Justice League/Power Rangers

 Power Rangers/Justice League

Written by Tom Taylor
Illustrated by Stephen Byrne
Published by DC Comics & BOOM! Studios

 Here’s a softball on getting me to read anything, do a crossover. Though here’s the catch, you want me to buy the book (instead of using the library [Inter-Library Loans are your friend]) make it weird. Here’s an example, Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and [Blank]. It’s really that easy, so far I have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles filling that blank spot (and Godzilla [seems to be a theme, I really enjoy giant reptiles {though is Godzilla an Amphibian}]). Anyhow that’s why I talked it over with my local library and they assisted me with procuring a copy of the newest Justice League crossover; guest-staring the Power Rangers. I just heard the title and wanted to consume this book the instant it reached my hands! Since both sets of characters I really enjoy, so why not watch them run through the trope and cliche handbook, it’d’ll be a fun time. And it was, though it was like a ride at an amusement park that had lines a little too long for the amount of adventure and excitement at the end. Though while we’re waiting here, let me go into more detail about my experience.


Pro:
-Good Writing on the characters for both publications

When dealing with multiple sources of Intellectual Properties you really want to find a blend between them, though that can always be a challenge given the amount of members within a cast. If you have ever tried to be within a crowd and have your voice heard you’d know that if the speaker of the room doesn’t allow others to speak then no one speaks. This is the same thing when it comes to comics or movies or any type of media when there’s a large cast. Some people are focused on more than others, that in itself is a problem, since Intellectual Properties have property owners that want their star to shine. That’s one of the hardest things within this piece, there’s a lot of moving parts that need more definition or a more simple plot. Not one character was written poorly, since they all fit into the mold of who they are and should speak or act like, between both sides of the publication. In the entirety of the six issues there wasn’t a person that was left out of place, drawn or written.


Con:
-Focused WAY too much on Superman

Though my hardest criticism is not within the story, since it’s fair and interesting, but the use of the cast, or to better define the size of the cast. The magnitude of events were too great for the amount of characters needed to foil the villains, or the amount of issues were too slim to fully realize the story to it’s potential. What I keep skirting around is, the plot succeeded in giving the good guys something to do and work toward a common goal, but it felt like a lot was happening, though nothing completed. Most of the story was focused around Batman and Zach (at first), though interesting characters, the drawback was it didn’t reflect their personalities established here. The ties that centered them to each other didn’t knot. And at times we just left that plotline to focus on whatever Superman was doing in the moment. At times, it felt like there were more hands adding ingredience than plating dishes.

Also the main villain Brainiac switching with Zed, who started as the central villain. Brainiac was a good choice, though not for Zach and Batman (the story’s focal characters) this was more of a villain for Billy and Cyborg, since a lot of the problems were solved with super science, than with might or skill. Then we have the Dino-Bots, which were there, then disappeared, once Brainiac was in the picture more prominently. Zed was the inaugural villain of the limited series, but not really there. It was weird that a highly intelligent being of magic was more of a laky to another being that was not his superior, in strength nor abilities, mystical or tactical. I felt that Zed was the least defined character in the limited series, which kind of bothers me the most, since the heroes need a reason to stop a common enemy, so they can work together. This felt less like Zed and more like Goldar, though they needed a means to connect both Worlds. Zed felt less like his true form and more like a vehicle for the Rangers to meet the League. Goldar would have been the better choice for a blind follower, but a fix that might be too dramatic for the plot at hand.

Fix:
-Change the villains

There was a side plot that I thought could have been explored a little more, though with the remaining issues of the comic it wouldn’t make the page count for the amount of action that still needed to be taken by our heroes. Though I’d like to talk about it here, within the “Fix”, since this would change the whole dynamic of the comic and avoid any real change to the villains in whole. The Artificial Intelligence philosophy bridge, that’s what I’m coining it, so here’s my two-cents, enjoy. Pretty much, we have Alpha-5, Brainiac, Cyborg, and Billy (the Blue Ranger), they’re all communicating to each other about the idea, since the curiosity of Brainiac was peeked with the interaction of Alpha-5. The possibilities that Brainiac saw, I feel, will one day lead to the Brainiac that we’ll see in the future for Legion of Superheroes, but that’s a tale for another day. No, today we have two Artificial Intelligence Automatons, a Cybernetic man, and a teenager that “Does Machines” (borrowing that one from a Turtle), all of who have shown within this limited series can understand the basics and practical application of inter-dimensional travel chatting about the possibility of having thinking machines beyond the two functional beings posing logical conclusions. It’s maybe my favorite part of the book and it wasn’t explored enough.

Anyhow, that’s how I’d fix the book, focusing on these four talking it out, debating on the nature of what it means to be Artificially Intelligent and having organic thoughts, while reflective battles are happening on Earth. In short, I’d dial back the interaction between the Justice League and Power Rangers, showing a plot-A (main-plot) and plot-B (sub-plot). Plot-A being that of the conversation between our main villain (Brainiac) debating with our heroes (Cyborg & Billy), though here’s the interesting part Alpha-5 as a neutral party. Since for the most part Alpha-5 isn’t the first Alpha and won’t be the last Alpha for the Rangers, meaning the stakes are meaningless, but his friends (the Power Rangers) are important to him. Which again is a powerful sentiment and statement coming from a robot, that Brainiac has the most curiosity from, since emotions are a mystery to him at this time. Again this would all be a great background fight between what it means to be human and have all four of them verbally battling for the planet, while the Justice League and Power Rangers fight Zed and his cybernetically powered army. Long and short for the B-Plot, they’re fighting and there’s only one thing that can stop the army and it’s forming a giant robot with a sword, but it’s being hurled by Superman and has Batwings, sure why not, it’s all a formality to keep the pacing of the comic so it doesn’t dry out with the Artificial Intelligence talk. Toss in fanservice, like Batman in a Ranger costume or Wonder Woman using the Power Daggers in a fight, it doesn’t have to be groundbreaking, since there’s about six issues and two of them can be summed up with being a Prologue and an Epilogue. Four of which will be action and conversations on moral judgement with a splash of armchair philosophy.

This is my fix, it’s not THE fix, but it’s how I would change the elements within the story to reflect the basic problems I have. So no focus on Batman and Zach, less Superman, and more text boxes, again not a fix that will land. I’m essentially saying “Hey, you know the money making characters that everyone wants to see in this limited series, let’s put them in a sub-plot and focus on anyone else” yeah, I’m gonna win an Eisner for writing this book. Though if you’ve read The Infinity War (comic crossover event [from 1992 {written by Jim Starlin & drawn by Ron Lim}]) from MARVEL they focus on everyone other than the main Marvel Characters (Spider-Man is knocked out with Hawkeye within the second issue and is at the Hospital for the remainder of the limited series), they’re in the sub-plot. Everything is focused on Doom/Kang, Warlock/Thanos, and the moral judgement that Warlock made to create these events. It’s a really well developed story about characters making grand gestures and the repercussions of doing so within reality. And I feel that would be perfect for teaching teenagers from a different dimension, through conversations with alien robots.

Closing:
Well I hope this clears up some matters, though I’ve wrote this, read this, and edited it and again this is my mind and I’m screaming into the void on my opinions about fictional characters and how they interact with each other. The whole concept is bizarre and yet you’re still reading. Meaning you’re most likely waiting for me to wrap things up and I will. This comic was a surprise on many levels, it’s biggest flaw was the pacing, but other than that it has a whole lot throw into the pot and there was a ton of flavor, though that was it’s biggest short coming, since there was too much for the spoon. Suggesting that I was expecting a certain flavor, but still had a good bowl of soup, um, comic. Should you read this comic, of course, read, though is this going to titillate your tongue, it may not, but the juxtaposition of Giant Robots and Superheroes is a beautiful sight worth the admission of the time you spent reading.

The Thing

The Thing; an incident beyond adolescence

One thing that scared me as a kid was the Todd McFarlane toys. They were so wonderfully crafted and horrifyingly detailed that I could feel the pain and anguish that a figure had. It was traumatizing, though that's a skilled artist, that's a person that knows their abilities and how to emote through a media. Though that brings me to the subject of the day "John Carpenter's The Thing" and the toy of the monster in all it's hanging flesh detail, hung on a shelf at the local SunCoast video.

Just a second on the evolution of horror, there's many different ways of subjecting one to something that's frightful, though there's not many that know how to connect our more basic fears into media, since most that enjoy these types of sensations are jaded at this point. Jaded in the sense that they love that emotion and want to feel scared or excited, that it's not really a new emotion and someone running after them with a large knife isn't something where they'll panic, well panic as much, it's still a person with a large knife. No, what I want to talk about is that this series is in a way a good representation of horror as a historical timeline. The story is in a book, no comic, no film, no splash page of gore, it was a novella in a magazine, nothing more than the pseudonym of John W. Campbell Jr. at the top by the title. The plot was about fear in man, pretty much an abstract thought into our own fears of one another. There's a hidden murderer among us and we'll never know, mind you the first World War ended twenty year before this was published, but I'm guessing Mr. Campbell saw the writing on the wall, since the following year the second World War historically agreed to start (there's been a lot of grey area talk on when the War started, so it's up for interpretation, but historically it's dated at 1939). This was perfect for those that believed there wasn't many to trust within their own community, though this paranoia lead to horrible crimes and left out of historical commentary. Then the film came out, about thirteen years after the publication of the story, this time around there was a visualization of the alien and it's monstrous form. It wasn't just something that could blend in well with the crew, but it was a being, it held space and this was a great fear. Someone with enough power to run through a wall, be frozen in ice, and could take down a man no problem. That was something that a lot of people feared, since it wasn't an idea, it was a man! This was within the years of horror movie monsters that then became slasher films, life's fears were a being and not a thought. Then the next film came about, it's thirty-one years, this is the one that most think of when talking about this subject. When this came out John Carpenter was flying high with the "Halloween" series and "Escape from New York" he then made another amazing film, though at the time wasn't seen as a good film, or a movie that was his. Later this would be the bases for a long line of monster movies with practical effects, trying to make puppets creepy and threatening. Though this film did something original, it took the fear of the unknown and gave you a form, but both are an abstraction in reality. In a nut shell this was the best of the Thing franchise and in horror history, since it brought back to the medium the concept of ideas could be just as horrifying, not just a big guy with a knife.

One thing I'd like to bring up is that this is all opinionated, from my point of view, but also the point of views of those that created these features and the inflections that they envision of the characters. So I've never read the story, though I'd very much like to get my hands on it, but at this time it's escaped my clutches, so I have the movies and audio books till then. Long and short these are the opinions of mine based on the story and plot brought to my attention by the ones that created media from the source material. If this sounds interesting, hearing a story and what happens based on another's third hand understanding. Let's get into the middle of this mess and see what comes from all of these things.

Audio Book
-Who Goes There? (1938)
I found this audio book when I was animating a film in my second year, it was something that gave me a lot of joy and something to keep my mind on while finishing tasks that didn't need all my attention, just enough that allowed me to focus and not want to throw a monitor out a window. Sadly, my audio wasn't the best, but the actor and the writing was stupendous. It focused on telling the story and keeping one within an eerie demeanor, it was nice, since one could really feel the different characters better, the loneliness that each one of them had within the snowy wasteland. It wasn’t totally professional, it was good, it was fun, but it was what it was… free. Still it was a reading from the original short story, a story that knows how to be perfectly creepy. If you can find the recording I listened to then you are in for a treat for sure, though with it being a few miles on the road to a decade I can’t quite remember nor say it’s still where I last saw it. Though it’s worth the listen if you can creep into my past and find this lost audio.

Movie
-The Thing from Another World (1951)
Honestly the goofiest of the Thing interpretations. At times this felt like a Frankenstein parody, still a good story, but it doesn’t hold that isolation feeling, that testing of mankind, that sense of paranoia, because we know it’s a monster in humanoid form. I think that’s what really tears down the film the most is it’s establish shot of the monster, that it’s a tall man, not that being from another planet who takes forms of other beings. The actors were good, the leads were wonderful, the story, well that’s the part that leaves it flat. This is something you see a lot in contemporary films, mostly reboots or flicks that are trying to grab hold of nostalgia glasses and jam the property down your throat. It’s kinda rare to see an older film take something from a property that’s it’s own thing, that’s built a crowd behind it and change so much and leave so little from where it’s origin came from. Again I’m not saying this is a bad film, I’m saying it was a bad ‘The Thing’ film, in all it was  a strong movie that had interesting and likable characters, it’s development, and story structure was there, it was a bit slow, but pacing fit the film, since they needed to expand for time and give it more of a drawn out feeling. That this all didn’t take minutes, though hours to figure-out who the thing was, well where the alien was within the base. In a way this was a deluded version of the ‘Red Scare’ pitting neighbor on neighbor, who is it, who is the one that’s putting us all at risk. So as a horror movie it saw the headlines and went with it, but in the long run of things miss the mark between social commentary and keeping true to the source material.

Other Movie
-John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)
This is the one that’s the most famous, this is the one that had me the most scared as a kid, this is the one that was the most interesting and gross to watch. As a kid I’ve seen the action figures that this was based around, they were graphically accurate, they had everything in plan view, and to boot this was an ‘R’ film. At the time you could do a lot in ‘R’ films, not like today, but they really pushed the censors. I’m always one that likes the implied thought better than the thought, it’s kinda like the Rorschach test, you see what you want to see, so similar in this sense. You have an idea of what comes next, though you don’t see it, just the actions after, just what you’re told, no matter how graphic, as long as it’s not seen then you can have the spoken action within a movie, but once you have metal entering flesh, then cut from anything less than PG-13 and back in the day it was PG or R, nothing in-between, so why not go all the way. I saw the movie recently, well within the last four years, it was good. I mean that, it was a solid movie, the pacing had a stopping point, but it lulls you into a point of boredom (safety) that’s well made, not for the acting, but for the characters. They are doing the same things, in and out all day, studying this and that, taking about how they have a pilot, but never need to fly. Then stuff starts to happen and happen fast, things blow up, figuratively, though later literally. The Alien takes on many different forms, many different limbs spring from the creature, though like the book and other media it hides away in different places (and people), trying to build it’s ship or something we can’t understand, and building suspicion between the crew. In short, Kurt Russell is the only one still alive, though we don’t know whatever happened to the alien. The ambiguous ending was nice, but they never followed up with it. Over all the amazing practical effects, the wonderful acting, and the awesome experience that comes with this film makes it a must watch, even just for the mystery part of the film.

 

Well that’s my take on The Thing series, it was and will be something that stays in my mind and scares me just a bit before bed. In general this is where a lot of my paranoia comes from during and after college. Trust is hard, sometimes you need a blood sample and some fire. Though really, given the chance to see all of these again, it’s worth the trip, it’s a wonderful story and each creative team’s interpretation of the short is stupendous. It’s kinda like a mystery novel or film where the story keeps going around and around where you keep finding what someone else has noticed something different, something new that hasn’t been seen in all the other stories. I always revert back to Detective mode when it comes to multiple creative teams making something that I enjoy. Anyhow, checkout your local library for the short story, the multiple films, and head over to Linkcara for the comics. If you’ve read my reviews you can trust me this far…

Battling Boy Presents: The Fall of the House of West

When I finished the first volume of this arc I wanted more, I wanted there to be another book within the year or month from the first book, since I didn't know when it was published, though I had to wait a year, then another year, since moving and getting another job. Time has been an interesting concept in this present, though reading has been a pleasure in life. I can never thank those that make life more interesting and fantastic. Again thank you JT Petty  and Paul Pope for writing and David Rubín for your glorious illustrations in this stupendous fictitious tome. Let's dive into The Fall of the House of West (and the jetpacks)!

Battling Boy Presents: The Rise of Aurora West

This is the first volume of the Aurora West Arc, this means that you missed Battling Boy, since we were introduced with the astounding teen and her Father, Haggard West. Yes, this duo of jetpack might and brandishing plasma blasters in this action mystery pulp adventure. If there's anything more that I love it's a good character arc story and pulp fiction, just well written graphic novels. Though don't take my word in this introduction, come join us on this adventure into the favorite in the Battling Boy series written by Paul Pope and JT Petty with Illustrations by David Rubín, so let's dive into this golden pool of mythology and history.

Battling Boy

One thing that hasn't been seen in a lot of modern pulp fiction is a coming of age story. The number one story would be Tom Strong, next would be Tarzan, though the distance between the two is a great split, but like most pulp tales they go between extremes. They're a baby then a man, none of the trails and tribulations between these two points. Spin-offs do show more, but nothing that's official that feature a teen hero battling the world and taking on the challenges that a young adult would encounter that's not in a High School setting. This is something that comes straight out of nowhere, I haven't read a series that focuses on a teenager as an explorer, an adventurer on an alien world, that doesn't slap them into a school environment. It's refreshing and interesting to see where this could lead. This is my introduction to Paul Pope, I kid you not, this is the comic that introduces me to the artist and the talent. Well, my very first interaction was with a nameless artist that showcased his skill and ability for covers and such, though this is the only way I knew it was the same person. The line work and character features and the detailed backgrounds I knew it was the same person, though I wasn't convinced that the book would have a plot I would find interesting. Something about the cover and title didn't hook me, it wasn't pronounced enough (or full of robots). Though as people talk and slip a few pages here and there about the book and what came from the plot, I started to find curiosity. I'm a fan of high fantasy and magic, so no robots, but there's science and magic in this book about a pulp hero from another world, please do go on. And let's go on and dive into this specific piece of fiction, as we dig into the crust of what's to come in the further adventures of Battling Boy by Paul Pope.

Gen13

In the past I was that kid that bought a bunch of comics and didn't know what was inside them, that I just grabbed them because they had neat covers, but I never read them till I was in high school. This was a problem, since I had a ton of comics with awesome art, but nothing that I read for fun I just looked at the pictures. And what fine pictures they were, since it's J. Scott Campbell at the helm and producing a well illustrated story. Jim Lee and Brandon Choi at the writer's chair constructing the team and their adventures as far as the 90's will let them go. Though let me introduce this series originally published by Image Comics, then was published by the DC imprint WildStorm, Gen13. A group of teenagers living in a house together, trying not to be noticed by the government or the shady organizations that want to use them for their own purposes. Each teen has their own power or mutation that makes them very valuable for an assortment of reasons. My favorite member of the team is Grunge, love his tattoo and his powers, though there were other members of the team, but the issues I had never focused that much on their talents. Sadly, I wouldn't find out that Fairchild was smart, strong, and super tall, reflecting my love of She-Hulk till later in life. Then there was the transfer to the DC imprint WildStorm, a lot of different artists and writers have come and gone with the teen team, so why not check out the film that never saw light (well in the United States). We're gonna be diving into the Gen13 movie (without the comic origin nor characters in mind, this will be pure film), that's been screened in America, but hasn't been properly sold, join us as we see the comic's limited series be told in a media translation for about an hour.

Sukeban Boy

Manga Mecha Movie

With a lot of these posts it's about the memories that I have of the past within reliving this past for the completion of the run time on the focused media. Though there are features that I haven't seen, media that I want to share the experience with Cartoon Cyborg Cinema citizens. So if there's something exciting or if something is weird or it just doesn't make sense, I'm there right with you all through the thick of things. If you've read the long point for point reviews, then you know that I'm gonna give you every moment and thought. When its media that I've experienced before it's a different trip, you get a glimpse into the person from years before. This sadly is only a look into the type of creators that I engulf my imagination in and desire for more from these creative souls.

Shaman King Part 01

Manga Mecha Movie
Shaman King Part 01 of 04
-- Shaman King 1-9 --

by Hiroyuki Takei
Published by Shueisha
Translated and Distributed by VIZ Media

This is a show from my childhood, a series that I've sadly never seen the end of, though I have read the complete manga. So I want to relate my joy and passion for the series. I was a big fan, since Toonami got me into a lot of anime in my youth, so FoxKids was trying to do that to their audience, though that was after the success of WBKids and their hit show Yu-Gi-Oh. So those that watched FoxKids (later the FoxBox) got Fighting Foodons (In Japan it was called Kakutō Ryōri Densetsu Bisutoro Reshipi created by Naoto Tsushima) and Shaman King, there were other shows, but these are the one's that really brought me into the genre, well on Saturday mornings. Shaman King was that series that broke out from being one of those shows that was heavy and fun, it felt right for kids to enjoy, though it was a strong enough plot for someone that's older to get behind the dramatics. Here's the thing that really pulled me in, the tournament. I love anime with tournaments, two characters that should rightfully be the main character and here they are battling the worst of the worst and the best of the best, some of these fighters will become friends and others will suffer horrible punishments that we'll never see. That's what excited me, DragonBall was doing it, Yu Yu Hakusho was doing it, DragonBall Z, Yu-Gi-Oh was an endless tournament, it was prefect, since there was a lot of character building moments that built up the scenes of the characters, so when they lost it was a big deal, they died it was a big deal, they were killed it was a big deal, and the actors (both American and Japanese) brought that to the table and showed just how emotional this tournament was, how big the stakes were for there to be a Shaman King. Anyhow, let's focus on the first 9 volumes of the series and talk about the growth of our core cast.

Yatterman

Manga Mecha Movie

With the rise to Manga Mecha Movie there hasn't been many articles on the genre, media(?), letting out one's desire to embraced another's culture through their films and books on Cartoon Cyborg Cinema. So I've decided to jump into the past as the present enjoys to do and engage your thoughts and mind on a favorite of mine, Yatterman.

My Dead Girlfriend

My Dead Girlfriend
by Eric Wight
Editor Julie Taylor
Art Director Anne Marie Horne
Published by Tokyopop

There's certain things combined that don't mix, though one thing at first glance that wouldn't couple well together, is Horror and Romance. Though that's where you'd be wrong, horror films, books, and art have a bit of intimacy. Horror is where we take what's safe and make it horrible, stressful, and have us second guess mundane tasks. Romance is very similar, it's a task that's not something one should feel pressure, though there's an internal fear while preforming with the shared event. Then you add in a little high school and now there's nothing, but stress over everything because literally everything is changing and the world around you will take you from your hometown and send you off on a new path. Though that's what Eric Wight wants you to feel, the struggle of being with family, the horrors of having your first love, the emptiness of losing that person, and the impending reaper following you, waiting for that next trip up to collect on your misfortune. Something important to remember in life is that things change from person to person, life to life, generation to generation, but that's what living does. We take paths that are different for each of us, either because of race, birth, or location. Though this is why I enjoy this graphic novel. It's from a place that doesn't exist and the characters involved can't be recreated, also the events that take place are impossible, but everything is parallel to reality. This today is all common place with paranormal romance being a genre and taking on all forms of mythology that were to keep youth safe. Fraying from the blazed trail and out of these polluted waters this is an interesting take on the supernatural and a glance into relationships that want to bring positive emotions and ideas to the dating pools. Join us as we take a dip into the world of the macabre and into the olden time as we relive moments from the past and engage the plot of the present.

Frankie Pickle

Written and Illustrated by Eric Wight
Published by Simon & Schuster books for Young Readers
Cover Design by Eric Wight and Lizzy Bromley

In my long history of comics and cartoons, animation and film, illustrations and illustrators I've only just heard of Eric Wight in 2016, though I've grown up with his designs and influence since 1999. In 2010 Eric Wight put out an amazing series called Frankie Pickle a children's series of mixed media writing. It's like when a film puts live action and animation within the same flick, though this is illustration, writing, and comics all combined in a casserole of delicious wit. As you can tell I've become a fan of Eric Wight and his work through the years, I've also found out that he's an alumni of SVA (School of Visual Arts) too. I'm not bias based on his history, I'm bias on his skill and style. Eric Wight is a talented storyteller and an accomplished cartoonist, so join us on this adventure into his work and mind. First on this journey is Frankie Pickle, a young boy with an amazing family.

Cleopatra in Space: Part One

This is a serial that will feature two volumes from the Cleopatra in Space series as will the proceeding.

by Mike Maihack
Phil Falco; Book Design
David Saylor; Creative Director
Cassandra Pelham; Editor
Published by Scholastic, Graphix

One of the most fun comics I've read for awhile, it's pacing and story are better than most stories and graphic novels. That's it, I'm flat out saying it, the story and art are amazing and fluid, structured with the skill of a seasoned professional with the charm and passion of a webcomic. The book it's self is the best and most interesting pleasing designs and reading experience I've had in awhile. Cleopatra in Space floats between the Epic Adventure (Lord of the Rings),  and a Space Opera (Flash Gordon, Star Wars), but has the feeling of a Saturday Morning cartoon (Captain Simian and the Space Monkeys). Though you'll have to read this series yourself to feel the enjoyment that I have, though experiences do change, so here's my impressions of the first two volumes of the series.

Generation X

Here's a little history, I saw the commercials and billboards for this film back in the day and I was super excited. It was something that I was waiting to see, since it was characters that I really wanted to view in action away from comics. In the 90's I only knew X-Men from the 1992 Cartoon and Action Figures. It was a new experience to see them in live-action form. At the time there was Spawn (that didn't come out till a year later, 1997) and Batman Returns (that I was too young to really love, but still love to this day, it was a great rainy afternoon). These were the films in my life, though there were flicks like Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers, The Shadow, The Mask, Tank Girl, and The Phantom that rounded out my pulp and punk heart (click the linked titles for the review). Though I can go on further, but you'll see in future reviews where I've been in the decade of the 90's for films and media. Today we'll be entering a land of TV movies, a land that's not well budgeted, though has a cast of folks you'll be surprised to find in a feature such as this, on a channel that didn't play the movie more than twice (to my knowledge). Join me on this journey into the past, for a movie that needed to wait another four years (maybe 7) to get the full cast of characters to reflect their comic counter-parts.

Justice League: Gods and Monsters

A little forward thinking one should set things up in advance to get more done in less time. I sometimes write these when I can and since I'm assuming before diving into this movie that it's going to be another origin story (about the characters we know better than our family) I decided to have some wine. It's an Adult beverage that I enjoy, in retrospect I should not have. Remember the words of Ernest Hemingway "Write Drunk, Edit Sober", though if it's an analytical piece this mantra might not work out so well. Also I don't think the phrase was to be taken literally, though this is the mess we've been giving, it's color commentary, I'll try to explain myself the best I can with the words I wrote. With this little bit about me, and my writing methods, let's dive into this feature film finely focused forefront on this terrific trinity that gives homage to heroic heroes.

Into The West

When thinking of the emerald isle I always think of Tír na nÓg a magical land in Ireland. Different stories make it a kind of world, another realm, then there's this movie, where it's a horse. It's a magic horse, though still not a land of fey and honey (though the White Knight might have something to say about hives on a horse). In general this is a film about family and a bit of Irish culture, also a beautiful white horse. We'll be taking you on a step for step journey through the film, if this is your first time seeing it, then you're in for the same ride as us, if you've enjoyed this movie, then take a second venture into this week's feature.

Tom & Jerry: Spy Quest

If there was one thing to know about me my film choices you should take a look at ever pulp hero and see if there's a film or an homage to these types of heroes, since I've either seen it or I'm hunting it down. Jonny Quest is a classic, it's Hanna-Barbera's kid version of pulp adventurers, though it's still the most amazing limited animated series created. This was their first action series in 1964 on Prime-time, though like Tom & Jerry and Yogi Bear the name Jonny Quest became household. Then the years start passing and new generations come and go, then new prime-time series need to be produced. Lucky for people like me there's adventurous folks out there that want to see more of the Quest Family. In 2015 they completed and shipped out this amazing (about a hour long) feature starring Tom & Jerry with guests (and driving plot) Jonny Quest, Haji, Race, and Dr. Benton Quest with Bandit, of course. Enough history, let's swing into action and adventure in this Warner Bros. Animation that gives great respect for the series and a bright future for the characters.

Golden Child

I have a lot to say about this film, since it's one I grew up with and one that brought me over to the Sci-Fi side of media. This was one of three films that were always on TV, the first was Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Though this was a popular time for Eddie Murphy, he was a comedy star in the 80's into the 90's, but slowly he was falling from grace, staring in films that weren't reflective of his humor. Despite his ups and downs in media he's been a figure of talent and comedic competence throughout his career, inspiring other comedians and parody. So let's jump into the film that got me interested in the actor and the genre that gives me joy.

Hancock

Superheroes in movies from the past have flipped and flopped, it's hard to figure out if it will be good based on its material or if it's a parody of their genre (I'm looking at you Puma-Man!). With the recent production of films centralizing in the Superhero genre, it's not really a genre, though it's labeled as such because of the influx of hero flicks. Superhero films aren't new, the label is new, there's been fantastic heroes taking on eerie villains since the 30's with film serials. These features were fantastic, though made with children in mind, they were low budget and created with passion. There was a boom in the contemporary market with Superman 1978 and Batman 1989, then incursion of comics selling well. The 90's created a huge development and generation that wanted to see heroes and be super, be better, have a life greater than one's own. Though that's where it loses its heart, in the years to come and still coming strong, there will be superhero movies that don't have a voice or a need or a fanbase to have it made into a motion picture. This is one of those films that were generated and people hoped that it would be strong enough to stand on it's two feet. Will Smith is a great actor and an action comedy legend, this was a no brainer for anyone who's followed his career, though I think it's more the role's fault, since it felt like even the poster is unfinished.

Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: the Motion Picture

Shotaro Ishinomori will always have this last week of January, his birth (25th) and death (28th) three days apart, I hope he knows just how much he's changed my life and everyone he's inspired or given joy to, rest well.

(Power Rangers or Super Sentai)

The Flintstones & WWE: Stone Age Smackdown!

Wrestling and Cartoons, honestly these two need to team-up more often, though the year of 2015 seemed to have Hanna-Barbera connect and make many specials. One special that was a fantastic choice, but a strange way to bring back a series was with this film, was one of the first Animated Television Series, the Flintstones. The last feature or special from the Flintstones franchise was the Live-Action film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000) or the hard to find made-for-TV special The Flintstones: On the Rocks (2001). This is more than a decade from the last appearance, unless one counts The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy episode (Modern Primitives, 2006) still the series hasn't see much interaction, even being as world renown and iconic. I'm glad that one of the most famous and celebrated cartoons that Hanna-Barbera created is getting a few more eyes on it's newest animation (especially since I love the way guests are designed on the Flintstones).