Intergalactic Comics: 05/02/16

Monday, May 2, 2016

First Look - WONDER WOMAN: REBIRTH #1

DC Comics continues to show the first images from their Rebirth titles, in this case pages from June's Wonder Woman: Rebirth #1 by Greg Rucka and Liam Sharp.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29100-first-look-wonder-woman-rebirth-1.html

SPACE GHOST & JONNY QUEST Team Up In DC's New FUTURE QUEST

Doc Shaner and Jeff Parker reunite to revive Hanna-Barbera's 1960s cartoon character as a comic book title.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29091-space-ghost-jonny-quest-team-up-in-dc-s-new-future-quest.html

12 Monkeys: Primary

By: Ashley Binion (@ashleybinion)

12 Monkeys returned with a solid sophomore debut, while “Primary” was a small step back. There were some new, twisty plot points introduced, but there were also some problematic character developments.

Warning: Spoilers ahead.

Overall, this was a good episode. We learned more about Deacon, Ramse’s kid is alive, and 2016 Jones was channeling Doc from Back to the Future. There was an interesting plot twist in “Primary,” I’m still on the fence about. But, my biggest problem from the episode was how the female characters are being written, namely Jennifer Goines. If “Primary” is any indication of how the series will continue writing the character, I have issues.

From the beginning of the series, she has been a delight to watch. Every series has that one character who somehow ends up knowing more than the rest of the characters on the canvas. Jennifer Goines is that person. She knows what is going on with Cole and company and she somewhat knows what’s going on with the mysterious lady. That makes her an important character.

We’ve known for a while she has a thing for Cole. But, her entire character can’t be devoted to serving him or getting his attention. That’s what this episode was overtly saying. She even cut her arm to get him to notice her. Cole told her to find her purpose; she did. In the future she returns as the leader of The Daughters group, writing a note telling him she found her purpose. That purpose better not be him and it’s awfully coincidental that she is the one who ends up saving him from 2016. The writing on this series is above that.

The previous episode ended with Cole and Cassie in a standoff. This episode picks right up at that point. Here we see how much Cassie has changed in those eight months. The problem with her change is that there was no build up. I was expecting, and hoping, to see more than one flashback of Deacon molding her into a cold-blooded killer. But, that’s all the audience got. One flashback sequence.

One of the reasons Cole was such an interesting character was because he was so nuanced. He was complex. In theory, I do like the idea of Cole and Cassie switching philosophies about how to save the world, but it was rushed.

So the big plot twist in the episode was Cole and company changed the future. They didn’t eradicate the plague. However, when they destroyed the tubes, they changed timelines. In this timeline, more people were saved and the plague’s spread was moved back two years, to 2018.

Now that that everyone is reunited in the future, it almost feels like a cheat. What made the spread of the virus so compelling in season one was that it was immediately imminent. Sure, Cole was able to time travel to any period to fix things, but there was always a sense of urgency because Cassie was in the present and it could happen at any moment. Now, the show took away some of the stakes with Cassie now residing in the future and the spread of the disease being two years down the road.

On a final note, I’m thrilled that Michael Hogan (a Battlestar Galactica alum) is on the series as Jones’ love interest.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.thenerdmachine.com/12-monkeys-primary/

Best Shots Reviews: DOCTOR STRANGE - THE LAST DAYS OF MAGIC #1, CYBORG #10, FAITH #4

A look at three of last week's top books.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29094-best-shots-reviews-doctor-strange-the-last-days-of-magic-1-cyborg-10-faith-4.html

Arrow: Canary Cry Review

By: Ashley Binion (@ashleybinion)

After the death of a Team Arrow member in “Eleven-Fifty-Nine,” the series returned from its hiatus with an emotional farewell.

Wow. Those Arrow actors can really bring the dramatic performances. Everyone was fantastic, especially Paul Blackthorne. Poor Lance has buried three daughters and let’s keep in mind he only had two. Even though we have seen him grieve many times on this show, Blackthorne continues to impress.

And the way he processed Laurel’s death was very in character. It’s not impossible to think that he could somehow bring Laurel back. He lost Sarah twice and she came back, twice. Of course he wouldn’t believe that his daughter was actually gone. The moment where he bent over and broke down in front of Oliver was heartbreaking. Through all the tragedies the Lance family has gone through, Laurel was his “person.” She was the one who would always be around; she was the one who would pick him up in times of trouble. With Laurel gone, who will that person be?

The faux Black Canary was a tad awkward. “Canary Cry” could have focused more on the grief of the team. Instead, a major storyline in the episode was about a fake Black Canary running around. Really, it only served the purpose of revealing to the world that Laurel was the Black Canary. There was a lot of talk about her legacy as the hero. However, with the large shift of Laurel to a supporting character, we rarely saw that come to fruition. Especially this season, where she was underutilized.

I wish the faux superhero storyline would’ve come in a couple episodes down the road, but since the season is reaching its narrative climax, it’s unlikely they could have fit in this plot device anywhere else. Now until the end of the season, I’m sure the plot will be all Darhk all the time.

The flashbacks. The flashbacks! So, apparently Arrow can still do quality flashbacks. Shocking, I know. For two seasons, the flashbacks have been a waste of time. The writers continue to try and make them relevant, but it’s just not working. Even at the end of “Canary Cry,” Oliver told Felicity he encountered magic before on the island. If that’s their only justification for the flashbacks, I’m not going to be happy.

If I could bring back one character that Arrow has killed over the years, it would be Tommy. That death still stings a little, so I loved that the flashbacks were immediately after Tommy’s death. Because of the time jump in between seasons, this was the perfect opportunity to flashback to his funeral and the days after. Sadly, this reminded me of how much of a jerk Oliver was in season one and two. He was the guy who slept with his best friend’s girlfriend. This flashback had them kiss while reminiscing about Tommy a week or two after his death. It felt wrong. This also reminded me of how clueless Laurel was. Sure, it wasn’t her fault she didn’t know Oliver’s secret at that point. But, still. That’s not a Laurel I ever enjoyed.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

admin
via The Nerd Machine

http://www.thenerdmachine.com/arrow-canary-cry-review/

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL Responds To Reports FOX Pulling Out Of Hall H

Comic-Con International has issued a statement following reports that 20th Century Fox pulling out of Hall H presentations at SDCC.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29095-comic-con-international-responds-to-fox-pulling-out-of-hall-h.html

CIVIL WAR II Packs 'Emotional Gut Punch' For A-FORCE

And ... DAZZLER THOR?!

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29087-civil-war-ii-packs-an-emotional-gut-punch-for-a-force.html

MILLAR’s Movie-Bound SUPERCROOKS & AMERICAN JESUS Get Comic Book Sequels

Leinil Yu and Peter Gross reunite with Mark Millar for sequels to their creator-owned projects.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29096-millars-movie-bound-supercrooks-american-jesus-get-comic-book-sequels.html

Preview: IMAGE's Fall Crossover EDEN's FALL #1

Matt Hawkins crosses over his three titles POSTAL, THE TITHE and THINK TANK this fall.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29088-top-cow-s-creator-owned-titles-collide-in-eden-s-fall-preview.html

JOKER Roller Coaster Makes Its First Test Run

Six Flags debuts the first test run of its new JOKER coaster in New Jersey.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29093-joker-roller-coaster-makes-its-first-test-run.html

First Look: AFTERLIFE WITH ARCHIE #9

First Look: SPIDER-WOMEN OMEGA #1

SPIDER-WOMAN vs. Sinister SPIDER-WOMAN in SPIDER-WOMEN OMEGA #1 First Look

The Spider-titles' latest crossover concludes with Jessica Drew versus another Jessica Drew.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29092-spider-woman-vs-sinister-spider-woman-in-spider-women-omega-1.html

'It Would Suck' For THE FLASH's JESSE QUICK To Have Superpowers Says HARRISON WELLS Actor

Tom Cavanagh doesn't mince words about what his character would think about being the parent of a speedster.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29090-the-cw-flash-s-harrison-wells-actor-said-it-would-suck-for-jesse-quick-to-have-superpowers.html

THE FLASH's Jesse Quick To Get Powers? Tom Cavanagh On Possibilities | Video

Actor Tom Cavanagh talks about the possibility of Jesse Quick, the daughter of his THE FLASH character Dr. Harrison Wells, receiving powers.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29089-the-flash-s-jesse-quick-to-get-powers-tom-cavanagh-on-possibilities-video.html

DC SUPER HERO GIRLS Aims To Be 'Inclusive And Diverse' With FCBD Debut

Writer Shea Fontana on the new franchise's goals, and how they're adapting supervillains to become superheroines.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29086-dc-super-hero-girls-aims-to-be-inclusive-and-diverse.html

Preview Monday: Midnighter #12!

Nicole Valdez
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/05/02/preview-monday-midnighter-12

Celebrate Free Comic Book Day 2016 with Your Favorite DC Comics Writers and Artists

Wondering where to spend Free Comic Book Day? Don’t worry! We’re here to help you narrow it down with an interactive map of participating shops and DC talent signings.

DCE Editorial
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/05/02/celebrate-free-comic-book-day-2016-with-your-favorite-dc-comics-writers-and-artists

DC Fan Family Lois Lane: Double Down Book Sweepstakes

DC Fan Family Lois Lane: Double Down Book Sweepstakes

The highly anticipated sequel to Lois Lane: Fallout is finally here. It’s time to Double Down!

DCE Editorial
via DC Comics

http://www.dccomics.com/blog/2016/05/02/dc-fan-family-lois-lane-double-down-book-sweepstakes

MOLLY DANGER Tosses Out VIRTUE In ACTIONVERSE #6 Preview

Jamal Igle's superheroine takes charge.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29085-preview-actionverse-6.html

Why LIEFELD Fought Not To Have CABLE In the First DEADPOOL Movie

Liefeld talks about pushing against Cable's original movie debut.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29084-why-liefeld-fought-not-to-have-cable-in-the-first-deadpool-movie.html

Comic-Con International Announces Fifteenth (and Final!) Wave of 2016 Special Guests!

COMIC-CON SPECIAL GUEST MONDAY!

Comic-Con International Announces Fifteenth (and Final!) Wave of 2016 Special Guests!

Comic-Con International 2016 Special Guests

This is it ... our 15th and final special guest announcement for Comic-Con International 2016!

CCI_Gary_SDCC
via The Toucan Blog

http://www.comic-con.org/toucan/comic-con-international-announces-fifteenth-and-final-wave-of-2016-special-guests

REBIRTH BATMAN Writer TOM KING On His Own 'Rebirth' From C.I.A. To Comic Books

The former C.I.A. operative on his transition into comics and ultimately into being a DC exclusive writer.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29070-getting-inside-the-head-of-dc-s-rebirth-batman-writer-tom-king.html

SHAGGY & SCOOBY-DOO Step Out In SCOOBY APOCALYPSE #1 Preview

The Scooby gang reunites for an origin story.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29083-shaggy-scooby-doo-step-out-in-scooby-apocalypse-1-preview.html

IDW's M.A.S.K. Revamp Revealed, Gets 'FAST & FURIOUS Spin'

Ahead of the planned introduction into Hasbro's movie-verse.

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29081-idw-s-m-a-s-k-revamp-revealed.html

RDJ Says He's Ready For IRON MAN 4, FAVREAU Would Return 'For A Great Story'

Could the original IRON MAN team reunite for one more ride?

via The Nerd Machine

http://www.newsarama.com/29082-rdj-says-he-s-ready-for-iron-man-4-favreau-would-return-for-a-great-story.html