Superman (2025)

Superman, 2025.

James Gunn did NOT eff him up!

I had my doubts considering how much The Suicide Squad was more of a fart fest in line with the Troma films Gunn cut his movie teeth on. Superman was done with care, respect and awe.

I loved it.

The movie starts off with Superman already established for several years. Lex Luthor has been scheming since the Man of Steel's debut to bring Superman down and he just might have a perfect opportunity to pull such a feat off. Superman prevented a fictitious country called Boravia from invading a neighboring country. As Superman acted alone, without the approval of the United States government or even the United Nations, his actions have caused controversy to swirl over whether Superman acted on his own accord or in the public good as he claims to the press.

Luthor determines the location of Superman's Fortress of Solitude where he uncovers a secret message from Superman's Kryptonian parents that encourage him to rule the Earth as a god-like despot. Sharing the message with the news media, public opinion turns on Superman quickly. They especially don't like the part where Jor-El tells his son to continue the Kryptonian bloodline by filling a harem with as many fertile human wives as possible. 

Not wishing for further trouble, Superman turns himself in to the Department of Justice, in hopes of working things out. Only because Superman is an illegal alien and not subject to American law, plus the superpowers he can use to escape any prison, the Man of Tomorrow is turned into a private army called PlanetWatch which just happens to be funded completely by Lex Luthor!

I hear that President Trump hates this movie. He's condemned it as being 'woke'. Yet, there's nothing woke about this film. Superman's role on the international stage has been debated since his second ever appearance in Action Comics #2 when Superman prevented 2 warring European nations from starting another World War. Supe's immigration status has been a topic of discussion for at least 4 decades. Way before the term became the common vernacular used today. So really, what is 45 &47's problem with this movie?

I've seen every Superman movie ever made. He's my favorite superhero of all-time. I wear Clark Kent glasses and somehow my hair does a natural curly-cue. So I think I can attest that this was an entertaining movie that was nostalgic while pushing the Man of Steel into the 21st century. I know that I am going to be controversial when I say that I liked this Superman better than the Henry Cavill Superman! David Corenswet's Superman and Clark are in the tradition of Christopher Reeve and Brandon Routh.

One reason our Commander in Chief isn't fond of the current Last Son of Krypton is because he's not a perfect specimen as he was created way back in 1938. I like that Superman isn't perfect. If he didn't have have weaknesses or made mistakes, he'd be boring. Just don't make him too flawed. Maybe like 97.8% perfect. James Gunn did a fine job keeping Superman a superior specimen while also keeping him relatable.

The real star of the film is Krypto, the super dog. Although in this film, he's a super mutt! We got the definitive Jimmy Olsen in actor Skyler Gisondo. While not a true ginger, we finally got a Jimmy with freckles. Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane wasn't bad. I got real Courtney Cox vibes off of her. Though, sadly I think she knows how to spell the word 'rapist'. Couldn't she at least once have called Clark 'Smallville'? I also really liked Wendell Pierce as Perry White. But then again, he's great in everything! It was so fun seeing this film be really heavy on journalism as that was one the things I loved about the Dean Cain/Terri Hatcher series from the 1990s.

I'm on the fence about Nicholas Hoult's Lex Luthor. He's way better than the last couple of actors to play Superman's arch-enemy on screen. But he was a little bit on the whiny side. This Lex is really intimidated by Superman despite being one of the most powerful men on Earth. Regardless, this Luthor is a real slime ball. 

Don't think that this is just a Superman movie. This is James Gunn's opening chapter into the new DC cinematic universe. Fans get to see Guy Gardner and Metamorpho in live action for the very first time while this is both Hawkgirl and Mister Terrific's big screen debut. Nathan Fillion was a perfect jackass. I can't wait to see Batman knock him out with one punch. Metamorpho was a character I remember my dad having a bunch of issues of when he was a kid and it brought back memories. As for Mister Terrific, I'm not very familiar with him as I don't read a lot of the more modern Justice Society stuff. But Edi Gathegi was terrific as the tech-saavy hero. I look forward to more of his character in future DC productions.

I loved this movie. It made me feel like a kid again. Though he's a bit more violent than all 4 Christopher Reeve Superman films combined. James Gunn's Superman may not be everyone's Man of Steel, but this film did something that recent movies haven't made me want to do in years: I wanted to buy tix for the next showing and see it again!

Worth Consuming!

Rating 9 out of 10 stars. 

Black Adam (2022)

Black Adam is one of the 3 main arch enemies of the Billy Batson Captain Marvel, otherwise known as Shazam! So to have a Black Adam movie without the Big Red Cheese is a pretty odd move. 

2022's Black Adam is what many call Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's failed attempt to take control of the DC Cinematic Universe. After Scott Snyder's Justice League failed to garner the interest of a cohesive universe of life action films, many saw The Rock's picture as make or break for the Snyder-verse. 

Having a superstar like Johnson was a smart choice for Warner Bros. The former wrestler is charming. He's got a legit, strong fan base. He's proven that he can bring in the fans. And most of all, compared to Ezra Miller, Snyder usurper Joss Whedon, and Suicide Squad visionary James Gunn, Dwayne Johnson is clean-cut and family friendly. But to make your first entry into DC films a big budget potential blockbuster about a character that is the complete opposite of Johnson was just a mistake.

That's not to say that Black Adam didn't have its merits. The first act of the film was great. It told the origin story of the character. Having Djimon Hounsou return as the wizard Shazam was a smart choice that I appreciated. We learn of the rise of fictional Middle Eastern nation Kahndaq through the ages to becoming a land full of oppressed people ruled by that ruthless organized crime syndicate, Intergang. 

We then meet young Amon Tomaz and his family. Amon's mother Adrianna is a freedom fighter who longs for a day when Kahndaq is free. Her pursuit of the legend of the ancient champion of Kahndaq awakens Black Adam, who while disoriented by how modern everything has become, the legendary figure also hates to see his ancestors oppressed and begins to clear house of Intergang. 

Enter the Justice Society of America. Summoned by Amanda Waller, the team lead by Hawkman are to bring Black Adam down. When the JSA arrives to stop Adam's violence, Adrianna makes an interesting point. Why is it that America can have superheroes to save Americans but when another country does the same thing, the USA intervenes? 

The argument made sense to me. Sure, it brings up some problematic thoughts of colonialism, and American foreign diplomacy. But why is it in all the DC books when other countries get powers, the JLA, JSA or Suicide Squad have to put those countries in their place?

At this point, the movie got predictable. JSA fights Adam. Amon gets kidnapped. Black Adam feels bad for the kid's capture and surrenders to Hawkman. The surprise villain of the movie gets mega-evil powers. The JSA realizes that they need Black Adam to defeat this powerful new foe. Big battle. Victory. End of story. I've seen the 2nd and 3rd act a million times and I just got bored. And I really shouldn't have.

This movie gave viewers the first ever live appearances of 3 super heroes. Atom Smasher II, Cyclone, and Doctor Fate. Fate was one of my favorite figures in the Super Powers action figure line-up from the 80s and Pierce Brosnan was excellent as an aged, wise Kent Nelson. As for Hawkman, this was the 4th incarnation of the character on screen. But Aldis Hodge's Carter Hall was by far the best of the quartet. Having these guys should have really helped make this a great film. But in reality, they mostly all just brought the story down. 

Why couldn't we have gotten Zachary Levi as Shazam and Mark Strong returning as Sivana, playing angel and devil to try to convince Black Adam which path to choose? That would have been a much better movie. Though, you would have to keep Pierce Brosnan's character. His Doctor Fate did add that extra layer of cool.

The film made just under $400 million dollars globally. Some analysts say that Black Adam broke even. But it was far from a hit. I think the biggest problem was that Johnson and director Jaume Collet-Serra managed to piss off Warner Bros. and DC. During the big Black Adam/JSA battle, Adam and Hawkman wind up in Amon's bedroom which is decked out in Justice League stuff. Black Adam manages to punch holes through pictures of Aquaman, The Flash and a Superman S-Shield, symbolically telling viewers that Black Adam is the new main man of DC films. But when Black Adam knocks over a statue of Batman from a high display shelf and it crashes to the floor, I think execs cried foul. Because nobody can topple Batman as the biggest box office draw of them all!

Just before this film debuted, DC and Warner announced that James Gunn would be heading all future projects both live action and animated. I think producers and high ups saw that scene in post-production, told the director and star to remove it. They declined and as a result, the studio pulled their backing. 

Think about it. Where were the toys? The t-shirts? Happy Meal toys? There were literally zero tie-ins to this movie other than some variant comic covers and a Black Adam miniseries. I really think this film was intended to be a bold new direction for DC films after the debacle with Justice League and it slapped a lot of people right in the face. Instead of bringing DC movies ahead of Marvel, Black Adam managed to push all DC projects back at least 3-5 years. 

A film that had so much potential. But egos got in the way. Cliches seen in countless superhero films and TV shows just oozed throughout every scene. Plus, some great superheroes were misused or just ignored completely to prevent this from being a classic in the superhero movie genre.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

The 25 Baubles of Pop Culture! Advent 2022 Day 9

 

The theme for today's Advent was all up to fate. Its thanks to that pop culture random generator that we look at Christmas ornaments devoted to the classic 1942 anti-Nazi picture Casablanca. 

The Warner Bros. film starred Humphrey Bogart as American ex-pat Rick Blaine, who owned a night club in Casablanca. Set during World War II, the Moroccan city had just become property of the Nazis. As a result, Rick's Cafe Americain has become a sort of neutral territory in which French, Germans and refuges can use as long as there isn't any trouble. Things seem to be going great until old flame Ilsa, played by Ingrid Bergman, comes through the door with her husband, a Czech resistance leader on the run from the Nazis. 

Although Rick and Ilsa don't end up together, Casablanca has endured the decades as a romance classic. Collectible plates, dolls, and prints have been issued over the years. And yes, even some Christmas ornaments. I've only been able to find 4. But it's better than nothing I guess. Let's take a quick look...

First up is this pair of polonaise glass ornaments from Kurt Adler. They're busts of both Bogart as Rick and Bergman as Ilsa. The Ilsa ornament is a pretty good likeness. But the Rick ornament looks more like a sad clown without their makeup. The pair are from 1999 and they're considered rather collectible and not at all cheap!

Hallmark has an interesting set of 3; but only 1 is an ornament! Of the 3 pieces, the ornament is a representation of the theatrical poster. The other two pieces are figurines of Rick and Ilsa. Not sure why Hallmark did it like this. You can't hang Rick or Ilsa on the tree and unless you have an ornament hanger, you can't put the ornament with the figurines. From 1997.

The last ornament isn't an official Casablanca ornament. But it is an officially licensed product. Titled 'Play It Again, Sam', a line that actually isn't from the film, this 1999 ornament was officially licensed by the Humphrey Bogart estate and produced by Charlton Cards. It has Bogie in his white tux from the movie standing in an archway with a beaded curtain that looks perfect for Morocco. But instead of paying homage to Cafe Americain, the ornament spells out the actor's name. 

Looney Tunes #266 (Family Comic Friday)

There's a trio of fun in this issue. I'm just afraid I might be a little too old to fully enjoy it now.

First up, in the brand new story, Bugs is awakened by an earthquake. Upon going topside, Bugs discovers that something is off with his friends. They've all been replaced with robots!

The cover story was what sold me on making a purchase of this issue. The story was interesting as I was stymied as to just who was behind the robotic changes... I was convinced it was Marvin the Martian. But I was so disappointed with the cliched ending. Yeah, this was a comic book story full of cliches. But it was that last ending that was just 1 banality too many!

The two reprint stories weren't so guilty of the offense of overuse of the worn out jokes. In reprint #1, Tweety and Sylvester fight over the TV remote. In the second, Bugs takes on a grocery store that stole his carrots. Of these two, the Tweety & Sylvester romp was the best.

I thought that there was a major over reaction with Bugs. Instead of trying to either reason with the store owner or hire a lawyer, the rascally rabbit decides to use deceit and trickery to get his nums back. Maybe I'm just getting older, but I felt like that second Bugs story could have been handled in a much different way.

I only paid $2.99 for this book. That's retail. I'm not terribly upset with my purchase as I would love to one day own the whole run. Though, I think with all the reprints, I might not have to buy every issue. Possible. But I bet it would take a lot of research to get a complete list in order to not have a bunch of doubles. 

If the young reader in your life loves Looney Tunes cartoons, this is a great bi-monthly series for them. The artwork has always been animation style quality. And the stories themselves are so much like cartoons. That ending that I hated is definitely the type of ending you would expect for a Merry Melodies cartoon. I'm pretty sure that had I experienced this on the TV, I'd be disappointed with the results as well.

That's what happens when you get older, I guess. Silly things just look silly. I might not be a fan of all of it, but your kids are gonna love it!

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

The Suicide Squad (2021)

 

If you put James Gunn in the director's chair, be ready for anything. 

Amanda Waller brings Task Force X back in action with the live action sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad in The Suicide Squad. (Yeah, that's not confusing...)

This time, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang and Rick Flagg are paired with an even more rag-tag group of super villains in order to restore democracy to a tiny island nation. A small junta that just happens to have it's hands on a super weapon capable of global destruction.

Once more, Margot Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. It's just a rotten shame that after 3 live action films now, they still can't find the right vehicle for her! 

The Suicide Squad was a total gore fest. Heads explode! Bodies get ripped to shreds. And limbs go flying- literally. Add to it an Elizabeth Warren level of liberal amount of F-bombs and a bunch of dick jokes, and the occasional trip to the toilet and you've get a glimpse what Guardians of the Galaxy might have been like if it wasn't a Disney venture. 

There's so many twists and red herrings that to go too much further into the plot would result in massive spoilers. So let's just focus on the tone of the film. It's R-rated. So, parents- don't take your kids to this expecting a family friendly film. 

And let's talk about DC Movies in general. When it comes to the comic books, DC is more lighthearted compared to Marvel. And I love that! I think DC having so many fictitious American cities like Gotham and Metropolis; instead of occurring in gritty Manhattan or L.A., gives DC Comics stories a tone of fantasy even when things are it's most darkest. When it comes to TV shows and cartoons, Warner Bros. captures that whimsy perfectly. But for some reason, when it comes to the big screen, Warner just insists in exploring the heart of darkness!

Could it be that since Warner Bros. doesn't cow-tow it's fan base like Disney does, that DC movies will keep pushing an envelope that nobody asked for? Think about Deadpool. It's probably the most dark toned Disney film in both sense of humor and seriousness. Yet for a character without any boundaries, the Merc with a Mouth was pretty much put in a box. It's a large box. But a container none-the-less!

With The Suicide Squad, maybe there was a box. But it was ripped to shreds. And then crapped on. A lot. Yes- there were some funny moments. Like when Task Force X interrogates mad-scientist, The Thinker, played by former Time Lord, Peter Capaldi. But for the most part, it doesn't feel like a DC Comics venture. This film is definitely a James Gunn venture and it reflects his time at Troma Films. 

Wait! That's it!!! This movie was like if  Lloyd Kaufman was able to secure the rights to a Task Force X movie and then made it like it was set in the Toxic Avenger universe! Maybe if they threw Toxie and Sgt. Kabukiman into the cells of Belle Reve along with King Shark and Polka Dot Man, I would have liked this film more. Instead, I'm left shaking my head. 

And putting all your chips behind John Cena's Peacemaker for the next HBOMax DC project?! Yuck! The character is completely unlikable. Which is weird, since I like John Cena. 

I also like DC Comics. No- I LOVE DC Comics! But when it comes to live-action super hero projects that I am most looking forward to in the next 12 months or so- most of my top-10 list is Marvel stuff. Warner Bros. went back to the drawing board with this movie. I wonder what projects were left on the blackboard, considered B-level stuff...

God Help Us All.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars.

Wonder Woman 1984

My satellite provider started showing the much delayed (and much maligned) Wonder Woman 1984 this week. The film seems to contradict much of Superman V. Batman and Justice League, as we were lead to believe that Diana Prince stayed out of the limelight after her time at the end of World War I. But that's not quite the case. 

In 1984 Washington, D.C., Wonder Woman saves the innocent. But the Amazonian princess does her best to stay anonymous, often telling those few who do spot her to keep mum about her. Her muted presence will be tested when megalomaniac Maxwell Lord comes into contact with a cursed gem that can grant wishes. As Lord uses the wishes of others to become more and more powerful, Diana unknowingly revives her long dead only love, Steve Trevor. But her wish comes at a cost, as her desires result in Wonder Woman's loss of invulnerability. 

Also making wishes for herself is the wallflower, Barbara Minerva. Now blessed with strength and confidence, Barbara finally starts to stand-up for herself. But it is at the cost of her humanity and good will towards others. As both Maxwell Lord and Minerva gain in power, Diana falters in her attempts to stop the pair. But in order to do so, Wonder Woman will once again have to sacrifice her happiness. 

I liked WW84 a lot more than I liked the first film. Maybe it's because 1984 is a year smack dab in my childhood. So possibly there's more nostalgia than actual enjoyment here. Clocking in a 2.5 plus hours, this is a lengthy film. There are several scenes that I don't think we needed, like an opening scene from Diana's childhood trials on Themyscira. But the extra scene in the middle of the credits- that was a surprise that was coming for a very, very long time!

There were quite a few humorous elements to this movie. Gal Gadot and Chris Pine have great chemistry together; much to comedic effect. Gadot's interactions with Kristen Wiig as Barbara Minerva, before her fall from grace, were rather good too. And Pedro Pascal's role as conman businessman Maxwell Lord is very good. He's slimy just like in the comics.  Although, I've never pictured Lord as a Latin Lothario. Max's creators have always aimed at him being a trumped up, um well, Trump. And while Pedro Pascal does seem to have the hair down pat- this guy just isn't a native New Yorker.

As I said earlier, this film has had it's haters. I'm not one of them. But I feel that this film had it's flaws. Along with being about 25 minutes too long, director Patty Jenkins falls into that trap once again of using slow motion during the fight scenes. Now, that super slo-mo isn't as frequently used as in the first movie. But the directors of the DC live action movies have got to say enough's enough with this oft used (and now worn-out) visual trope. 

I also felt that the awesome concept of having wishes come true but with negative consequences was a very good way to use Maxwell Lord in this movie without him becoming Lord Havok. But the way things wrap up with an impassioned speech by Wonder Woman that inspires the world to renounce their wishes, it felt like a remake of The Wizard of Oz. And I hated that part. 

Lastly, the ending itself. This has got to be the first super hero movie I've seen in which the baddies don't get what's coming to them. Lord seems to get a happy ending. And who knows where Barbara Minerva wound up. But it wasn't dead or in jail, I can tell you that. And not having justice served made the conclusion of this film seem unfinished.

We're supposed to have a third Wonder Woman film. The pandemic and the critics didn't seem to do too much to keep Warner Bros. from declaring a hit on their hands. But hopefully, the crew behind this film can learn from it's mistakes to make the third installment a flawless hit. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Before we get into this review, I want you to know that I tried. I really tried to like this movie. I've been a fan of Harley Quinn ever since her first appearance on TV way back on September 11th, 1992. I even tried to defend the Birds of Prey movie on social media to the Nth degree, sight unseen against all the haters. But upon watching the film yesterday, I just could not be a fan of it. 

Birds of Prey or whatever it is that Warner Bros. and DC have decided to rename the film, follows the continuity of 2016's Suicide Squad. After being sprung from jail by the Joker, Harley Quinn goes on another crime spree with her beau. But this time between the two lovers is different and Harley decides to dump Mister J. Now an independent woman, Harley Quinn experiences for the first time an independence to go her own way. But this emancipation means that Harley is now a marked woman.

With every baddie who she ever wronged out to kill her, Harley Quinn must use her wits to find a way to stay alive. That opportunity comes in the form of Gotham gangster, Roman Sinois; AKA The Black Mask. If Harley can retrieve a special diamond encoded with important banking information from a fallen mob boss, Quinn will no longer have to look over her shoulder. But matters are complicated when Harley finds the young pickpocket who stole the gem from Sinois' bodyguard and driver, Black Canary. The thief swallowed it!

Now Harley must wait for nature to take it's course. But that means having to fight off hordes of gang members and crazies until the Ex-lax kicks in! Oh the things a girl will do to win her freedom...

Here's the deal. Based on that plot line, I am 100% fine with the film. I liked the changes from the Birds of Prey comic books to the big screen. I thought that the villain played by Trainspotting's Ewan McGregor was great. He's an even loonier bad guy that Jared Leto's Joker! I even thought this film's version of Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina) was pretty good, even though I am forever a fan of Anthony Carrigan's portrayal of the serial killer for hire on Gotham. My big problem was the film's very gruff change in ratings.

Suicide Squad was PG-13. This movie was rated R and we're talking HARD R. The F-word is spoken from just about the very first line. To the degree that it would make any character from a Tarantino movie blush. The crudeness of the movie really made me uncomfortable. 

The violence level was upped too. And the fighting bothered me. But not in a way that I was triggered. In fact, I just got bored with all the fighting. At one point, I could pretty much tell what scenes were added to reflect whatever video game adaptation was being marketed as a tie-in and at that point, I was longing for the power to go out or something in order to not have to endure any more of it. 

Can anybody tell my why DC thinks it's necessary for it's superhero movies to have all of the fight scenes done in super slo-mo? I'm literally done with that style of directing or choreography. It's time for DC/WB to figure something else out. 

Sadly, I almost decided to be done with comic book movies and comic books altogether based on this movie. Ultimately, I decided to not go that extreme. But I have decided to really weigh out if seeing such films like Birds of Prey is worth my time anymore. Even though I saw this as a matinee, I felt like I wasted my money on this. 

My decision had nothing to do with the film being directed and produced by women. My disappoint wasn't based on the fallen hopes of an Alpha male. It had nothing to do with the movie being full of strong female characters. I thought Journee Smollett-Bell was great as the daughter of the Black Canary your parents grew up with. (I even think Smollett-Bell deserves a couple of award noms for her role! She really was that good!)  

Rosie Perez's Renee Montoya was darn near perfect! And I really enjoyed the added mystery character who I'll refer to as the 'Crossbow Killer' (I'm trying to avoid spoilers here...) And then we've got Margot Robbie. She's a great version of Harley. I thought her Jersey accent was a little-more-over-the-top than as before. But that's exactly what Birds of Prey is:  over-the-top!

I love characters such as Harley Quinn and Deadpool and The Tick. Their skewed way of seeing things help make my world a little more sane. Yes- i realize that the two Deadpool films are full of violence and F-words. But, those movies seemed to (thankfully) be reigned in a little bit by the production company AND Disney. Here, with most of the film taking place inside Harley's head, Warner Bros. seemed okay with just throwing all sorts of crazy ideas up against a wall and going with whatever stuck to it. Birds of Prey was a film that had a vision. It just didn't really seem to have any direction.

The lack of structure of this film made for times I hoped for a chance to leave the theater. Birds of Prey had great characters and some awesome moments. But it wasn't the action scenes that made this film bearable. It were those quiet moments when the characters had a chance to develop. Unfortunately, there was too much insanity to make for a balanced superhero picture. And coming from a devoted member of the Gang of Harley's, that says volumes!

Take my advice, if you love comic book movies, go see it. just don't pay extra for 3-D or IMAX. Those extra bells and whistles just aren't worth paying for.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Batman Vs. Two-Face

This direct-to-DVD movie from 2017 is in essence an extended episode of the 1966 Batman series. The villain Two-Face was originally supposed to be featured in the fourth season of the show. But the program had run it's course and was cancelled after 3 years on TV. 

Rumor had it that Clint Eastwood was to have played Two-Face and Harvey Dent had that fourth season been green lit. However, after seeing this, I really think William Shatner would have been the right way to go!

The movie starts with Batman, Robin and Harvey Dent witnessing Dr. Hugo Strange perform an experiment to extract evil from the like of The Joker, Penguin and Riddler. The device overloads and as a result, half of Dent's body is horribly burned by the technology.

Over the course of the opening credits, we see Two-Face's reign of terror on Gotham. Right before the music ends, Batman and Robin catch the fiend. Gee- quick movie, right? 

The meat of the movie has Harvey Dent undergoing surgery to restore his body. But what about his psyche? Demoted to assistant of the assistant District attorney, Dent's ego is clearly bruised. But he seems to be doing beautifully, bringing some of Gotham's worst to justice. However, there's something strange about the crimes being committed. They all seem to have a dual purpose to them. Is Harvey Dent still secretly the villain Two-Face? Or is the straight man being framed?

Even though Harvey Dent's origin wasn't exactly like it was from the comic books, I was pleased with this animated extension on the TV classic. It was seamlessly fun with voices by some of the remaining actors and actresses of the show. Plus, there's quite a few modern additions that while they weren't a part of the 1960s show, DC had added them in the recent run of Batman '66 comics. I've enjoyed those additions and the fun doesn't stop here!

One of my favorite parts of this movie involves Catwoman. The Batman '66 comic book by Jeff Parker established how there was both the Julie Newmar and the Eartha Kitt Catwoman. But what about Lee Meriwether's turn in the Batman live action movie? Well, question no more as that's finally explained in satisfying detail here!

Batman Vs. Two-Face was quite campy, like it was back in the 1960s. But this being rated PG, it was a little on the bawdy side. Though it wasn't too much that the whole family still couldn't enjoy this. 

The artwork was amazing. Great renderings of all the stars back in their heyday, especially William Shatner! 

Sadly, this would be Adam West's last time as the Caped Crusader, succumbing to leukemia sometime last year. That also probably means the end of the Batman '66 franchise. Though I would love a third and final one in which Dick Grayson becomes Nightwing. But who could replace Adam West? 

The answer is nobody and this animated adventure is proof of that!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Aquaman (2018)

I closed out 2018 going to see the latest superhero flick, Aquaman. Starring Jason Momoa, it really felt like DC now has a working man's hero to look up to. Momoa's Arthur Curry is rude, crude, brash but he also possesses a deep sense of justice and honor.

Aquaman is the story of the bastard son of Atlantis. The spawn of a human male and Atlantean princess, Arthur Curry learns at a young age that he can communicate with fish. Early in Arthur's life, his family home is threatened by members of the royal guard. To save her half-breed child from execution, Arthur's mother Atlanna, played by Nicole Kidman, returns to Atlantis to submit to her forced role as wife and Queen in an arranged marriage.

Thanks to secret training sessions by a loyal member of Atlanna's, as Arthur matures, he learns to fight and defend himself. But the young man has no desire of becoming king. Instead, Arthur drinks, fights, and saves submarines from underwater pirates. 

Of course, you know that Arthur is going to become motivated to accept his destiny and become the true king of Atlantis. The job currently is held by Aquaman's half-brother Orm (Patrick Wilson). As ruthless as his father, Orm seeks to become the undisputed ruler of the Seven Seas, known as the Ocean Master. Should he obtain the backing of the other realms of the deep, Orm can mount his long-desired war on the surface dwellers. 

To challenge Orm's claim on the throne, Arthur must go on a global quest for a missing trident. Aiding him in this quest is Orm's betrothed Mera (Amber Heard). Along the way, the pair will run afoul of villains, monsters and ancient wonders. There might even be a little romance on tap...

There's basically two movies in this 2 hour and 20 minute picture. The first half of the film, as Arthur learns more of his Atlantean heritage, is a visually stunning masterpiece. The special effects kick the butt of both 2017's Justice League and anything Marvel put out this year. The costumes, which utilize sea life to the literal gills, were also quite stunning. 

Aquaman should receive some Oscar nods for both FX and costume design. It had such a classic and yet futuristic at the same time. That first half set primarily in Atlantis, reminded me of an underwater Blade Runner. If the movie had stopped at the middle mark, I would have no qualms with the overall quality of the film. While the second half was good, it wasn't as great as the beginning. 

The main issue with Aquaman's second half is that what Arthur must do to defeat his brother seems like a deep-sea Indiana Jones movie. Unfortunately, that entire mission is laid out in a speech by one of the characters within the opening half hour of the movie. So much of the last hour or so of film was quite predictable. And with about 30 minutes left in the movie, I actually found myself getting disgusted with the predictable nature of superhero films. I'm also getting tired of the slow-mo action scenes, which DC films can't seem to break away from.

This doesn't mean that Warner Bros. doesn't have a winner in Aquaman. This film surpasses Justice League and one main reason is Jason Momoa. He was the most interesting character in Justice League and he doesn't disappoint in the least. In fact, the character of Arthur is a lot like Mike Myers' ogre, Shrek. You think he's going to be this redneck kind of character. Yet by movie's end, he becomes an onion. His character has layers!!!

Aquaman overthrows Justice League as well in that this movie has much better villains. Along with Orm, fans are also treated to Yahya Abdul-Mateen II's Black Manta. There's an interesting Dread Pirate Robert's spin to Manta, who in my opinion has always been Aquaman's arch-enemy; not Orm! 

Here's my pros and cons with Aquaman. While a large chunk of the film is predictable and set out in front of the audience, it was an enjoyable watch. The acting was great and the villains were tons better than the overly CGI'd Steppenwolf of Justice League. The movie is total eye candy, but if you have vertigo, you'll need to bring a barf bucket with you. Between complete 360 degree chase scenes to the slower than snail pace martial arts, it will make you woozy.

Above all, Aquaman did something that I don't think very many comic book films have ever done: been extremely faithful to the comic books. True, Jason Momoa doesn't look like Mort Wessinger's blonde torpedo. But the costumes look perfect. The storyline is near flawless to the many Aquaman tales I've read. Plus, if you loved Aquaman's sonar ripples when he talked to fish on Super Friends, you will cheer by movie's end! 

Making me hopeful for what Warner Bros. has in store next year with Shazam and Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman is proof there can still be great films about DC Comics characters getting made in today's Hollywood.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special #1

Wave 2 of the DC/Looney Tunes crossovers launched this week. My most recent Geek Pick was the Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special. There was just something about this issue that screamed it was going to be as good as last year’s amazing Batman/Elmer Fudd team-up and it did not disappoint!

Written by: Mark Russell, Jim Fanning Art by: Brad Walker, John LoterPublished by: DC Comics

When a down on his luck Porky Pig runs into Metropolis’ most powerful man, the stuttering swine is given a second chance to conquer the business world. Luthor puts Porky in charge of Lexcorp’s new social media division Lexema. While it may look innocent enough, the new website is actually a front for Superman’s arch-enemy to steal the passwords and secrets of its users.

You would think Porky Pig would be on top of this. But he’s too busy finding out just who is stealing the sandwiches from the employee break room. Sadly, this distraction will pave the way for Lex Luthor to find his latest scapegoat, um -pig for his impending round of Senate hearings on Capitol Hill.

This odd pairing of Lex Luthor and Porky Pig actually worked. Porky is normally the sidekick of the conniving Daffy Duck. Daffy tends to be aloof and reckless. Here, Luthor is quite dangerous, but he’s no dummy. Lex plays the part of the fool so well in order to gain Porky’s undying trust. However, there’s evil intent underneath all that foolishness.

Mark Russell provides some very funny moments in the opening tale. He also manages to pen a story that reflects many of the controversies of the day (social media privacy, big pharmacy, corporate greed) without being preachy or offensive. I usually get tired of Lex Luthor being used ad nauseam in all of the Superman titles. But he’s quite refreshing here as this is a story with zero influence of the Man of Steel.

The back-up feature by Jim Fanning and John Loter was also great. It was done in the style of a Looney Tunes cartoon. Here, Porky is an office supply salesman given the chance to make a pitch directly to Lex. Things seem to be going smoothly until Luthor gets distracted in yet another attempt to rid the earth of a certain Kryptonian. It’s a great comedy of errors done in that classic Merrie Melodies style.

Wave 2 of crossovers between Looney Tunes and superheroes offered lots of unique pairings: Catwoman Vs. Tweety Bird, The Joker pals with Daffy Duck, and Harley Quinn meets Gossamer. But this story of Pig and Mogul was the one that captured my interest most. Other than Brad Walker’s kinda creepy way of drawing Porky Pig and other Looney Tunes characters in the DC fashion, I didn’t have any issues with this special. It was darn near flawless and a must read for any fan of weird team-ups such as myself!

The Lex Luthor/Porky Pig Special #1 debuted in stores on August 29, 2018.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Scooby-Doo & Batman: The Brave and the Bold

Way back in the 1970s, the detectives of Mystery Inc. teamed up with Batman and Robin: The Boy Wonder. Not once but twice, the combined teams would defeat Batman's most fiercest foes The Joker and The Penguin. 

Those team-ups became the thing of legend. It was such an important moment in my life that I paid ridiculous amounts of money for those episodes on VHS. It also influenced my purchasing of comic books as team-ups and crossovers are one of my favorite genres of comics to buy.

Unfortunately, except for a very brief cameo in the final episode of Batman: The Brave and the Bold, Scooby and the gang would not re-team with the Dark Knight until now!!!

Before I go into the review of this made-for-DVD movie, let's back up a second. I mentioned Batman: The Brave and the Bold a second ago. For those of you not familiar, this animated series ran on cartoon network from 2008-2011. It was based on the 70s comic book of the same name in which the Caped Crusader would team with some of the more popular as well as extremely obscure residents of the DC Universe. The show was a massive hit but it was cancelled because DC wanted to do a Batman cartoon that was more serious in tone. 

Needless to say, that experiment- Beware The Batman was a massive flop. 

Scooby-Coo & Batman: The Brave and the Bold brings back Diedrich Bader as the voice of Batman, along with most of the original voice talents from the late 2000s series. Voice-over legend Frank Welker once again provides the voices of Fred and Scooby; whereas live-action version of Shaggy, Matthew Lillard takes over the role made famous by Casey Kasem. 

The film involves Batman inducting the Mystery Inc. gang into the Gotham Society of Detectives. When Batman's lone unsolved case comes back to haunt him in the form of a ghost called The Crimson Cloak, Scooby and friends agree to help the superhero close the book on the mystery. However, it also results in the detectives getting framed for the theft of a rare isotope.

This movie was pretty funny. It was great to see Batman done as a Scooby cartoon (again!) and the Mystery Inc. crew playing superhero as in the Brave and the Bold episodes. There's tons of cameos from some of the best characters of the defunct Batman series as well appearances from just about every Batman villain ever created.

The Scooby-Doo franchise isn't in danger of evaporating if this crossover film is a bomb. But in terms of getting more Batman: The Brave and the Bold adventures, this movie is going to need all of it's fans to check this film out. I for one was thrilled when this movie was announced and I hope to see more B&B soon! Reboot! Reboot!

A thrilling mystery with a lot of twists, turns and laughs, Scooby-Doo & Batman: The Brave and the Bold is available on DVD and digitally now!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Justice League

Centuries ago the Apokoliptian war lord Steppenwolf sought to make the earth the latest conquest in the name of the Fourth World. But an alliance between the realms of men, Atlantis, and the Amazons resulted in his first ever defeat. Driven insane with embarrassment of his lost, Steppenwolf was exiled and his three mother boxes, called the Trinity were hidden away from the rest of the world. 

With the death of Superman, the time is right for Steppenwolf's return to conquer earth again. As mankind mourns the loss of the Man of Steel, morale is at an all-time low for the human race. Thus, fear and anguish are just what the New God needs in order to power his horde of Parademons for attempt #2.

Aware of a mounting attack, but hopelessly out-manned, Bruce Wayne seeks a to raise his own army of defenders. Aided by Diana Prince, Wonder Woman, the Batman has a list of potential helpers. But does the aging billionaire playboy have what it takes to recruit a speedster with ADHD and social anxiety disorder, an aquatic hippie, and a cybernetically enhanced teen who can communicate with Steppenwolf's mother boxes?

Justice League was been getting slammed in the press, mostly by critics and amateur online reporters that don't understand comic books. Everyone is making such a big deal of what Rotten Tomatoes has to say. That site is just an average of critics nationwide and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Back in my day, nobody cared what Siskel and Ebert thought about the movies. We just wanted to see them insult each other- and maybe throw a punch. Gene Shalit's mustache was more important to us than what he thought about films. The only critic worth listening to was Leonard Maltin. But he's more like Bob Costas in that his depth of film knowledge is so impressive, he's like the Stephen Hawking of movie history. 

Look, if you don't even want to read my review, that's fine. I do this blog because I like to write about geeky things and this is more like my personal reading and movie journal. If it inspires someone to give something a go- cool. If they decide not to consume something because of my opinion- that's fine too. But I am in now way the only opinion that should matter. I might be considered an expert in comics because of my 40-years of knowledge on the subject, but in the end- it's all up to you on whether to see the Justice League movie.

Anyways, now that I cleared that, here's my take on what went right and wrong with the film. 

Not Long Enough- The movie runs right at about 2 hours. DC is taking a huge gamble putting the League together first and then building solo films around it. They're having to play catch up to Marvel and the speedy pace is off-putting to many. Personally, I would have liked to have seen the movie about 15-20 minutes longer.

 I hope there will be a director's cut. But please DC/ Warner Bros, don't make it for Bluray only! I still have student loans to repay and can't afford one just right yet.

Music To My Ears- Composer Danny Elfman was behind a majority of the tracks in this film. Though he's been a bit of a dick about it, I did enjoy having the 1989 Batman theme and some of the Animated Series peppered throughout the film. It's a been a very long time since I left a movie wishing that the music store was open. I really do want the soundtrack to this. It's pretty great.

Lack of Heavy Hitters- Having Steppenwolf as the main bad guy is really not the best idea. Most people I talk to have actually responded to my naming of him by saying 'That 70's rock band?' I kid you not. Honestly, I was hoping for an appearance by Darkseid, Steppenwolf's master, but even he is less of a household name than the Joker, Luthor, or Penguin. 

Another relative unknown to many is that of Cyborg. Unless you are familiar with the New 52 Justice League or the Teen Titans, not many casual fans are going to be very knowledgeable of him. I had a Cyborg Super Powers action figure as a kid and I remember him from some version of Super Friends in the 80s and I thought newcomer Ray Fisher was really good as the reluctant hero. But for every 1 me out there who grew up with the character, there's probably 3 people who are asking 'Cyborg? Who's he?'

Hail to the King- Tapping into Kirby's Fourth World is smart. Jack Kirby's very short stint at DC sent the publisher into a quantum leap that rivaled Marvel. Honestly, I feel like Marvel's Infinity War stuff is way less interesting than Kirby's New Gods. The House of Ideas is banking on the creations of Jim Starlin to send the Marvel Cinematic Universe into it's next phase of films. But let's be real people- Jim Starlin is no Jack Kirby!

Casting- For the most part, DC got almost every character right. The dup of Gal Gadot, and Ben Affleck as Batman and Wonder Woman is perfect. As I said earlier Ray Fisher's Cyborg was great! And man I think I am in love with Jason Momoa. His portrayal as Aquaman finally made the character relevant and not the joke of the DC Universe.

But I have to talk about Ezra Miller's version of the Flash. I really don't think Miller's acting was terrible as that I think Zack Synder vision of the speedster is flawed. Miller's Barry Allen is hyper, socially awkward, and the comic relief of the team. That's not Barry Allen so much as how I would describe Allen's great-grandson Impulse (Bart Allen.) Maybe the heads at DC didn't want people to be confused between the Flash on Justice League with Grant Gustin's superior version of the Flash on the CW. But for a huge Flash fan like myself, I was a bit put off.

The Chuckle Hut- Finally, I want to talk some about the laughs. Apparently, Zack Synder's version of the film was too dark and so when he stepped down after a family tragedy, Warner Bros. called in Joss Whedon to beef up the lighter side of the film. I understand that the Flash was used ad nauseam for a majority of this. But did you have to turn Batman into a heavily armored version of Spider-Man? 

At about the halfway point of the movie, Batman starts making one-liners and kinds taunts both his teammates and the villain in a way similar to that of Peter Parker. We already had a great movie with Spider-Man and a billionaire playboy with lots of tech. We didn't need to morph the two together in the second act of Justice League.

I had a ton of fun with this movie. There's some great Easter Eggs and I personally have a theory about who the seventh member of the League is. All I will say is that he's already made a couple of appearances in the movie. But it will be some time before I post my theory as to not be accused of spoilers.

Despite the negative press, Justice League is a great way to spend a couple of hours. Though a bit scary with those Parademons, Justice League is a lot more fun for the whole family than current comic book movie competitor Thor: Ragnarok, which has quite a bit of innuendo and overt sexual content. So if you desperately need to escape the house with a nephew or cousin this Thanksgiving weekend for a little bit, flock to the theaters and check it out. In the end, after the two bonus scenes, I think you'll be glad you did. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Wonder Woman (2017)

Well it took a while but I finally got to see Wonder Woman in theatres. I had every intention of going sooner than I did. But this quarter of teaching has been a little more busier than I expected. We've got this new online teaching system that means we're having to transfer over stuff from the old system to the new. Things that are supposed to only take an hour to do are taking me three or four. But my wife thought it was time for me to get out of the house some, so she took me to see Wonder Woman.

The film starts off after the events of Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. We see Diana Prince (Gal Gadot) working at a museum in Paris when she accepts a package from Bruce Wayne. The package is the old photograph that Diana was trying to steal back from Lex Luthor. Wayne kept his promise from the first movie and recovered the item and had it sent back to her. At which point, Diana reflects on her life on Themyscira and decision to join the world of men.

(Spoilers Below...)

On Themyscira, Diana is the crown princess. She longs to train as the other warriors among her do. But her mother Queen Hippolyta forbids it. See, during the final war of the gods between Zeus and Ares, in his last act before dying, Zeus created a powerful god killing weapon to stop Ares should he ever return. Diana thinks that the God Killer is a sword that she steals from the Themyscira armory. In reality, the God Killer is her.

When Steve Trevor (Star Trek's Chris Pine) crash lands on Themyscira, Diana is alerted to the horrors of the first World War. She believes that Ares is behind the destruction and secrets herself and Trevor on a ship in order to stop him. When she learns of a German General, played by Danny Huston, who has perfected a lethal gas that even gas masks cannot prevent, the warrior princess is convinced that he is Ares. Thus, Diana leads a team of mercenaries, along with Trevor, behind enemy lines to stop him from carrying out his master plan.

(Okay, you can stop covering your eyes...)

Wonder Woman was a good movie. Yes, I think in some ways, it was quite superior to Batman V. Superman. But there were a few things about the film that got on my nerves. The biggest annoyance is not just Wonder Woman's fault but something that I am getting tired with the superhero genre as a whole- the use of slow motion during fight scenes. While this looks impressive on video games, I think it ruins the fast pace flow of an action scene. I'm also getting sick of repeats- that's when say a building explodes and they show the same explosion from multiple angles. It's just not needed.

I think Patty Jenkins did a very go job directing the film. She managed to bring out an array of emotions and qualities from the actors to a point that I felt that they all had an amazing chemistry with each other. Jenkins didn't allow Wonder Woman to fall into a trap of being classified as a sexpot or overly Amazon. Diana was allowed to be sensitive while vulnerable- a sort of Sgt. York in that she's a pacifist but willing to fight for justice when diplomacy cannot be attained. Plus her fish out of water approach to 1918 England was very well played by Israeli actress Gadot. 

Jenkins also did a great job keeping the true of identity of Ares secret. As a former film studies minor, I've gotten really good at figuring mysteries out. But I was completely shocked when I found out who the villain really was. And excellent job on the social media community keeping their mouths closed on the reveal as well!

I'm very glad my wife made me get out of the house and go see Wonder Woman. I am really glad that my bride decided to go with me. For the most part, with exception of not knowing who a few characters were, she followed it very well. Having not seen Batman V. Superman didn't hurt her either. 

One thing I was on the fence about was the decision NOT to include Lynda Carter in the film. The actress played Wonder Woman on TV from 1976-1979 and it's her most iconic role. I was first disappointed to her that she wouldn't make some sort of cameo in the film. But now, I only think it would have cheapened the continuity and feel of the film adding that little bit of nostalgia. Besides, I think Supergirl is doing a great job of honoring Carter's contribution to the role by having the actress play the President of the United States on the CW series. 

Overall, Wonder Woman was a spectacular film that firmly establishes something comic book aficionados have known for decades- Wonder Woman is a flagship member of the DC Universe and is here to stay. Sadly, it took over 75 years for studios to realize this and give her a much due solo action film.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Lobo/Road Runner Special #1

After years of failing to capture his nemesis The Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote takes to the stars to hire the baddest bastiche in the galaxy Lobo! But in order for Lobo to take the job, the Coyote has to fulfill a hit for the last Czarnian. Honestly, I don't know who's in it more over their head- Wile E. or Lobo? 

Bill Morrison's take on the Road Runner/ Wile E. Coyote mythos was quite interesting. The super-intelligence of both animals is due to genetic testing on a group of animals from the New Mexican desert. If you look closely, you'll see that a gray hare, black duck, and a canary are some of the test subjects as well. 

But where I got lost from Morrison's story is a scene in which one of the assistant's is talking to a scientist but then everybody acts like she's talking to thin air. That plot point wasn't clearly explored further and I read over that sequence like 5 or 6 times just trying to figure out what I was missing.

I liked Morrison's art. It was done in the gritty Lobo style that still allowed for reader to clearly understand who was who in of the Looney Tunes despite their new designs. Plus, the old 1940s style sci-fi slant used by Bill Morrison was perfect for this type of bizarre story.

The Warner Bros. style story in the back was also very good. It too had Lobo trying to exterminate the Road Runner. But with the addition of Bugs Bunny holding Lobo to the family friendly standards of a Looney Tunes cartoon, it was a laugh riot instead of the more series main feature. This is one story that I would have loved to see as an animated short.

For a gritty property like Lobo marketed younger readers, it could have gotten too sugary sweet. Instead, this was a very good crossover read that didn't lose it's essence nor was it overly shocking for a crowd used to it's characters surviving explosions and falls from enormous heights. 

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.

Wonder Woman/ Tasmanian Devil Special #1

     The Batman/ Elmer Fudd Special got all of the attention during last month's release of DC/ Warner Bros. crossovers. But one of the best unsung specials was this one. In the Wonder Woman/ Tasmanian Devil Special, the evil goddess Circe has turned the Amazons of Themyscira into stone. In order to save her sisters, Princess Diana must obtain a mystical object from the fabled Minotaur of the Labyrinth.

     This will not be an easy journey for Wonder Woman. For the walkways of the Labyrinth are constantly in flux and soon the changes to the Amazons will become permanent. Seeking a guide that can transverse the maze without getting lost, Wonder Woman enlists the help of the Tasmanian Devil. But Diana and Taz have a precarious history together. Will the world's most destructive force assist the Amazonian princess before time runs out?

     Birds of Prey's Tony Bedard crafts a very heart-felt story that combines the spirit of the DC Universe with Greek legend and Warner Bros. humor. The back-up feature which stars Wonder Woman, Taz, and a score of Looney Tunes icons acting out the scenes of Illiad and the Odyssey follows that same formula. Writer Ben Caldwell pens that story in verse, much like the Looney Tunes cartoons of old. The whole special was a delight. Unfortunately, it just didn't get the critical praise it deserves because a sister title hogged it all.

     With dynamically different but both just as masterful art styles by Barry Kitson and Byron Vaughns, this is an enjoyable special that deserves a read.

    Worth Consuming!

     Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Legion of Super-Heroes/ Bugs Bunny Special #1

    A member of the Legion of Super-Heroes is fighting for their life thanks to a mystery virus. Brainiac 5 determines that the only way to save his comrade is to treat the patient with a now extinct isotope. Since the element is known to exist during Superboy’s time, the Legion uses a time cube to bring the teen hero to the 31st Century! However, instead of Superboy, the being that travels a 1,000 years into the future winds up being none other than Bugs Bunny?! When the wisecracking rabbit asks “What’s Up Doc?’, I don’t think this is what the Legionnaires had in mind to save their ill teammate.

The Crossovers of The Summer

    The Legion of Super-Heroes/ Bugs Bunny Special is just one of about a dozen DC/ Warner Bros. specials that will hit shops this summer. Written by Green Lanterns’ Sam Humphries with art by Tom Grummett (Action Comics), the story is very tongue-in-cheek with lots of inside jokes and teen angst. Even the editors get in on the action, having a caption war of sorts with Humphries throughout the book.

    One might think that a crossover between Looney Tunes characters and DC legends would not work visually. The Legion is comprised of humanoids whereas Bugs is a funny animal. Yet, the film Space Jam is a mash up of real-life human beings and cartoons. That film is still considered a visual masterpiece of 90s cinema despite 2 different medias. So, the artistry isn’t problematic.

Rated T for Too Strict, Not Tunes

     What I have trouble with not only this special, but the whole line-up of DC/Looney Tunes specials, is the ratings. DC decided to release these books with a rating of Teen. Than means that the publisher believes that readers under the age of 12 should not be reading this book.

      I’m not sure if pure nostalgia for Looney Tunes is going to make these book’s a success. True, DC recently saw major dividends with it’s edgy grown-up versions of Hanna-Barbera cartoons. But Bugs Bunny has always been thought of as family friendly. I didn’t really see anything any more objectionable in this book from what you might see on a episode of Looney Tunes cartoons on Boomerang.

      These specials do not need to be rated for all-ages. But Teen is too strict for this comic. Limiting your readership with in my opinion too-strong of a rating, I think will hurt DC in the long-run. As an educator, I notice that parents tend to take the ratings system for books a lot more seriously than that of TV or movies. I’ve seen this firsthand, having run book fairs before. Mom and Dad love for their child to be able to read at a higher level. Yet parents will shy upon purchasing books that may be more violent or scary than their kids can handle. (Note: Next Week’s Lobo/ Road Runner Special, which is rated Teen, may actually be classified too low considering the Last Czarian’s violent publication history.)

Things To Come

     Each special is supposed to include a small backup feature. This book’s second story was a retelling of the main attraction. Juan Ortiz gives his version of events a different spin and I loved his 60s DC Comics art-style for the piece. But, I feel cheated by not getting an all-new, all-different tale. I hope the other specials will not fall into this trap.

    I’m looking forward to the rest of the DC/ Looney Tunes specials. They are the right mix of silly and sentimental. Nevertheless, these one-shots are also $4.99 a piece. So, I am probably going to have to hold off on a few of these issues until I come across them in a bargain bin somewhere down the road. The Batman/ Elmer Fudd team-up by Tom King and Lee Weeks that drops in July, will not be one of those. That’s one’s going to be epic and I for one do not want to miss out on it!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.