica. In that show the characters Starbuck and Boomer were changed from men into women without loosing their heroic toughness. It took some getting used to, but after the first season viewers accepted the cigar chomping fighter pilots as favorite characters in their own right.<br />
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Outside the sci-fi realm, the CBS show Elementary reimagined the characters Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as modern day characters in New York. The show cast Lucy Liu to play Dr. Watson was an Asian women. While this was an obvious departure from the classic Doyle character, it worked. The character was still a smart courageous side-kick for Sherlock Holmes.<br />
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Over in the world of comics, Thor's hammer was wielded by a women for over a year. After the initial grumbling died down, the comic sold as well as it always had. <br />
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After watching four episodes of Doctor Who, I feel safe in saying Jodie Whittaker has captured the spirit of the doctor. We are still transported through time and space and treated to exciting adventures fraught with danger. The Doctor still uses her wits and courage to save the day. <br />
<br />
Perhaps viewers have embraced the idea that one's character isn't solely defined by their gender. If so, there may be hope for society to apply this noble truth to life outside of fiction. Wouldn't that be nice?James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-35204613694210035752018-10-08T14:25:00.000-07:002018-10-08T14:25:56.824-07:00Bad Guys Can Be Cool Too-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight Pick:</u></b><br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Flash-Complete-Fourth-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B0776K4VGV/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1538774504&sr=8-15&keywords=The+flash&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=d46df90fe067678d630c0dc32a171598&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B0776K4VGV&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
This week we see the return of CW's DC superhero shows line-up, also known as the FLARROW_VERSE (Flash + Arrow). The shows will occupy Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday on CW's prime time schedule. <br />
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The Flash and Black Lightning will kick things off on the 9th. I know, I know, there's debate about whether Black Lightning is part of the FLARROW_VERSE, or not, but he's a DC superhero, so I count him as part of it.<br />
<br />
Because the IHeartRadio Music Festival runs on the 7th & 8th, the rest of the line-up will premier on the 14th, 15th, & 22nd.<br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<b><u>Tuesday, October 9th</u></b><br />
<b>8:00-9:00pm The Flash </b><br />
<b>9:00-10:00pm Black Lightning</b><br />
<br />
<b><u>Sunday, October 14th</u></b><br />
<b>8:00-9:00pm Supergirl</b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><u>Monday, October</u></b><b><u> 15th</u></b><br />
<b>8:00-9:00pm Arrow </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> <b><u>Monday, October 22nd</u></b><br />
<b>9:00-10:00pm DC’s Legends of Tomorrow </b></div>
</div>
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<b><u>Bad Guys Can Be Cool Too:</u></b><br />
<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Venom-Lethal-Protector-David-Michelinie/dp/1302911767/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1538775113&sr=8-5&keywords=Venom&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=36ee057af73f89c0431a154f74a02c4e&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1302911767&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
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On October 5th the movie <b><i>Venom</i></b> hit theaters, and I was there for the very first showing. If you are reading this blog you probably already know who the character is. On the off chance you don't know the character, Venom has been an anti-spiderman in the comics since 1987.<br />
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I enjoyed the movie, but as I sat there I couldn't help thinking it was odd that the bad guy had his own movie without his traditional superhero being involved. Yet, I realized he's not alone. <br />
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Last year we saw the movie <b><i>Suicide Squad</i></b> about a group of comic book villains working for the government as heroes. Next year the <b>Joker</b> and <b>Black Adam </b>(SHAZAM's arch enemy) will each have their own stand alone movies as well.<br />
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There seems to be a trend in Hollywood of making movies out of comic book bad guys. I was forced to wonder why. I mean, don't we usually root against the bad guy? <br />
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I thought back to when I was little and playing with Star Wars action figures. We all wanted to be Boba Fett because he looked cool. The bad guy, with his jet pack and wrist rockets, was the coolest action figure in our collection. Bad guys look cool. <br />
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Not only do the bad guys look cool they can do things that superheros can't do. Superheros have to stay the "good guys. " Thus, they cannot kill. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Batman Vs. Superman </i>flopped partly because we didn't want to see Batman shoot and kill bad guys. That's not Batman.<br />
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Yet, we like to go to the movies and root for a protagonist who can f#&k up their antagonists. We love to see our "hero" completely trash their foes. Somehow watching our hero commit acts of violence satisfies some primal urge within ourselves. In response to this urge, Hollywood has given us Venom, who can do things we'd never accept Spiderman doing. It is almost like a two hour Purge.<br />
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I'm not saying we're all sadistic, but maybe we do like to exercise our dark sides. James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-23843134070312515232018-10-01T13:45:00.000-07:002018-10-01T13:45:23.542-07:00Superheroes In Crisis #1-<br />
This is one of those rare occasions when I only have a Spotlight Pick for you. I could have waited until I had a main piece ready, but I wanted to post this pick while the issue is still on store shelves.<br />
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<b><u>Spotlight Pick:</u></b><br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 45%;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-Crisis-2018-Tom-King-ebook/dp/B07FM7PFFW/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1538174203&sr=8-1&keywords=Superheroes+in+crisis&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=2da9fcb8b3ffb108f805237b858259e6&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07FM7PFFW&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div>
</div>
The first issue of <b>Superheroes In Crisis</b> hit stores on September 26th. I'd seen the ads for this four part mini-series for months. Seeing the word "Crisis," I figured we were in for another Earth shattering epic that would "change the DC Universe forever." I was wrong.<br />
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This is a murder mystery which revolves around a treatment center for superheroes with PTSD. While the Trinity <b>(Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman)</b> are the primary heroes of the story, the unlikely duo of <b>Booster Gold </b>and an atypically sadistic version of <b>Harley Quinn </b>seem to be near the heart of the mystery somehow.<br />
<br />
For $3.99, this first issue isn't action-centric, but lays the groundwork for the rest of the series.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-59930455333263734472018-09-24T16:17:00.001-07:002018-09-24T16:24:13.655-07:00Sometimes Darker Works -<br />
<u><b>Spotlight Pick:</b></u><br />
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<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 35%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/RETURN-WOLVERINE-1-Charles-Soule/dp/B07H9G18LS/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1537489945&sr=8-1&keywords=return+of+wolverine+#1+comic&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=c88da81f2c18e296e5b170bb523c5179&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07H9G18LS&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>Thanks to an alien virus robbing him of his healing factor, <b>Wolverine </b>has been dead since 2014. For four years we've had to get our adamantium action fix from his daughter/clone <b>(X-23)</b>, Wolverine's son from an alternate universe <b>(Jimmy Hudson)</b>, an elderly version of Wolverine from an alternate timeline <b>(Old Man Logan)</b>, and a Hulk/Wolverine hybrid <b>(Weapon H)</b>. <br />
<br />
Hold on to your hat, now the real deal is back in <b>Return of Wolverine #1 </b>(of 5), or is he? Without revealing spoilers, we're treated to a comic filled with our favorite X-Man getting killy with a bunch of bad guys. Fear not, there's a well written story to accompany the action. <br />
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Lastly, don't fret if you didn't read any of the summer's four <b>Search For Wolverine </b>titles. You can pick up this book and not be a bit lost. It kinda makes me wonder why I bought those issues of "Search." Grrrrrrrrr.........<br />
<br />
<hr /><br />
<b><u>Sometimes Darker Works:</u></b><br />
<br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 45%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Archie-Comic-Publications-Archies-Double/dp/B008ENNVAQ/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1537569343&sr=8-16&keywords=Archie&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=6b632f73e39e0d7650ff244f4663c246&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B008ENNVAQ&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>I don't know what took me so long, but I've just begun watching <b>Riverdale</b> on Netflix. For those of you who don't know, the show uses characters from Archie Comics to tell adult stories. I think I was resistant for as long as I was, because I didn't like the idea of a screwball comedy comic being retooled into a darker property.<br />
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Before I was allowed read superhero based comic books, which my mother deemed to be too violent, I enjoyed the innocent adventures of Archie, Jughead, and the gang set within the Rockwell-esc town of Riverdale. I didn't want that image to be tarnished.<br />
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I figured the show would be laughed off the air after a few episodes. On October 10th, Riverdale is due to begin its third season on The CW. With this in mind, I, begrudgingly, decided to check it out.<br />
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The first, thirteen episode, season is one long murder mystery. I have to say I was surprised at the complexity of the story. TV is full of, so called, mysteries, which are completely obvious from the get go. However, this one has multiple motives and twists. I am a bit of a mystery buff, and I found myself challenged by the solution. <br />
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In addition to the overall mystery, our heroes and heroines are challenged with their own struggles. Themes of said struggles included; teen pregnancy, divorce, alcoholism, and student/teacher "relationships." <br />
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I know, I know, not long ago I did a whole blog about how I don't like light hearted characters in darker roles. However, it works here. Because we already know the characters, the show runners were able to dive right into the story without having to explain who all the characters are.<br />
<div><br />
</div>Riverdale is not alone. There seems to be a trend in comics, right now, of using traditionally comedic characters in darker stories. One good example is Scooby Doo: Apocalypse. In this comic, the world has been mutated by nanites, and Scooby, now a cyborg, and the gang have to come together to find a cure. While the concept sounds off the wall, the popular title's run earned a 7.5 out of 10 from 175 critical reviews on <a href="https://comicbookroundup.com/comic-books/reviews/dc-comics/scooby-apocalypse">Comic Book Rounds Up</a>.<br />
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Old timers, like me, will always remember Archie and the gang as carefree high school kids drinking milkshakes at Pop's and driving around in their jalopy. Yet that doesn't mean there's not room for a new generation to reinvent the characters for a new age. James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-19190293167622634422018-09-17T17:34:00.000-07:002018-09-28T17:36:18.453-07:00Season 2 Of Iron Fist Shows Marked Improvement, But...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Spotlight <s>Pick</s> Gripe:</u></span><br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); float: left; padding: 5px; width: 228.547px;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crisis-Infinite-Earths-Anniversary-Deluxe/dp/1401258417/ref=as_li_ss_il?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1537217903&sr=1-1&keywords=dc+crisis+on+infinite+earths&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=1c81e8b3f326de286371d3c28cd098a9&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1401258417&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>.</span></div>
</div>
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<b>DC Universe</b> is the name of <b>DC's</b> new streaming/online comics service. For $7.99 a month, subscribers have unlimited access to the site's library of movies, shows, and online comic books. From their PR, I was expecting a pretty extensive collection of materials.<br />
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They have a few movies and TV shows, granted. Yet, even though last Saturday was, supposedly, "Batman Day," the site has no <i>Adam West Batman, Adventures of Batman, or New Adventures of Batman</i>. While one can stream <i>Legend of The Super Heroes</i>, which was canceled after two episodes, we can't get the three season run of <i>SHAZAM! </i><br />
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Streaming material aside, the online comics are a mishmash of weird odds and ends (1 issue of <i>52</i>, 3 issues of <i>Crisis On Infinite Earths</i>, etc...). I'm going to stick around until they begin their original content, but season 3 of <i>Young Justice </i> better be dang good or I'll be cutting my losses.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>Season 2 Of Iron Fist Shows Marked Improvement, But...</u></span><br />
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<div>
<div style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0); float: right; padding: 5px; width: 228.547px;">
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Iron-Fist-Complete-Collection/dp/0785185429/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1536013683&sr=8-4&keywords=iron+fist&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=dfd7fc8b23c490db543a4705ba2e76f8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0785185429&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>.</span></div>
</div>
On Friday, September 7th, Netflix dropped the second season of <b><i>Marvel's Iron Fist.</i> </b> In fact, it was my pick in my last post. Although I had been bored by the first season of the series, tidbits of news made me cautiously optimistic about the second season. <br />
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In its debut season, I thought too much time was spent on board room intrigue instead of super hero action. I also wasn't impressed with the fights, which just kinda slogged along. As I said, I'd quit watching season one half way, and only went back to finish it once <b><i>Marvel's Defenders</i></b> referred back to the end of <b><i>Iron Fist. </i></b><br />
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This year I was somewhat more impressed by the show. The action began right off the bat with crime-stopping martial arts. <i style="font-weight: bold;">Iron Fist's</i> new showrunner, Raven Metzner (formerly of <i>Sleepy Hollow</i>), kept the focus of the episodes on the battle of good versus evil without distracting the audience with dull board room drama.<br />
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The series was further enhanced by the addition of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Black Panther's</i> Clayton Barber, who choreographed the second season's fight scenes. Barber succeeded in showcasing the characters' advanced martial arts skills with a series of fast paced exciting battles.<br />
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I've gone back and forth, with myself, about how much to say at this point. At the eleventh hour I've decided not to include spoilers, because the season is so new. However I will say, that the season takes a weird turn, half way along, which kinda spoiled it for me. While it wasn't all that I'd hoped for, it WAS far better than the first season.<br />
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<b>What do you think? Leave your comments below. </b>James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7190597375999938655.post-73083466762092037702018-09-03T17:32:00.000-07:002018-09-28T17:40:48.850-07:00Star Trek: Discovery?-<br />
<b><u>Spotlight Pick:</u></b><br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: left; padding: 5px; width: 35%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Iron-Fist-Complete-Collection/dp/0785185429/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1536013683&sr=8-4&keywords=iron+fist&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=dfd7fc8b23c490db543a4705ba2e76f8&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0785185429&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div>On Friday, September 7th, Netflix is dropping the second season of <b><i>Marvel's Iron Fist.</i> </b><br />
<b><br />
</b> I have to say, I was bored by the first season of the series. Too much time was spent on board room intrigue instead of super hero action. When they did get to the action the fights just kinda slogged along. I quit watching half way through the series, and only went back to finish it once <b><i>Marvel's Defenders</i></b> referred back to the end of <b><i>Iron Fist. </i></b><br />
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</b> Finn Jones actually did a great job playing the martial arts based super hero in <b><i>Defenders</i> </b>and <b><i>Luke Cage</i></b>, once he was able to focus on super heroism instead of a corporate soap opera. Now that the show has recruited <i style="font-weight: bold;">Black Panther's</i> Clayton Barber to choreograph the fight scenes, there's every reason to believe that the second season will be better than the first.<br />
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<hr>I love Star Trek. No.... Wait.... I understated that a bit, let me try again. <b>I LOVE STAR TREK!!!!! </b><br />
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</b> I own all the movies and many of the television seasons on Blue-ray. I've attended I don't know how many Star Trek conventions, and collected autographs from a multitude of Trek stars. I even have a variation of Kirk's uniform hanging in my closet. I'm a hard core Trekkie (Yes I use the term Trekkie, the whole Trekkie Vs Trekker controversy is stupid).<br />
<div><div style="border: 0px solid #000000; float: right; padding: 5px; width: 35%;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Star-Trek-Discovery-Season-Blu-ray/dp/B07G2D87C1/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&qid=1536005928&sr=8-2&keywords=star+trek+discovery&linkCode=li3&tag=jamkieshompag-20&linkId=e0237b0a43daf58678b3d35ebaa356f6&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B07G2D87C1&Format=_SL250_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=jamkieshompag-20&language=en_US" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/">Amazon's Affiliate Program</a>. </span></div></div><br />
When I heard CBS was starting another Star Trek series set in the Shatner as Kirk timeline I was thrilled. Then I heard it would be on their online streaming service and I was less thrilled. After months of fuming and hoping they'd eventually put it on TV, I broke down and joined CBS.COM.<br />
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I'm only five episodes into the series and I have to say it's not good Star Trek. I wanted it to be, but it's not. I'm going to watch the rest to see if it improves, but it has some major hurdles to overcome.<br />
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<b><u>SPOILERS FOR SEASON ONE AHEAD! </u></b><br />
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</b> Arguably the biggest problem with the series is the tech. OK, I loved seeing the Kirk era hand phasers and communicators again. I think I released a squeal of girlish glee when Michael pulled her pistol for the first time. The problem is that the show takes place a decade before Kirk's five year mission begins, but much of the technology they use looks like stuff Picard would envy.<br />
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Rather than talking to people on monitors, holographic images of who they're talking to are projected right onto the bridge. It looks cool, but we're supposed to believe that they went back to 2D image communication ten years later. Holy head scratchers Batman.<br />
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Initially, I felt the same way about the spore based method of travel, the show is based on, which makes warp drive look like a skateboard in an Indie race. However, there are hints of enough problems with the technique that it's conceivable that it was abandoned by Kirk's time.<br />
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The technology isn't the only bone I have to pick with the show though. One thing I've always appreciated about Star Trek is the ability to watch an episode, get a complete story, come back two weeks later, get another whole story, and not be lost. Sure, watching each week helped you get to know the characters, but you didn't have to know Kirk's role in Spock's mating ritual to watch them steal a cloaking device from the Romulans.<br />
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</i> <i style="font-weight: bold;">Discovery </i>is<i style="font-weight: bold;"> </i>structured as a series of interlocking chapters of a single long story. While the novel-esc approach worked well for <i style="font-weight: bold;">Babylon 5 </i>and the reimagined version of <i style="font-weight: bold;">Battlestar Galactica</i>, it just feels wrong when applied to <i style="font-weight: bold;">Star Trek, DS9's</i> Dominion war aside.<br />
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Another deficit of the series is the tone. The series takes place during a war with the Klingons. The premise sounds like it'd make a good series, but when everything is about the war, there's no time for exploration. Ironically, the feeling of "discovery," Star Trek is historically known for, is lost.James Kiesterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02671840872934703808noreply@blogger.com0