February 18, 2024

Jake & Leon #589: Blocked Up

Every writer and artist knows their pain.

Over at The Clutter Reports this week, I finally reviewed the Gunblaster Zoid.

I have no scheduled distractions this week, so I’m waiting to see what unscheduled distractions I’m going to run into.

With only 4 theories remaining, I need to finish getting caught up on Game Theory and Film Theory episodes in the quickpost backlog before MatPat leaves and the new host comes in, just because it’s weird having videos from the old host when the new host is active. It’s like the Zero Punctuation episodes when Yahtzee Croshaw has moved to a new YouTube channel with Fully Ramblomatic, and when Kyle Hill parted ways with Because Science and went to his own channel under his own name. I don’t like repeating mistakes, people. So all this week the Daily Quickpost will be Film and Game Theory episodes. Monday’s is a new Film Theory.

Also coming this week, more from Star Trek: The Vulcan Academy Murders for Chapter By Chapter, and whatever else comes to mind that I have time to do. Have a great week, everyone!

Posted by on February 18, 2024 in Jake & Leon and tagged , , , .

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February 17, 2024

Saturday Night Showcase> Angels Revenge–MST3K Style

I’m trying to clear out my Watch Later list, and you get to join the fun. It’s another Mystery Science Theater 3000 post. I’ll replace this with an official post if the official YouTube channel puts it up, or you can go to Shout Factory TV, the Gizmoplex, and a few ad-sponsored streaming sites that carry MST3K posts. There’s also a Rifftrax version because some movies need a second riffing with a woman’s touch. So what is Angels Revenge about?

After the brother of Michelle Wilson (a Las Vegas pop singer) is found severely beaten, the young man is found to have been using illegal drugs. The singer meets with April, her brother’s teacher, and the two hatch a plan to destroy the local drug processing plant. They recruit four more women with special skills and connections to help them carry out their audacious goal. One of April’s students also joins the group in a support capacity.

The “Angels” not only destroy the processing plant, but also manage to intercept one of the shipments. As a result, the women receive unwelcome attention from the local drug cartel.

-MST3K Fandom wiki

Are we supposed to take this seriously with fight scenes using cartoon sound effects? It also has Jack Palance, Alan Hale, Jr, and Jim Bacchus, three actors who have done far better works but somehow still end up in movies like this. Enjoy, won’t you?

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Posted by on February 17, 2024 in Movie Spotlight, Saturday Night Showcase and tagged , , .

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February 17, 2024

“Yesterday’s” Comic> The Blue Beetle #45

Dan’s been running a lot on these covers lately. Is he practicing for a marathon?

The Blue Beetle #45

Fox Features Syndicate (June, 1947)

We appear to be back to a monthly schedule for our armor clad hero. Or is he still using chain-mail armor? Consistency with the previous Fox run has been nonexistent. I know what we are back to: all Blue Beetle, plus the “Minit Mystery” and text story, neither of which involves Blue Beetle. We’re still on three stories, but two of them are Blue Beetle adventures and one is a Joan Mason solo story. Nice to see that back.

[Read along with me here]

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Posted by on February 17, 2024 in Yesterday's Comics and tagged , , , .

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February 16, 2024

How Grant Morrison’s JLA Saved The Justice League

Yes, I’m running late again. It’s been one of those weeks.

I’m not a huge fan of Grant Morrison. I don’t hate his work…sorry, I know he goes by they/them but I’m old and this makes no sense to me. It sounds like he’s multiple people, and it’s one of the few bits of the current pronoun game my brain just refuses to follow, in part because it also messes with other parts of grammar. Still, I’ll go along with it for the sake of avoiding the argument. It’s his/their choice overall but don’t be surprised if I slip because I only heard about this as I was going over the comments, so it’s news to me. Plus I’m past deadline as it is.

Back on topic: They’re a good writer. The problem is the same as their greatest strength: an obsession with history. On the one hand they does their best to pay tribute to everything that came before. On the other hand that sometimes leads them to force events together that don’t go together, and while not as bad as Bendis they still like their complicated explanations, trying to fit Silver Age sci-fi into modern science rather than embrace the silliness of a superhero universe. This did make them a good choice to reform the Justice League Of America in the 1990s…but they was up against a few issues. Like the 1990s.

This is the time when Superman turned into red and blue versions and at some point ended up with electrical powers, the only benefit being losing the mullet he gained in his resurrection. It’s the time when Hal Jordan was gone and replacement Kyle Rayner was just finding his audience. It’s when Aquaman also had a mullet, lost one of his arms and replaced it with a harpoon, and wore a less interesting outfit than that blue thing from the 1980s. Basically, the 1990s messed with the classic looks, while the various Justice League titles were too many.

In the following video from Owen Likes Comics, he makes the case that Morrison and their JLA title may have save the premier DC superteam-up book. Maybe, but I still prefer the full name: Justice League Of America.

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Posted by on February 16, 2024 in DC Spotlight and tagged , , , , , .

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February 16, 2024

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Star Power: The Heavy Metal Showdown

I didn’t know Danica grew up watching She-Ra. Or He-Man. I’m not judging. Hope if wasn’t the Netflix version of either.

Star Power: The Heavy Metal Showdown

(January, 2019)

WRITER/ARTIST: Michael Terracciano

There is no issue number attached to this comic. It’s something Terracciano put together between the previous storyline and the next one. I’m assuming it’s canon but it is separate from the regular Star Power series, like a one-shot special. Outside of the Christmas special attached to the previous issue in the site’s archives it’s the first time Terracciano drew a comic since the original Dominic Deegan: Oracle For Hire ended. I looked up a few blog posts he wrote from that time, partly to put a date on it since there’s no “publisher” to list. He wanted to push himself as an artist and step out of his comfort zone. However, there is still no color. Terracciano’s original work was in black and white and this is as well, also like the Christmas story.

Note that I’m taking all of that into account when judging the art, but since he’s the regular writer of Star Power I’m not expecting any changes in the quality of the writing, just more excuses to push his drawing skills.

[Read along with me here]

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Posted by on February 16, 2024 in webcomics, Yesterday's Comics and tagged , , , , , , .

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February 16, 2024

BW’s Daily Video> Why Jurassic Park Is Unlikely To Happen

Which frankly sounds like a good thing when you think about it, but still…

Catch more from Film Theory on YouTube

Gee, guess it’s more dangerous for them than us.

Posted by on February 16, 2024 in Book Spotlight, Movie Spotlight and tagged , , , .

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February 15, 2024

The Continuing Damage Of Modern Epic Storytelling

I’ve written about this in the past, but it continues to happen and continues to worry me as it seems to be getting worse. Last time I was focused on the comics, but it’s moving it’s way through shows and movies now as well. There’s a need to have a big, epic sized storyline and now it’s really getting out of hand.

I find it funny that Marvel Studios is going out of their way to divorce itself from Marvel Comics, which they have outright admitted as is a discussion for another time, and yet this mistake is the one they seem determined to replicate. With CG allegedly being easier and cheaper than practical effects, Hollywood is falling all over itself to make the biggest, flashiest, most action packed scenes they can get away with, or sometimes the trippiest that makes the biggest impact. This is becoming more and more of a mistake, and it’s going to be damaging to sci-fi and even fantasy…not that I wouldn’t believe that to be the goal, but that’s another commentary for another time, as is the start of a trend towards replacing sci-fi with fantasy. (Doctor Who is outright admitting that. Interesting how all the Disney stuff keeps admitting they’re destroying not only their own traditions but the traditions of every license they’re a part of.)

The end result isn’t just hurting storytelling in general, but their shared universes and even their financial bottom line…and it’s programming audiences away from simpler, smaller stories part of a larger whole.

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Posted by on February 15, 2024 in Comic Spotlight, Movie Spotlight, Streaming Spotlight, Television Spotlight, web series and tagged , .

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