So Many Comics, So Little Time Podcast

Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight #2 Comic Book Review

So Many Comics, So Little Time reviews the 2nd issue of a limited holiday Batman series featuring Kris Kringle himself, Santa!

Also featuring several Batman allies!

First part of the review is non-spoiler, followed by spoiling details.

Batman-Santa Claus: Silent Knight #1 Comic Book Review

So Many Comics, So Little Time reviews the first issue of a limited holiday Batman series featuring Kris Kringle himself, Santa!

Also featuring vampire-like creatures (at Christmas?) and a surprise villain.

First part of the review is non-spoiler, followed by spoiling details.

A Podcast Retro Review of Adventure Comics #420, cover dated June,1972. Featuring:

Supergirl in "And Death Shall Have No Dominion"-original Supergirl story set on an unnamed planet

Animal Man in "Animal Man, Hero or Freak?" -a reprint from Strange Adventures #195 (1966)

"These Are The Star Men"-original sci-fi story (no superheroes)

Supergirl and Superman in "The Monster From Krypton!" -a reprint from Action Comics #303 (August, 1963)- A Red Kryptonite adventure, also featuring the Emergency Squad from the Bottle City of Kandor!

References mentioned in the podcast review:

ANIMAL MAN – DEFINITIVE READING ORDER, Including Pre-Flashpoint Titles, New 52 and More- at DCComicsnews.com

DCFandom.com: Adventure Comics Vol 1 420

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My opinion and analysis of the controversy caused by James Gunn's canning of Henry Cavill as the Superman actor as Gunn rebuilds the DC Universe Movie and TV brand.

Follow So Many Comics on Twitter  @So_Many_Comics

Marvel Comics Review #1: Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet #1 and 2-Podcast

Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet #1 and 2

In September, 2014, the  Deadpool title  Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet, hit the shelves. A seven-issue weekly mini-series which is the hard-copy version of the Marvel Infinite digital comic titled Deadpool: The Gauntlet.  Each printed issue of this series features two of the digital-version chapters.

While this storyline is not exactly new, (the digital version came out a few months ago), for those who missed the digital version prior to Deadpool's marriage or those who are completist comic collectors of Deadpool, these comic books are worth picking up.  

If you were reading the various Deadpool comics in 2013-2015 (say, from issue #27 on), you are aware that our hero Wade Wilson got married to a succubus (no, really), and queen of the monster underworld named Shiklah. This marriage led to a war between the forces of Mrs. Shiklah Deadpool and her former (and very unhappy) fiancé, Dracula.  Yes, THAT Dracula! This Gauntlet story is basically the prequel to the whole "Deadpool is getting married" story arc.

So, here we go  (mild spoilers here, but we assume you already know who Shiklah is and the whole Dracula thing if  you are following the regular Deadpool series):

The story opens with Wade rescuing a girl from the clutches of a Latverian assassin in London, and quickly evolves into a running battle with a vampire.  This leads to Deadpool taking a job offer from Dracula (but not accepting a drink!) to deliver a package from the Middle East to New York. The package is a coffin containing the presumed heir to the Monster Underworld, who is to marry Dracula and thus end a very long war between the Vampires and the forces of the fiance's family.  

So what could go wrong?  Nearly everything. Our Merc with a Mouth rescues said coffin from some assassins and, at the end of issue #1 is seen sailing away with his still-unopened prize.

Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet #2 opens in typical crazed Deadpool fashion with our hero busting loose the animals from a zoo in Greece in order to hitch the zoo's zebra (named Mustafa), to a cart containing the aforementioned coffin.  Oh, and how do we know the zebra is named Mustafa?  Because in Deadpool's crazy world, even wild animals have thought balloons, and we see that this animal does not think too highly of Wade.  Anyway, back to our tale: While scaring off the local Greeks with his tales of vampires, Deadpool awakens a Minotaur who feels he needs to rid his village of Deadpool and his package. Hint to Deadpool: Did you notice the Minotaur said he can sense EVIL?  And he was not referring to you or to poor Mustafa.

After the requisite Deadpool/Minotaur battle and chase, we finally get to see the contents of the coffin.  This is our first glimpse of Shiklah!  Dracula's fiance, the evilly beautiful Shiklah!  

And as we hear her tell Deadpool her origin story, and the mention of the word "vampires" many times, who do you think shows up?

Blade, of course!  He has good reason to try to stop the impending Dracula-Shiklah nuptials, but if he kills the package, Deadpool does not get paid!  Cue in a decent Blade/Deadpool fight, and some monstrous intervention by Shiklah.

All in all, this is a pretty good Deadpool story. Zany, crazy, and yet, all the wackiness is centered around a real story that we now know will have major ramifications in the life of Deadpool .

The story is by Brian Posehn and Gerry Duggan, with Duggan taking on the actual writing chores.  The art is by Reilly Brown.  Posehn and Duggan have a good handle on what Deadpool is all about.  This is a well-done story and 'Pool stays in character.  Plus he is funny.

Reilly Brown does a great job with the art.  Deadpool looks like Deadpool should (as opposed to the not-very-good art of John Lucas in the regular Deadpool comics title), and Shiklah is drawn in a very beautiful manner.  Blade looks good, and so does the Minotaur. Mustafa also.

A couple of questions do come up in the story, more the sense of continuity with Marvel history.  Dracula was first introduced to modern Marvel fans in 1972, with Tomb of Dracula, by Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.  They styled their Dracula in the classic Bela Lugosi look, and to a lot of fans of that title, that is how the comic book Dracula looks.  Now, the Dracula that hires Deadpool looks like a take-off on the undead in Interview with a Vampire, as played by Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. Why would an undying lord change his hair from black to whitish-blonde?  Is this supposed to be the same character? Since even Marvel would have trouble explaining two guys calling themselves Dracula, this probably is THE Dracula.  Blade seemed to think so.  How about some continuity here?  Other than that, this is a good read!  

With  Deadpool: Dracula's Gauntlet #3, will we hopefully find out what happens with Deadpool and Shiklah; and does Blade give up, or will he return to battle our Merc with a Mouth?  And will Mustafa ever make it back to the plains of his homeland?  We can only hope!

If you like Deadpool (and just want to see the pre-story to Deadpool's marriage), or you like vampires, minotaurs, or zebras, pick this series up and read it!

Available on Marvel Unlimited or, if you want to actually hold the graphic novel in your hands, it is available on Amazon for purchase.

Kenobi Podcast Script -Episodes 1 and 2-Star Wars

This is a general outline of my script, but not word-for-word with the actual audio podcast. 

(first part is a non-spoiler portion, second part, with warning, has spoilers)

Intro

I am an old time fan of SW

Kenobi fills in gaps since Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Ten years since Sith, and the birth of Luke and Leia

Great show, great execution, good effects, and great callbacks by important actors from the Prequel Trilogy. Loving it.

The vibe I get from the first two episodes (especially the first one), is of a Space Western.  The old gunfighter has hung up his guns, lives a quiet life.  An old pal shows up asking him to ride one more time to rescue the girl.  This theme hit me at the end of the first episode, as Kenobi briefly flings his cloak aside to show his lightsaber on his hip. Just like an old-west gunfighter would with his six-gun on his hip. Cue old Marty Robbins gunfighter ballad songs…

-------------------------

Spoilers Alert

New Characters:

Haja Estree (Kumail Nanjiani)-love this guy. His character adds a bit of chaos to the plot…is he good or bad, light side or dark side?

Reva Sevander/Third Sister (Moses Ingram)-Member of the Inquisitors (force-users, often former Jedi) who work for Vader to hunt down the Jedi.  This character is evil to her bones, and I love it!  Moses Ingram clearly is a powerful force-user, and I dearly want more background on her.  

Given that Star Wars often connects various powerful Force-users with familial ties (think Rey and Palpatine, and the whole Skywalker clan, and possibly Yoda and Grogu), my first thought was, “Is Third Sister possibly connected to Mace Windu?”  She certainly shows a Windu/Samuel Jackson intensity, and we do know that Jedi had hookups, and Mace could have produced a kid.  A kid he abandoned, perhaps, due to the whole monk-like “relationships are bad” mojo they recite.  That could explain her hatred of the Jedi…

Tetha Grig (Esther Rose McGregor)-cameo by Ewan McGregor’s actual daughter.

Old, Pre-Existing Star Wars Characters:

Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi (Ewan McGregor)-Good job in returning to the reason why he became “Ben,” and left “Obi-Wan” behind.  Also, this helps fill in a big fan-canon issue, namely, why did Leia and Han name their son Ben?  This goes a long way to explaining that. Needless to say, as the title character, we are filling in a lot of gaps in his history.

Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits)-I was quite happy to see Jimmy Smits reprise his role as Senator Organa.  His character is key to getting Kenobi to get back in the saddle

Leia Organa (Vivien Lyra Blair)-This kid was perfect as the ten-year old Leia. As referenced by Kenobi saying she reminded him of someone (clearly Padme), this kid is clearly channeling both Natalie Portman and the young Carrie Fisher.  Plus, she does resemble both of them.

Clone Trooper (Temuera Morrison)- This was a surprise cameo.  We see a bearded Morrison as a  homeless clone trooper veteran panhandling on the streets of Daiyu.  He appears to be a veteran of the old 501st.  Loved Kenobi’s shocked look when he sees one of his old troopers.

Darth Vader (Hayden Christensen)- We knew he was in the show, but his big reveal was perfect, as Kenobi learns from Third Sister that Vader is still alive. As Kenobi says the name , the scene cuts to a disfigured Vader in a bacta tank.  Does Vader then Force-sense Kenobi?  Oooooh, it is a great cliffhanger of an ending.

Overall, this show is great so far.

Kenobi Sources and Resources:

https://www.slashfilm.com/877523/ewan-mcgregors-daughter-has-a-cameo-in-obi-wan-kenobi-episode-2/

https://www.tomsguide.com/opinion/what-i-loved-and-hated-about-obi-wan-kenobi

We discuss the Ms. Marvel Disney+/Marvel show, with emphasis on Episode 6. NO spoilers in the beginning of our show, but we do discuss spoiler details at the end. You will have warning when we get into that part.

Overall, we discuss

1. Overall impressions of the Ms. Marvel Show and Kamala Khan.

2. Diversity in the MCU-Including commentary on the online hate directed at the show and other MCU properties that dare to show divesity.

3. Ms. Marvel's Powers-compared to her powers (and origin) in the comics.

4.  The Bangle (what is it REALLY?)

5.  The villains of the show and the MCU "Villain Problem."

6. The last scene (spoilers)

7. The After-Credits scene (spoilers)

Thanks to:

Thanks to Aditya Rameshan (@AdityaRameshan) for pointing out (via Twitter) a good article on how Iman Vellani reacted to the big reveal at the end, and to New Rockstars for their detailed and entertaining review of Ms. Marvel Ep. 6.

Sources:

https://www.marvel.com/articles/tv-shows/ms-marvel-kamala-khan-genetics-interview

Movie review of the Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) movie. We avoid major spoilers, and give you a sense of whether you should like/see it and why.

Movie Review by So Many Comics

Follow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/so_many_comics  

NOTE: the following script for the review is the draft. The actual podcast contains more content.

Having seen Thor: Love and Thunder twice now, I can say with certainty that I LOVED it.  Now, keep in mind, I consider Thor: Ragnarok the best of the Thor franchise so far, so I was already predisposed to like the new Thor. Plus, as a reader and fan of both the Gorr God Butcher and Jane Has the Hammer storylines in the comics, I was looking forward to this new film.  It is not for everyone. If the comedy and camp in the last movie bugged you, expect to be more bugged here. But I loved it!

Christian Bale is perfect as Gorr the God Butcher!  His husky villain voice (sort of like his Batman voice), lends itself to the creepy aspects of Gorr’s villainy.  His reasons for wanting to kill gods is made clear early on, and it fits with the original comics storyline.

Tessa Thompson, reprising her role as Valkyrie, is again, amazing. I think a Disney+ show with her in the lead as Val would be a good move for Marvel/Disney.  We need to see more of her work as King of New Asgard, and maybe get more Sif action in such a show. My only criticism of her character (not the actor), is that after stating to Jane that she wanted to die in battle and go to Valhalla, she then decides not to go the final battle, because…she might die!  Seems a bit out of character, BUT, (big but here), she did say she would die, and that would not help Thor save the kids or beat Gorr. So maybe King Val was just being practical.

The Kids!  Without giving away any major spoilers here, the kids did a great job of acting both scared and heroic.  Only after my first viewing of the movie, did I realize that among the passel of kids in the movie (the kids are a major plot point, by the way), are the actual children of Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Christian Bale.  That is cool!

Natalie Portman is again, and always, great. From her iconic role in Star Wars as Princess Amidala/Padme, to her great take on Jane Foster, she steps into what is now a co-starring role as the new Mighty Thor perfectly!

Chris Hemsworth! Again, the perfect (male) Thor! He has genuine comedic chops, and director Taika Waititi uses Hemsworth to great effect in this movie.  Hemsworth can turn in a funny performance, and then turn it around to be the inspiring hero that we all need.

Also, the GOATS!  In both actual Norse mythology, and modern Marvel mythology, Thor’s chariot is pulled by two giant, magical goats, named Toothgnasher and Toothgrinder. In the comics, they first appeared in Thor Annual #5 (1976).  While not named in this movie, they are great comic relief (they like to scream a lot), and a good plot device. Love the Goats!

The Guardians of the Galaxy!  We see them working with Thor in the early part of the movie, but they soon depart. Star-Lord’s words to Thor are actually an important part of the story, but the actual heroes are not in the movie very long. In a sense, that is too bad, but, again, this is really the story of the two Thors, not the “Asgardians of the Galaxy.”

Mjolnir and Stormbreaker:  For two CGI objects, these two nordic weapons almost stole the show…again, not giving away major spoilers, but they had great interactions with each other and Thor.  IDEA:  There should be a Marvel Short about a love triangle between Mjolnir, Stormbreaker, and Dr. Strange’s cape.  Directed and narrated by Korg, of course.

Welcome to our Introductory Podcast of So Many Comic Books,, So Litttle Time. In this episode, we go over:

Why we are making this show

What will be in the show

How we will run the show

Who we are

We explain that our content will include:

Comic Book Story Arc Reviews and commentary

Comic Book/Superhero Movies and TV Shows reviews and commentary

Reviews and commentary on new and old Star Trek, Star Wars, and other Geekish content

We hope you enjoy this journey into the depths of comic book and sci-fi geekery!

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