Jake & Leon #516> Birds Of A Feather

If it’s “just a mantle” then how did I only learn of Joaquin Torres half-way through the comic? Google “Falcon” and you only get Sam Wilson.

The original gag was that Sam isn’t using Falcon anymore so this guy took over, but apparently they did give the identity to someone else, which I only found while actively looking for it. Otherwise searching for Falcon will bring you multiple pages for Sam Wilson, the original Falcon. Again, when you have your own identity and you become Captain America #5 it becomes a step down in your superhero life.

And yes, the new Falcon got his powers from Redwing, Sam’s old bird ally and Pet Avenger member, who is now a vampire bird and Joaquin Torres was infused with his DNA or something by Karl Malus. That means they ruined Redwing with a dumb idea (at least Ms. Lion isn’t the only Pet Avenger being mistreated by writers anymore) and gave the Falcon identity to someone nobody cares about and never even promoted it. Marvel, your finding new ways to fail while DC sticks to the old ways of failing and I’m not sure who I feel sorrier for.

Over at The Clutter Reports this week I organized my tablets and smartphones into something usable, only one of which is actually being uses as a smartphone. I’m pretty sure I can’t take on any more Android devices at this point though so hopefully 4G doesn’t die any time soon.

As mentioned yesterday Sonic X comics will be taking over the Monday comic review slot since I’m out of DC comics in the main or alternate DC multiverse. This will be followed up by the Archie Sonic comics I never reviewed because they predate the forming of the site. While we get something new for Monday’s comics we say good-bye to Star Trek: Prime Directive over at Chapter By Chapter. That means a full book report round-up over at The Clutter Reports followed by the reveal of the next Chapter By Chapter book to review one chapter at a time. I would also really like to get a Finally Watched in but every time I say that something goes wrong. Anyway, have a good week, everyone! I’ll try not to be late like I was with the Robotech comic review and today’s script, but we’ll see what the universe tosses at me.

Saturday Night Showcase> Sonic X episodes 1

I couldn’t find a previous posting of this so if this is a repeat there’s good reason for it, which I’ll get to later.

Sonic X is a 2003 series by TMS Entertainment, airing for two seasons on TV Tokyo. Much like its Western kinfolk the series doesn’t follow any one game but uses them as a guide to create an original continuity…and unlike many Hollywood attempts manages pulls it off by staying true to the source material while still doing something new. Season one follows Sonic and friends as events transport them to a version of our world while season two sends the heroes on a mission in space to rescue a planet in need. It’s a good series and worth checking out.

The show would also be retooled to air on Saturday mornings in the US, as part of Fox Kids’ rebranded “Fox Box” lineup. The shows were all reworkings by 4Kids Entertainment, a group that among anime fans have received a negative reputation because they forget kids shows in the US follow different rules than kids shows in Japan and this group tends to not like animated shows for kids unless it also caters to them. Sometimes even that’s not enough because they hate kids, but that’s another conversation. However, this dub, within the rules of Saturday morning standards and practices, is actually a pretty faithful dub, without some of the major changes that sparks even the understandable complaints of the group. If you don’t believe me, TMS’s official YouTube channel has the series in both the original Japanese (with closed captioned subtitles) and the 4Kids dub so watch them both and decide for yourself. Or just watch the version you prefer. Either way, enjoy.

Continue reading →

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Scooby-Doo Team-Up #33

If this comic doesn’t have Shaggy in an eating contest with Matter Eater Lad, Fisch need to apologize.

Scooby-Doo Team-Up #33

DC Comics (February, 2018; as posted to comiXology in part 6 of the trade)

“The Ghost Of Ferro Lad!”

WRITER: Sholly Fisch

ARTIST: Dario Brizuela

COLORIST: Franco Riesco

LETTERER: Saida Temofonte

EDITOR: Kristy Quinn

Continue reading →

The Many, Many Intros Of Superman> Adventures Old And New

Superman And The Mole Men was the first full-fledged Superman movie, but it was also the introduction of George Reeves as the Man Of Steel. TV viewers would be getting used to him because he would be playing the role in Adventures Of Superman until his suicide in 1959, just four seasons into the show’s run. They opted not to replace him and that was the end of the show. A pilot for a spinoff featuring Superboy (in the comics at the time these were the adventures of Superman in his teen years, which finally showed us how John and Martha Kent raised the future hero) was made but not picked up, the story later being adapted into the Superboy comics. There is also something called Super Pup, a very bad idea.

Later, another animated Superman series would come about, but this time on television. These are the intros we’ll be examining in this installment because they’re kind of tied to each other. You’ll see what I mean.

Continue reading →

“Yesterday’s” Comic> Speed Racer v2 #1

There’s a face that screams “why are your kidneys still inside you?”.

Speed Racer volume 2 #1

NOW Comics (July, 1992)

“Best Laid Plans…”

WRITER: Tony Caputo

PENCILER: Joe Roziarski

INKER: Kyle Hotz

COLORIST/LETTERER: Patrick Williams

COLOR ASSIST: Suzanne Dechnik

SELECTED COVER ART: Joe Koziarski & Mark Stegbauer

EDITOR: Joan Weis

Continue reading →

BW’s Daily Video: Deconstruction Into Destruction

Catch more Comics By Perch on YouTube.

 

Japan Versus Internet Reviews

I’m guessing Japan doesn’t have its own version of Siskel & Ebert, the movie reviewers who used to have a TV show for years. I can understand being protective of your intellectual property (IP for short) in light of fansubbers releasing shows without the rights holders making any money, or even straight-up untranslated recordings. On the other hand Nintendo went after Let’s Play videos of their games until they were shown that a game play may actually benefit sales…and the guy who did that is no longer at Nintendo Of America so I wouldn’t be surprised if Japan’s corporate headquarters do that again.

However, it’s worse for video reviewers and parody makers given that Japanese studios still go after their anime reviews with the same rage they go after illegal full uploads, even if you’re trying to encourage people to watch the full thing. A deep dive like my Clash Of The Bionoid review is covered under US rules but they’re still an issue. Trying to do a review at all since Hollywood has taken notice (and has fits over negative reviews) is not easy.

However, ShoPro, the anime studio behind shows like Pokémon, has just figured out a way to use (or rather abuse) the international and Japanese legal systems to go after any anime reviewer. One such reviewer is Suede, who’s Pokémon reviews have been going on for years but now is under direct target by Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions Co, ShoPro’s parent company. In the video below he goes over the legal maneuvers they have done to ensure this one New Zealand reviewer on YouTube will lose his career in reviewing their product. Note that Suede loves the show and I’m betting his reviews (I’ve seen a few and some crossovers he did with other reviewers I follow but I didn’t really catch a lot of his videos) were mostly positive or pointing out errors in the hopes they’re avoided in the future.

Continue reading →