Month: December 2020

Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 1

Xena title cardSins of the Past – Director: Doug Lefler/Story: Rob Tapert/Teleplay: R.J. Stewart

Welcome to my first review of Xena: Warrior Princess. I already talked about how I came to be a Xena fan last week, so let’s get right to it. I’ll give a brief synopsis of the story, then go into my trenchant analysis. (Yes, that was a joke.) Xena first appeared (as a villain) in three Hercules episodes and was supposed to be killed off. But the producers realized the character had great potential as a dark anti-hero struggling for personal redemption, trying to make up for all the terrible things she’d done in the past. Continue reading “Xena Reviews: Season 1, Episode 1”

Comics Reviews: Batman 381, Detective 548, Batman & the Outsiders 19, Firestorm 33, Vigilante 15

Batman 381 coverBatman #381 – “Darkly Moved the Pawns” – Doug Moench/Rick Hoberg/Alfredo Alcala

This one opens with the blind girl Tina finding a police officer and telling him about the stolen loot she found buried near her shack on the beach. Tina says she took care of Batman after he was hurt and that he’s the thief. Normally, any cop would know that’s a load of crap, but Anton (Night Slayer) Knight has been masquerading as Batman lately, robbing stores and banks like crazy, so the cop figures anything is possible. As he’s examining the stolen loot, Anton shows up and knocks him out with a Batarang and Tina realizes she trusted the wrong guy. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 381, Detective 548, Batman & the Outsiders 19, Firestorm 33, Vigilante 15”

Comics Reviews: Flash 342, Wonder Woman 323, Green Lantern 185, Warlord 90, Jonah Hex 89

Flash 342 coverFlash #342 – “Smash-Up” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, a few of Flash’s Rogues (Captain Cold, Weather Wizard, Captain Boomerang, Trickster, and Mirror Master) brainwashed Big Sir into attacking Flash and Big Sir whacked the Speedster right in the face with his mace outside the courthouse where Flash’s murder trial is taking place. Flash took off, leaving his lawyer Cecile Horton to fend off reporters. Flash managed to get away from Big Sir, but was so disoriented he collapsed in a field outside town where he was found by some kids. They unmasked him, but his face was so mangled by Big Sir’s mace that it freaked them out and they took off. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 342, Wonder Woman 323, Green Lantern 185, Warlord 90, Jonah Hex 89”

Xena Preview

Xena title cardAs you can probably guess from the title and the image on this post, I’ve decided to make Xena: Warrior Princess the subject of my next TV review every Wednesday. Xena’s been on my short-list for a while now, but I’d hesitated to go ahead with it because there are a lot of episodes (134) and that’s a pretty big commitment, especially if I didn’t like the show. Luckily, the show is brilliant and I absolutely love it, so I’m happy to finally review it. My history with Xena is short, but rather interesting. Continue reading “Xena Preview”

Comics Reviews: JLA 235, Tales of the Teen Titans 50, New Teen Titans 5, Tales of the Legion 320, Legion of Super-Heroes 7

JLA 235 coverJustice League of America #235 – “Heavy Metal” – Gerry Conway/Chuck Patton/Mike Machlan

This one starts with the League gathering to discuss Vixen’s assault on the police station last issue. Aquaman’s pissed off about it and doesn’t much care why Vixen (who’s not there to defend her actions) did it, even though the others want to understand her motivations. When steel gets pissed off, Aquaman uses his telepathy to calm him down, which leaves Steel feeling sick and he heads outside for some air. J’onn (Martian Manhunter) J’onzz suspects what Aquaman did and isn’t happy about it. He gets even less happy when Aquaman tells Sue Dibny she’s not really part of the team and to keep her mouth shut. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: JLA 235, Tales of the Teen Titans 50, New Teen Titans 5, Tales of the Legion 320, Legion of Super-Heroes 7”

Comics Reviews: Superman 404, Action 564, DC Comics Presents 78, All-Star Squadron 42, Infinity Inc 11

Superman 404 coverSuperman #404 – “Born to be Superman” – Paul Kupperberg/Carmine Infantino/Bob Oksner

This one is an imaginary story, which means I’m not too impressed by it. I prefer stories that actually happen (so to speak) in their comic book settings; imaginary stories always leave me wondering why I should care, since the stories don’t really count. (I know, I know, they’re all imaginary stories …) Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Superman 404, Action 564, DC Comics Presents 78, All-Star Squadron 42, Infinity Inc 11”

Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 3, Episode 20

Veronica Mars S01 titleEpisode 20: The Bitch is Back

This is the last episode of the original run of Veronica Mars and it mainly has to do with Veronica trying to figure out who taped her and Piz (almost) getting it on. The story begins right where it left off last episode, with a bloody and battered Logan showing up at the office to tell Veronica about the video. Continue reading “Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 3, Episode 20”

Comics Reviews: Batman 380, Detective 547, Batman & the Outsiders 18, Firestorm 32, Vigilante 14

Batman 380 coverBatman #380 – “End of the Bat” – Doug Moench/Rick Hoberg/Alfredo Alcala

This one starts with a series of vignettes to bring us up to speed: Bullock barely survived his shooting by Mayor Hill last issue and is laid up in hospital. Hill still wants Bullock dead, but Dr. Fang changes the deal, so Hill has to release him before he’ll kill Bullock. Hill complies, which prompts ex-Commissioner Gordon to start a 24/7 armed vigil by Bullock’s hospital bed to protect him. Of course, Batman is still persona non grata with the cops. Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Batman 380, Detective 547, Batman & the Outsiders 18, Firestorm 32, Vigilante 14”

Comics Reviews: Flash 341, Green Lantern 184, Warlord 89

Flash 341 coverFlash #341 – “Trial and Tribulation” – Cary Bates/Carmine Infantino/Frank McLaughlin

Last issue, we were promised a big bombshell at Flash’s trial and as this story opens, we find out what it is: the manslaughter charge against Flash has been dropped. Don’t celebrate yet … the charge has actually been amended to one of second-degree murder since the prosecution now contends that Flash killed Professor Zoom willfully not accidentally. Flash’s lawyer (Cecile Horton) tried to get the new charge dismissed, but couldn’t, and she had no way to let Flash know since he was incommunicado (being held captive by Big Sir). Continue reading “Comics Reviews: Flash 341, Green Lantern 184, Warlord 89”

Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 3, Episode 19

Veronica Mars S01 titleEpisode 19: Weevils Wobble But They Don’t Go Down

This one starts with Veronica and mac waiting in line to buy frozen yogurt at the Hearst Food Court. Veronica mentions Piz’s disappointment that she’s going to intern with the FBI all summer and Mac advises her to let Piz know that she’s just as bothered by the prospect of not seeing each other for months as Piz is. A blonde girl at the front of the line gets in some kind of trouble with her student ID and is hauled off by campus cops. Continue reading “Veronica Mars Reviews: Season 3, Episode 19”