Thursday, September 29, 2016

Everything to Know For Legends of Tomorrow Season 2

In the year 2166, Rip Hunter, a member of the Time Masters, witnesses the death of his wife and son by dictator Vandal Savage. In order to change that history, he defies the Time Masters to gather a team to fight off Savage in the past before he gains power in the future. Over time, he gathers Ray Palmer, Sara Lance, Kendra Saunders, Carter Hall, Martin Stein, Jefferson Jackson, Leonard Snart, and Mick Rory to fight with him, claiming that, in the future, they will be legends. Though some are initially reluctant in the trip, all soon join him in the fight, especially Kendra and Carter whose destinies are tied to Vandal Savage. However, their mission is made more complicated when the Time Masters send their own soldier Chronos to stop the legends.

In their efforts to stop Savage, however, Carter is killed in battle, leaving Kendra the only member capable of killing the immortal man. Their search then takes them through 1975, 1986, and even 2046 as they try to find and interrupt Savage’s rise to power. Unfortunately, Rory betrays the team to pirates invading their ship the Waverider. Rip forces Snart to take care of Rory, and Snart does so by leaving Rory behind on their travels.

The continuing journey leads them to 1958 where they find Savage experimenting on a metal meteorite, similar to the one that gave Carter and Kendra their powers. While the team is able to stop Savage’s experiments, an attack from Chronos forces the team to escape, leaving Ray, Kendra, and Sara behind in the 1950’s. Sara returns to the League of Assassins, but Ray and Kendra use the time to grow closer.


Two years later, the Waverider returns to pick up the three, forced to face off against the League of Assassins to reunite with Sara. In the struggle against Chronos, they are shocked to discover that Chronos is actually Rory, trained by the Time Masters to be their soldier. With him in captivity, the group once again attempts to fight against Savage in 2147, before he took power in the world. When they fail to prevent Savage’s ascent, Rory informs them of worse news: the Time Masters will send Hunters to eliminate the team for their resistance.

The team escapes to hide in 1871, but the Hunters locate them and attack the Western city they inhabit. With the help of Jonah Hex, they successfully take on the Hunters but not before they learn of the Time Masters’ new plan to kill the younger versions of the legends in order to defeat them. Initially, they recover Rory and Sara’s younger selves but eventually resort to finding their infant selves to protect themselves against the Pilgrim. As they defeat the Pilgrim, Rip sends their younger selves to a safehouse outside time with his adoptive mother. With their younger selves outside time, however, they only have a short window before they are erased from time. In the meantime, Ray and Kendra decide to further their relationship by agreeing to marry each other.

With no time left, the team heads to 2166 in order to take on Savage directly. In searching for Savage, Kendra discovers her old bracelet in the possession of a female officer, a device that can be used to kill Savage. With the local rebels’ help, they kidnap the woman, who turns out to be Savage’s daughter, and melt the bracelet onto Carter’s mace to develop a weapon. The mace is successful against Savage, but the villain reveals that he has the current incarnation of Carter Hall, brainwashed to serve him. If Kendra killed Savage, she could lose Carter again. Although Kendra refuses to kill Savage under these circumstances, the team takes Savage and Carter under captivity.


With Savage’s influence in manipulating time, Rip believes that the Time Masters will be lenient on their crimes if they present Savage. However, Savage attempts to manipulate his way out of the prison, feeding into Ray’s insecurity about his relationship with Kendra following the return of Carter. When Kendra attempts to reach Carter, Ray is goaded into a fight with Savage, leading to his escape. In his fight, Savage tries to kill Kendra which ultimately leads to Carter regaining his memory. Although Carter is stabbed, he manages to survive as the Waverider arrives at the Vanishing Point, the setting of the Time Masters. There, the Time Masters reveal their alliance with Savage and order him to be sent back to 2166, leading to the capture of the rest of the team.

Under captivity, Rip discovers that Savage ultimately unites the world against an attack from the planet Thanagar in 2175, though Rip refuses to leave Savage off the hook for his crimes. The Time Masters also reveal the Oculus, a device they have used to manipulate time over the years, including the actions of the team. In an attempt to move against the Time Masters, Sara and Snart break out the team and attempt to destroy the Oculus. While they successfully take out the device, the destruction kills Snart who sacrifices himself to protect Rory. Meanwhile, Savage escapes with Kendra and Carter in tow.

Rip returns the team to 2016 in order to complete the mission on his own, but the others refuse to leave the mission. With Kendra’s help, they locate Savage but only manage to rescue Carter before Savage escapes once again. Fortunately, regaining Carter gives them insight onto Savage’s new plan which is to create a paradox over three different times using the Thanagarian meteors to send the planet back to the dark ages where he will rule. Splitting up, the legends face against Savage in 1958, 1975, and 2021 with the radiation of the meteors allowing anyone to kill him. The legends manage to kill Savage and destroy the meteors, ultimately fulfilling their mission.

Once complete, Rip returns a reunited Kendra and Carter to 2016 while the rest of the team plan to assist Rip in maintaining the timeline without the help of the Oculus. However, right before they leave, they are confronted by Rex Taylor of the Justice Society of America.

Season Two


Probably the most impacting thing from the previous season is the introduction of the Justice Society of America. The Arrowverse has long teased the development of a superhero team, but season two of Legends of Tomorrow appears to focus on the development of the team itself. With the extensive cast, it’s easy to create a team even without the Green Arrow or the Flash, but an actual superhero team recognized in both the past and the future has a lot more going for it than a group aiming to stop a future dictator.

For one thing, the group of Legends is already expected to expand with colorful list of characters. There’s Hourman, whom we already met in the finale, Commander Steel, Vixen, Obsidian, and Doctor Mid-Nite. And those are just the ones who were already revealed. From the surprise reveal at the end of the previous season, it’s not entirely impossible for another surprise appearance. At this time, however, it’s unlikely for every one of these heroes to appear onscreen at the same time as the Justice Society, but, with all of them official, there is always that possibility.

Even more impressive is the addition of not only the Justice Society but the Legion of Doom. Made up of villains from both Arrow and The Flash, the evil group appears to be the perfect parallel to the Legends. Also, this level of villains provides a decent balance of the grand role of Vandal Savage. In this case, although the show lost one of DC’s greatest villains, they gained four equally threatening ones. However, there has yet to be a detailed explanation as to the grouping of these villains, some of whom are already dead. In other words, there is sure to be an extensive follow-up on the concept behind the Legion of Doom.

Finally, the show still has the remaining members of the team to focus on as the series continues. Rip Hunter is now in the position to try and maintain the timeline on his own terms. Sara and Rory will eventually have to confront their relationship with Snart when he returns as a villain. Not to mention, Ray will likely continue to work towards his hopes of being a hero, and Jax and Stein may continue to work off of each other. In light of this, the show doesn’t exactly rule out the reappearance of Kendra or Carter, even if only for an episode. One thing’s for sure, Legends of Tomorrow is not short of any character stories.


While Arrow and The Flash focus on the individual heroes, Legends of Tomorrow season two could be the show that really focuses on the team. With a major four-part crossover with the rest of the Arrowverse on the way, it will only get bigger from this point.

Photo Credit: CW/DC

Review: Wonder Woman #7


Review: Wonder Woman #7
Submitted by: Theresa Stier, Comic News Writer
28 September 2016

“The Lies: Part Four,” by Greg Rucka and artist Liam Sharp is an action packed one, but that's not surprising considering it's a Wonder Woman comic. First, Wonder Woman saves a group of girls that have been taken from their homes. She doesn't take them to safety (her friends do). She tells the girls that they will be safe and when Wonder Woman says that, you best believe her. Wonder Woman is one of those characters that you know won't double cross you and send you into a trap.

Instead she and Cheetah go to find (and fight) Urzkartaga. Cheetah and Wonder Woman are definitely two women you want on your team, especially if you are up against some supernatural like creature (or fighting any bad guy for that matter). By fighting, and defeating, Urzkaratage, this frees Barbara Ann. She keeps telling her Wonder Woman that he lied, that everything that he made her do was a lie. Diana makes sure that she knows that she's okay and that she's there. This is why Wonder Woman is such a great character and such a great hero.

The Verdict: This comic is one that shows just how great of a hero Wonder Woman is. She's a strong woman, that's for sure, and this comic captures that. I'm curious to see what the next issue brings and what is in store for Wonder Woman.


Follow Theresa on Twitter @Smallville0628 and @Geektified for the latest comic reviews!  

Review: Teen Titans Rebirth #1


Review: Teen Titans Rebirth #1
Submitted by: Theresa Stier, Comic News Writer
28 September 2016


“Teen Titans Rebirth,” by Ben Percy and Jonboy Meyers introduces us to the Teen Titans. We start of with Beast Boy. I don't blame that woman for getting out of that pool because turning into a shark is not something you do if you want to impress a girl. We are then reintroduce us to Starfire, Raven, and Kid Flash. They are all in different areas of the world, considering this comic is still after Tim Drake's death and the team has split up due to this. They seem to be in somewhat better spirits than they were when we saw them at Tim's funeral.

The ending to this comic is shocking, since we see Robin. The ending, of course, makes me wish that the next comic was up already. I'm curious to see how the next issue is going to start and I am also curious to see who this Robin in. We know that Tim is alive, so this could be Tim. However, it could be someone else. Everyone that has read some form of Batman comic before knows that there are a handful of people that have placed on that Robin suit.

The Verdict: This is a great comic for anyone that has never read a Teen Titans comic. It introduces you to the characters, but doesn't introduce them where one character takes over the whole comic. It gives you a little bit of each character and in the end it brings all the characters together, since they're all kidnapped by the same person.

Follow Theresa on Twitter @Smallville0628 and @Geektified for the latest comic reviews!
 

Review: Detective Comics #941


Review: Detective Comics #941
Submitted by: Theresa Stier, Comic News Writer
28 September 2016

“Night of the Monster Men: Part Three,” by  Steve Orlando, James Tynion, and artist Andy Macdonald, is a bit gory. There are a lot of pages where Gotham Girl, or someone else, tears one of the monsters apart. It seems though that each time the blood of these monsters land on someone, that person becomes one of them (which of course is never a good thing). I'm curious to see how this is going to turn, considering that now Nightwing and Gotham Girl are one of these monsters (thanks to Gotham Girl going a little crazy and destroying one of the monsters). I'm excited, yet a little nervous, to see what is going to happen in the next issue.

Hopefully, they won't have to get hurt (or worse) in the process of being turned back into their normal selves. I'm pretty sure, Bruce or someone else will find a cure to change them back without having to kill them (at least I hope so). Even though, sometimes when a comic has more than just a few characters it can be confusing, this comic doesn't run into that problem. It's formatted well, where you don't feel like the stories are just thrown onto the page.

The Verdict: This is not a comic for someone who might be a little squeamish. This comic is going to be setting something up big for the next issue, so you're going to want to read this one before the next one comes out. I am curious to see what that big something is. 


Follow Theresa on Twitter @Smallville0628 and @Geektified for the latest comic reviews!  

Review: Action Comics #964


Review: Action Comics #964
Submitted by: Theresa Stier, Comic News Writer
26 September 2016

“Superman, Meet Clark: Part Two,” by Dan Jurgens and artist Patch Zircher, is a little confusing at first  (since we've always known that Clark Kent is indeed Superman). So, to see a Clark Kent with no human powers and having no history of the son of El is...well not right in my universe. What also isn't right in my universe is that Clark writes the article about meeting with Superman and not Lois. In the movies, comics, and shows it is always Lois that writes the article about her day or night with Superman.

Clark's life, without him being Superman, seems very lonely. Sure, he's a reporter for the Daily Planet, but there's no Lois in his life and there's definitely no saving the world. It is definitely not going to be on my top five favorite Superman comics, but not because it's badly written or anything of that nature. I am just a fan of Clark Kent as Superman, Lois Lane being with Clark/Superman, and a man who is a Daily Planet reporter by day and a Superhero by a blink of an eye.

The Verdict: If you're looking for something that isn't the classic Superman comic, this is for you. If not, then this is probably wouldn't be something you would enjoy. Besides me wanting Clark and Superman to be the same person, I did enjoy this comic and it was well written. 


Follow Theresa on Twitter @Smallville0628 and @Geektified for the latest comic reviews!  

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Review: DC Rebirth: Batman #7 “Night of the Monster Men-Part One”

Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer
23 September 16

Plot: Steve Orlando and Tom King
Pencils and Inks: Riley Rossmo


A looming nor’easter hurricane threatens Gotham in the first Rebirth crossover. Batman, Batgirl, and Nightwing converge to evacuate the city under Batman’s leadership. Clayface, Orphan, and Spoiler also join the team in a smaller capacity. Before the plan can get underway however, a monstrous, grotesque zombie resembling the giants from Attack on Titan crashes through Gotham’s cityscape wreaking havoc and threatening lives. Determined not to let another life be lost while on duty, Batman launches towards the creature without fear. Using some cool new high tech gadgets and his wits, Batman fights a behemoth that may look more at home in a series like Superman or Green Lantern, proving that it’s not the dog in the fight but the fight in the dog, or in this case, bat. If you enjoy a good Batman story, this is a great issue for you.

This story feels well fleshed out. The history between the characters is palpable. The loss and regret Batman feels following Tim Drake’s death is pushing him to his limits. He jumps in front of danger without any thought to self-preservation. It’s clear he blames himself for what happened, and this makes him feel more human to the reader. Batman is frequently cast as a stoic character without much in the way of emotion, but this time around it’s quite obvious the Dark Knight has been wounded beneath his armor.

Even though Batman has to fight a monster over two stories tall, the authors didn't neglect the fact that Batman’s greatest asset is his ability to investigate. Where did this creature come from? Are there more of them? What weaknesses can be exploited so they can be dispatched quickly? The team launches their investigation while simultaneously trying to evacuate vulnerable people in areas susceptible to flooding, as previously planned.


The Verdict: This is an enjoyable Batman story. If you're a Batfan, I would recommend picking it up. It doesn't change the character in some drastic way or add anything new, but that's okay. Sometimes you just want to sit back and read a good story.





Review: Doctor Fate #16 “Judgement Day”

Submitted: Ken Trickey, Comic News Writer
23 September 16

Writers: Paul Levits and Sonny Liew
Colorist: Lee Loughridge

A welcome return to moral storytelling, Doctor Fate #16 teaches us that although we may search the streets or the skies for our big heroic moment, what's ultimately more important is the day-to-day struggle of living a good life. Comic book geeks everywhere fantasize about pulling victims out of a burning building, talking someone off of a ledge, stopping a mugging, or righting some other tremendous wrong. What we often overlook is that not all heroes wear capes, and most acts of heroism aren't so grandiose. Giving blood, donating time to a food kitchen, being a good friend, and other small acts of kindness are examples of everyday heroism. This comic will leave you with the warm and fuzzies without feeling like you've been preached to.

Osiris, the judge of the living and the dead, has set his sights on Doctor Fate, or more correctly on the mortal who dons his gilded helm, Khalid. The Egyptian god is convinced that Khalid is a fraud, possessing magical abilities that don't belong to him. With the awesome power of ancient gods against him, Khalid has only the strength of his character and the testimony of his loved ones to offer for his defense. The result is a contest between deities and divine beings spanning across several pantheons with a surprise ending.

This may seem like a small point, but I appreciated this issue in part because it was a complete story. Too often after finishing a comic, I have been left feeling as though I sat through the first ten minutes of an hour long TV show before losing connection. In my opinion, each chapter, episode, or entry of a story should have a full arc that contributes to the larger narrative. This isn't easy, but this issue achieves it.

The artwork is fantastic. Osiris is ominous. His presence has kept the sub from rising, and in many panels the only source of light is the incredible power radiating off him. In contrast, the love Khalid’s parents feel for him is effectively communicated through the visual storytelling. The subtle body language of a concerned guardian is clearly shown via a gentle embrace or an averted glance of anxiety to the floor.


The Verdict: Doctor Fate #16 is a return to form—a taste of the olden days when a comic served as a small dose of moral teachings to the American youth. As the medium evolved and became more accessible to an older demographic, some of that moral motif was left by the wayside. This beautifully drawn and colored issue is a refreshing reminder of what comics used to be.