Wonder Woman # 3 Review

Review: Wonder Woman #3

Submitted by: Kelly Aliano, PhD, Comics News Editor

26 July 2016

Wonder Woman #3 continues our favorite Amazon’s quest to find Themyscira again, this time teaming her up with Cheetah.  The issue is action-packed, tracing not only their battle against a beast-like enemy, but also presenting a team of military explorers, attempting to assist locals.  It is an enjoyable issue, if a bit light on plot, and a must-read for any followers of Wonder Woman’s story.

The issue, entitled “The Lies: Part Two,” written by Greg Rucka with Liam Sharp as Artist, picks up the story from where we left off in the last issue.  Wonder Woman attempts to recruit her former foe Cheetah to assist her in finding her homeland.  But Cheetah does not feel in control of her own existence.  She is seen as a goddess by the followers of Urzkurtaga, the being that turned her into this anthropomorphized cat.  Cheetah strikes a deal with Wonder Woman to help her, if she can free Cheetah in return.  There is a minor subplot, involving four soldiers, who are attempting to help the locals, when they are confronted with the true wildness of the landscape.

The best part of this issue is the team-up between the two women.  It sets readers up for a powerful partnership in the subsequent issues, one that emphasizes the strength of women, not as princesses, but as teammates and compatriots, reinforcing the important geek girl theme of friendship.  This sort of message is perfect for a female-led book.  The Verdict: If you love Wonder Woman (and who doesn’t), check out this issue, as it seems to set up where the story will head next.

Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps # 1 Review

Review: Hal Jordan and the Green Lantern Corps #1

Submitted by: Kelly Aliano, PhD, Comics News Editor

26 July 2016

“The Last Lantern: Sinestro’s Law, Part 1,” by Robert Venditti with pencils by Rafa Sandoval, Jordi Tarragona as inker, and Tomeu Morey as colorist, is another Rebirth title from DC that focuses on a beloved hero on a quest.  In this instance, it is Green Lantern Hal Jordan, attempting to find out what happened to the remainder of the Green Lantern Corps.  In their absence, Yellow Lantern Sinestro finds himself with a great deal of power over the universe.  The story falls back on the classic contrast—between Jordan and Sinestro, between Green and Yellow lights, between Will Power and Great Fear—but is engaging and beautifully drawn, even where it is not entirely untreaded subject matter.

This issue is clearly designed to set the stage for what is to come in the Lantern-verse.  Sinestro is reborn to his former glory due to the power of Parallax and stands ready to lead a new universe in which Yellow Lanterns are the main policing force.  This storyline is designed so that Hal Jordan can be just be about to crash in on Sinestro’s party by the book’s end, while the final pages tease what is happening with the few other remaining Green Lanterns in the galaxy.

For such a potentially sprawling storytelling universe as that of the Lanterns, it is a tight and focused tale of two men’s journeys back to who they were and to where that will lead them.  The return of a newly invigorated Sinestro is great as is the tease of the rest of the Green Lantern Corps in the story’s final pages. The Verdict: While more of an introductory narrative than a self-contained chapter of the saga, this book truly gives the Lanterns a rebirth, bringing back old favorites and setting them up for engaging new interactions.

Flash # 3 Review

Review: Flash # 3

Submitted by: Kelly Aliano, PhD, Comics News Editor

26 July 2016

This third issue of Flash within the DC Rebirth universe opens with reminder of the proliferation of individuals who are able to access the speed force.  Many of these new speedsters are more committed to personal benefit from their powers than they are to helping others.  “Speed City,” by writer Joshua Willamson and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico, presents how the increase in super fast folks has affected not only the Flash but the entire community around him.  This book is focused on establishing the repercussions of a proliferation of speedsters, reflecting on the quintessential comic book question of whether having powers means an individual must use them and, if he or she chooses to use them, for what they should be used.

In trying to investigate a new villain group called Black Hole, Barry Allen and his new police officer partner, August, discover S.T.A.R. Labs’s newest project: training and assisting all the new speedsters that have emerged.  Barry is reminded that, while none of these new people have achieved his speeds, they never asked for this “gift” either.  The woman in charge of the project, Dr. Dhawan, takes Flash to meet with a new “recruit” to the Speed Force.  Afterwards, they return to the lab, where Dr. Dhawan tells Barry of her plan to train all of the new speedsters, even the criminals.  This ends up being a futile quest, as the temporary lock-up is broken into and Barry’s new partner is attacked, which all serves as an exciting and terrifying introduction of the new villain “Godspeed.”

Most of the book feels more like a recap of what has happened thus far since the Speed Force storm, a kind of bait-and-switch to make the final reveal all the more shocking.  That being said, to spend that many pages establishing characters who may be dead or irrelevant does not seem the most engaging use of page space imaginable.  Barry is still a terrific protagonist, but it would have been nice to see a bit more of him interacting with the other speedsters.  The Verdict: The new villain looks incredible, but this book is clearly a transitional issue, helping to change gears from what has happened so far into the next chapter.

Batgirl #1 Review

Review: Batgirl # 1

Submitted by: Kelly Aliano, PhD, Comics News Editor

26 July 2016

Full disclosure: this was my most anticipated DC book this week.  “Beyond Burnside, Part One,” by Hope Larson with artist Rafael Albuquerque, takes Batgirl out of her hipster neighborhood outside of the center of Gotham and throws her back into the center of the Bat-verse action.  Batgirl seemed primed for a “rebirth,” as the Burnside incarnation of the character had a very particular contemporary, hip, social media-savvy appeal that may not have been sustainable for the character long term.  The book emphasizes Barbara’s desire to leave Burnside behind, but sets up a narrative remote from both Gotham City and her follow Bat-folks.  It is great to see her new beginning in action, but it is hard to see how this will establish her presence in the larger DC Universe moving forward.

Barbara Gordon reconnects with an old friend, Kai, while travelling, who she introduces to a “Batgirl” of Asia, called “Fruit Bat,” who began fighting crime back in the 1940s.  Much of the book focuses on Barbara and Kai’s reminiscences as well as their visit to Japan as tourists, eating and drinking and fighting jetlag.  She then gets the pleasure of meeting Fruit Bat, only to be attacked by a schoolgirl-looking villain.  Batgirl finds herself fighting with Fruit Bat, proving that Barbara Gordon is not the only heroine to be able to step out of her wheelchair.  After the fight, it becomes clear that Kai is not all he seems, yet it is he who confronts Batgirl with her secret before she has time to interrogate him.

Batgirl has always been one of my most beloved DC characters. I admit that “Batgirl of Burnside” necessitated a period of adjustment for me, but I came to appreciate its fixation on the contemporary and on the kind of “girl power” aesthetic that it often exuded.  This new chapter is definitely that: NEW.  At this early point, it is hard to establish where it is headed, but the story, characters, and artwork are compelling enough to keep me reading. The Verdict: Batgirl seems one of the most “reinvented” of the Rebirth characters, shedding her Burnside identity and heading abroad.  While the fresh start is appreciated, the book does seem remote from the rest of the DCU and definitely is an introduction, one that does not quite hint at where it is headed long term.

Characters We Love: Joel from The Last of Us

Joel from The Last of Us

Background

SPOILERS AHEAD! REPEAT! SPOILERS AHEAD!

Joel is a powerhouse of a character, neither hero nor villain. He’s just a human amidst the apocalypse. That's all he is. He makes some very questionable choices and some very justifiable ones even as you, the player, take control to watch his progression first hand. That, of course, is one of the most compelling traits of The Last of Us. You have to play as a guy who doesn't have it all together, who’s selfish in many ways, who just wants to survive.

Before the fall of mankind, Joel was a hard-working single parent with a loving daughter named Sarah. He cared for her deeply, as you can see in the just the first few minutes of gameplay. Joel puts a roof over her head and food on the table. Even in such a short time you can tell how genuine their chemistry is because, in reality, she's all Joel really has. When things start to take a turn for the worse and a fungal disease infects most of the population, Joel does everything he can to protect his only child, but like so many others, Sarah becomes a casualty during the fall of the US. Joel loses everything. He's down to nothing.

Twenty years later, Joel is a survivor. He's alive because that's who he is. Joel works with a small group in Boston to stay ahead in the survival game. His friend Tess has given him a new life, but is he over the loss of his daughter? Everything changes when an old favor has him escorting a young girl named Ellie to a band of freedom fighters called the Fireflies. Over the course of their journey, Joel begins to see Ellie more and more as a daughter, as Sarah. He's distant at first, and tries to keep her out of his life in fear of losing someone else. But they can’t help by grow close after all their journey puts them through. She becomes his reason for staying alive. But when he discovers why she must be escorted, that she could cure the world at the cost of her own life, Joel is left with a very difficult decision. Save her, or save humanity? For the world Joel’s decision is very unheroic, but still very human. I mean, can we really blame him?

Why we love him:

1. He's very much human: he's not just a hero that can do all these different things. He's vulnerable and he doesn't always make the right decision.

2. He's tough: only when he has to be, but he's not one that I’d want to fight. The man can fight.

3. He's a softy: despite his bearish demeanor and gritty appearance, Joel has a soft squishy spot in his heart for his daughter Sarah and his newly adopted daughter, Ellie.

4. He's voiced by Troy Baker: Does this really need explanation?



By David White

The SmackDown Files: The Blue Brand Blues Edition (7-26-2016)

By: Keila Cash 

Hello everyone and welcome to another edition of The SmackDown Files. Tonight marks the official debut of SD Live! on the USA Network with a brand new roster. After last’s night hot episode of Raw, the blue brand has to bring the heat in order to compete. 

They do have a reason to brag as Dean Ambrose kept the WWE Championship on SD which gives the show a much needed boost in terms of excitement. However, the mid-card scene is shallower than a Kardashian which is a major cause for concern. Outside of the established main eventers, some wrestlers need to be built up ASAP. Who will answer the call and rise to the occasion? The answer to that question can be found throughout this blog. Without further ado, let’s dissect tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live! in no particular order.

·         The new SmackDown Live opening intro is…Flashy.

·         A new number one contender for Dean Ambrose’s WWE World Heavyweight Championship will be decided via a Six Pack Challenge featuring John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, Bray Wyatt, Baron Corbin, and AJ Styles. The sixth spot will go to the winner of a battle royal featuring the rest of the SD roster.

·         This was a good way to counter Raw’s opening from last night. It was simple and straight to the point. I will say that the red brand’s visual presentation is a touch better than SD’s.

·         This Battle Royal is thin on believable threats and talent. It’s a little concerning.

·         Mauro Ranallo tried to make Zack Ryder look good by saying he nailed a dropkick to the back of Kalisto’s head only for JBL to undercut him by saying Ryder missed the mark. He’s 100% right, but there is a way to clean it up without making it look too bad for the viewers at home.

·         Moments later…

·         Ryder is having a bad night in the ring. At least JBL tried to save face this time around.

·         Apollo Crews eliminated Kane to clinch the final spot in the Six Pack Challenge scheduled for later tonight. The final four featuring Crews, Kane, Kalisto, and Ryder was okay. There was some sloppiness that detracted from the match a bit, but it was fine for the most part. The mid-card is lacking in depth right now. Several wrestlers need to be revamped in order for fans to take them seriously. Hopefully, the SD creative team will remedy this situation over the next few months because this Battle Royal was hard to invest in at times because there were no legit contenders that stood out from the pack.

·         Shelton Benjamin is coming back! That is something I can definitely get behind. He is super talented and can easily give the SD roster a boost in the credibility and experience department.

·         Becky Lynch and Natalya had a pretty good match that kept the crowd’s interest throughout. Lynch made Nattie tap out to the Dis-Arm-Her to pick up the win. It was nice to see Lynch pick up a quality win for a change.

·         Lynch’s moment was ruined as Alexa Bliss, Naomi, Carmella, and Eva Marie made their presence known. Carmella put a little too much stank on her promo which made her slightly annoying. Bliss was spunky and cocky. Naomi appeared to turn over a new leaf as a babyface which suits her much better in my opinion.

·         Eva Marie stole the damn show by having her own ring announcer read a bunch of bullshit superlatives to describe her awesomeness. I will say that her all-red everything outfit put everyone to shame. As a female, I have no problem saying that her body was banging from head to toe. Despite that fact, looks can only take her so far. She’s in the big leagues now. If this was 2007, she would be the hottest woman in the division. Times have changed and Eva needs to prove her worth by showing it in the ring as a competent wrestler. She has shown small flashes of what she can do when she’s not overthinking things in her head. Let’s see if she can step up to the plate and cement her place in the Women’s Division on SD.

·         Random question. Will the women be getting their own title since The Women’s Championship is exclusive to Raw? I need Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon to fill in the blanks for me. Same goes for the Tag Team Title situation as well. Fighting for pride is nice, but having some gold on the line adds incentive to show up and show out every week.

·         The Miz weaving in all of Randy Orton’s catchphrases only to introduce himself as the guest on his talk show was pretty funny.

·         Here comes The Viper!

·         I have no idea what has gotten into Orton, but I am digging his carefree attitude. He is having FUN as a babyface and that is something I have never seen outside of him completely destroying The Authority on the mic last year on Raw. He needs to stay this way permanently.

·          The good news for Miz: He looked like a badass for a grand total of three minutes.

·         The bad news for Miz: He got hit with an RKO out of nowhere. Twice. That was a nice warmup match for Orton. It was nothing special, but it was effective.

·         Heath Slater meet Rhyno. Rhyno meet Health Slater. Gore! Gore! Gore!

·         I will give Slater credit for showing great fire on the microphone. That might have been the best promo he has cut in his entire career. If WWE actually takes his character seriously, he might be a good hand for Raw or SD.

·         It looks like Rhyno is going to be on SD as a veteran mid-carder. He was revitalized on NXT and can add some major cred to the blue brand as well. It’s sorely needed at this point.

·         Wow. Dolph Ziggler is going to SummerSlam to face Dean Ambrose for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. I am a little shocked.

·         The Six Pack Challenge was easily the best thing on the show and it’s not even close. The action was pretty good for the most part. Everyone had a chance to shine. John Cena got a chance to run wild by hitting everyone with an AA only to be drilled with the Phenomenal Forearm by Styles. Unfortunately, Styles got nailed with a sick Superkick from Ziggler which ended any chance he had at co-headlining the biggest party of the summer.

·         The process of elimination was in full effect as I removed Cena and Styles from championship contention before the main event started. They are still in a heated feud and it would have made no sense for either man to be chasing a title right now unless it was strictly a one-on-one affair against each other.

·         Therefore, it would come down to Wyatt, Crews, Corbin, and Ziggler to punch their ticket to SummerSlam. Wyatt would have been a bad choice because he and Ambrose have faced each other too many times for it to feel special right now. Crews had an outside shot, Corbin would have been a bland choice because he has more to prove as a wrestler and character, and Ziggler was the scraps left on the table.

·         The Showoff has been beaten down for well over a year. Some fans have lost confidence in him, but SD can be the place where he can start fresh. A heel turn would do him a world of good. Ziggler’s babyface turn from a few years ago has run its course and I think he has what it takes to be a villain if he doesn’t get too cheesy with it. SD is the land of opportunity and taking ballsy risks will make them stand out from Raw. They need a spark and a Ziggler heel turn might do the trick. Let’s put his Twitter handle to practical use, shall we.

·         Overall, I thought tonight’s episode of SmackDown Live was decent at best. There was not a marked difference in how the show was presented outside of a few nifty camera angles. The biggest issue SD is facing right now is the lack of mid-card talent. It is skimpy right now and it seemed as if WWE had to stretch out the show because of it.  As I mentioned earlier, several wrestlers need a serious reboot. The Battle Royal was an indictment on how thin the roster is right now. Outside of the top five draft picks and American Alpha, SD is borderline snooze worthy.

·         If the blue brand is being portrayed as the underdog, they are winning by a landslide right now. It’s like the tree from A Charlie Brown Christmas. It’s ugly, but a little love would help it grow and flourish. There are a few solutions to help SD Live forge its own identity. They can sign some free agents, see if Raw is willing to make a few trades in order to help both shows, or wait until after NXT Takeover: Brooklyn to see who they can get to shore up their roster. Until then, the creative team needs to get on the ball and shake things up. This is a live show now. The crowd will be more attentive, but they will sit on their hands if the in-ring action has no rhyme or reason to it. It’s going to take some patience, but I have to believe that SD Live! will become must-see television in due time. Daniel Bryan can rally the troops, but the follow-up is key. Let’s hope they can get the job done. Fingers crossed!

On that note this wraps up this week’s edition of The SmackDown Files. I hope you enjoyed it and I will be back next week with a brand new installment of The Raw Exposé. See you later, boys and girls!