COMIC SCHOOL W/PROFESSOR MIKE - SESSION #4

COMIC SCHOOL W/PROFESSOR MIKE - SESSION #4


Hello, children!  Welcome back to class....sorry it's a day or two late to begin this session, but I had to find something for the curriculum this week.  Took me some extra time to get the lesson plan together.  But I am here, ready for you, as I hope you're ready for me.  So, let's get to last week's quiz and hand out the answers---see how you all did---before we begin this week's session.  By the way, quick shout out to my friend Jocelyn, my new TA, for helping me plan this week's lesson.  

Last week's quiz was very Spidey centric, so let's see how we all came out on our pop quiz:

1.  What are Peter Parker's parents' names?  Peter's parents were Richard & Mary Parker, who were killed in a plane crash when Peter was 6.

2.  When Did Mary Jane Watson make her first FULL appearance?  Mary Jane Watson's first FULL appearance (where we actually SEE all of her in her splendor), is AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #42 ("Face it, tiger....you just hit the jackpot!")

3.  Jean DeWolff's brother, Brian, was also a costumed villain.  What was his name?  Brian, who was controlled at one point by their father, Philip, was named Wraith.

4.  One of Spidey's future enemies came out of this story...can you name them?  A writer for the Daily Globe had gotten the exclusive interview with Emil Gregg confessing to the Sin-Eater killings before he was exposed as a copycat, and not the real killer, Stan Carter, by Spider-Man.  That writer's name---Eddie Brock.  And his hatred for Spidey led him to later join Spidey's old symbiote and become Venom.

5.  Betty Brant Leeds' husband, Ned, also had a secret ID...what was it?  Ned, for a time, was brainwashed by Roderick Kingsley to take his place as The Hobgoblin.  Ned was later killed in Germany at the hands of an assassin named The Foreigner, while he and Peter Parker were on assignment for the Bugle.


Okay!  Now that we've gotten last week's answers out of the way, we WILL have yet another quiz at the end of this class.  

As for today's lesson....I gotta ask you a question.  What makes a great super villain?  Or, for that matter, a great arch enemy....that one villain who comes back again and again, with a new dastardly plot to either rule or destroy the world, or to destroy our intrepid hero?  What would be the key elements to make a hero and a villain become the bitterest of foes?  The constant defeat the villain suffers from until they can't take it anymore?  The game itself?  The constant effort to prove your better than your enemy?  A personal gripe with the hero or villain?  Tragedy?  A misunderstood accident?  Or simply...insanity?  Many factors play into these rivalries, but one thing is for certain:  Your arch enemy is the one who knows how best your work, how the game has been played, and knows what buttons to push to get you to come after them.  Or---in the case of our bad guys---the constant time getting caught, revenge. ego, bloodlust, or just anarchy.  Either way...they are the ones you look forward to seeing the LEAST when you either hit town again to raise hell, or have to be the hero, and suit up again to stop them....hoping it will be the LAST time.  Today, I'm going to give you my Top 10 biggest arch enemies list.  These are the battles forever waged between two individuals (or even a group), that their enemy takes it to that next level---where all is at stake, and death is almost evident.  You can come up with your own Top 10...mine, of course, is subjective.  But I based this on the LENGTH of the rivalry, the INTENSITY of the rivalry, and the PERSONAL aspect of it.  Let's see if YOUR list will match mine.

1.  Batman & The Joker:  These two are the best representation of bitter enemies, and the duality of man in our world.  The Batman---whom lost his parents to a criminal when he was just a boy, vowed to NEVER let a criminal escape and kill again.  He became the Batman to fight the evil underworld of Gotham City---and it's corrupt political officals.  And for the Dark Knight---who has often been a modern day version of the bogeyman---because many in Gotham City still feel he's a myth, which works to his advantage, he has tackled some of the most interesting and psychologically damaged individuals in comics history.  Batman's roster of villains is perhaps the best in all of super hero comics history.  Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, the Scarecrow, Bane, Catwoman, Harley Quinn, and a host of others who, if they didn't wind up at Blackgate Prison, were put away in Arkham Asylum.  NONE of those fiends could hold a candle to perhaps THE greatest super villain of all time in comic book lore---The Joker.  As many times as both Batman, and us readers, have marveled at the cat-and-mouse game these two played, we always tried to figure out the MOTIVE for which the Joker does what he does.  The reality is:  there IS no pattern.  The Joker is just plain insane...it's that simple.  He is chaos, disorder, anarchy.  His plots are well thought out with one thing in mind....a great punchline---one that only HE gets, and HE can get the last laugh.  Batman is law and order, justice and vengeance all rolled into one.  He's always seen criminals as a superstitious, cowardly lot.  His use of fear and playing the shadows has allowed him to scare the underworld...not to mention his brutal tactics at times.  For Bruce Wayne, it's all about the mission:  to rid Gotham of the criminal element.  It is his only purpose in life, what drives him....the memory of his parent's murder.  These two have waged war since BATMAN#1 back in 1940.  And through close to 80 years, they have been the ultimate yin & yang of what a hero and villain are---and their battles have entertained us, scared us, and have been some of the most brutal and psychological wars ever fought on the comics page.  They are the standard bearer...because with the Joker---you'll never run out of ideas on how he can disrupt the sane world with is insane ways.  And it's been PERSONAL at times.  The Joker killing the 2nd Robin, Jason Todd.  His crippling Barbara Gordon right in her own home with a gunshot wound at close range through the spine, thus ending Barbara's career as Batgirl.  I've always liked this one quote Batman made to Alfred in The Killing Joke:  "How can two people HATE each other so much without even really KNOWING each other?"  It's so poignant, yet describes their twisted relationship well.  I've always felt that no matter HOW many times The Joker has tried to kill Batman, I feel he'll never really go through with it, because he LIKES it.  For him to be WITHOUT Batman...I think he would feel LESS.  No one would be able to be on par with him to stop him...to match wits.  To use another quote from The Dark Knight, when Batman asked why did he want to kill him (in regards to the Joker wanting to kill Batman), the Joker replied, "Kill you?!!  What would I do WITHOUT you?!  You....You COMPLETE me!".  It's such classic stuff.  You always know that when it comes to Batman & The Joker...it's always a must read.

2.  Superman & Lex Luthor:  Another two combatants who have been waging war on each other for 80 years are these two next on our list.  What can we say about Lex Luthor?  Extremely smart and business savvy.  A prominent scientist and businessman who felt that his superior genius made him a god among men...until an alien from another planet crash landed to Earth, and took that title away.  Lex felt that he OWNED Metropolis, what with his business being the prominent corporation and employer in the city.  He figured he owned the people, and had control over it like a crime boss...without really getting his hands dirty.  Lex was good at covering his tracks, hence his superior genius among humanity.  But somehow, when a certain Kryptonian came to town with powers and abilities far beyond those of normal men, that just didn't sit well with Lex.  He figured ANY power so grand should be SHARED with humanity---but in all, knowing Lex's ego, it should be shared with HIM.  Superman, as he painfully found out, was not someone who could be bought, persuaded, or otherwise put under Lex's foot for him to control.  Superman saw through all of Lex's bravado, and used Lex's own ego against him, mostly to foil the many plots Luthor has concocted over the years to destroy the Man of Steel.  Admittedly, Lex was against dropping the gloves and going toe to toe with Superman, but eventually got a battlesuit and did.  Most of the time, Lex has gone out of his way to not only destroy the Man of Tomorrow, but to humiliate him, and PROVE, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a superhuman alien was no match for him intellectually.  And that usually proves to be his downfall.  But...sadly for Superman, Lex has been able to slip through the fingers of the law time and again...and even gone so far as to become President of the United States, and find a way to wage his war against his bitter enemy.  This combo has always been a tale of superiority, intellect, tapping into the weakness of the other, explosive ego, out and out bitter hatred...mostly on the part of Luthor, but I know Superman has no love lost for him, either.  And no matter how many incredibly powerful foes Superman has fought....NONE have given him MORE headaches or made their tet-a-tet more personal than Lex.  Luthor will not rest until he has beaten the Man of Steel, for all the world to see.  It's always fun to see what new trap Lex designs for Superman to either discredit or kill him...and Superman always finding a way to win the day---and watching Luthor wiggle out of trouble, only to come back more pissed off than the last time...ready to renew their war.

3.  Spider-Man & Green Goblin:  Sometimes, there are just those enemies so lethal, so dangerous, so insane, so vindictive and conniving, that it really hits close to home.  This is such a tale.  Two men who came from very different backgrounds:  Peter Parker and Norman Osborn.  Parker, the orphaned high school bookworm who gained incredible powers through a freak accident, and Osborn, an abused child who took his weaknesses, turned them into strengths, and became a prominent businessman.  Peter was raised in a good home by his Aunt May & Uncle Ben until tragedy---which he thought was his own fault because he didn't stop the criminal when he could have---became a super hero, vowing to never let anyone suffer his fate.  Osborne was a businessman who craved power, and didn't care how shady the deal was to get it.  Their common ground was science...Peter being a student of it, and Osborn a scientist in his own right seeking a way to enhance his body to give him even more power.  He created the identity of the Green Goblin to scare the underworld, and control it.  But he didn't count on Spider-Man stopping him at every turn.  Ironically, Spider-Man befriended Osborn's son, Harry, as Peter Parker, and the two became best friends.  However, Harry got hooked up on the wrong crowd and started a drug habit, that Peter wasn't always around for when it came to helping his friend.  That angered Norman...especially when he found out Peter was Spider-Man.  This became personal.  Norman caught Spidey, revealed who he was to Peter, and the game was on.  As much as Osborne tried to dig into Peter, Peter would always fight back.  Eventually, it drove Norman a bit bonkers, and he took it over the line by kidnapping Peter's love, Gwen Stacy.  The Goblin then tossed her off the George Washington Bridge, and much to Peter's dismay, his webbing her didn't save her, but let do her snapping her neck and dying.  The ensuing battle caused the death of Osborn himself, when he got impaled on his own glider.  The story didn't end between the Spider and the Goblin...no way.  Soon, Harry found out about his father's extracurricular activities, and became the Goblin to settle the score with Peter.  Peter won, but at a cost---the sanity of his friend.  And when the Goblin was thought to finally be gone...Harry lost control, and his battle with his best friend ended in his death.  Over the years, we found out that Norman had survived, and was pulling the strings in a lot of the things going on in Peter Parker's life.  There's is a hatred based on how they felt those around them were treated...like Harry.  There is genuine hate and a blood feud between these two.  Make no mistake, Norman wants the utter destruction of Peter Parker, and Peter wouldn't mind seeing Norman Osborne take a permanent dirt nap.  With Norman, it's always been "how far can he go THIS time?"  And there have been some wild stories about Norman crossing every ethical and moral line there is to get back at Peter.  And yet, despite all the odds and all the damage---physically, mentally, emotionally that Peter and his family and friends have taken at the hands of the Goblin...he always seems to come back, showing us his indominable will.  

4.  Flash & Reverse-Flash:  Here's a story about two men who grew to hate each other, and have it span across time AND family.  Eobard Thawne was a scientist in the 25th Century obsessed with The Flash --- Barry Allen. So much, that he managed to replicate the Flash's powers, and put on a suit that was the opposite of the Scarlet Speedster.  He was the antithesis of everything Barry Allen stood for.  He committed several crimes, not only in his time, but in the Flash's.  And every time, Barry managed to capture Thawne and send him away back to the 25th Century.  Knowing from history, he'd be forever the Flash's enemy, Eobard took it to the next level, and tried to steal Barry's life.  It failed, like many of his other plots, but he came back and took yet another jab at Barry...this time committing the ultimate crime---murder.  Eobard hit Barry right where the heart is when he killed Barry's wife Iris.  After a big battle, Eobard got lost in the time stream.  Barry was devestated, but picked up the pieces of his life and moved on.  And just when he had found happiness, and was about to get married again, Thawne came back to settle the score, and was planning to murder his new bride, just as he'd killed Iris.  This time, not only did Thawne's plan fail...but he paid for it with his life, as the Flash broke his neck.  Flash went on trial for manslaughter, and was eventually cleared.  Barry then disappeared into the Speed Force during the Crisis, and left the world in the hands of Wally West...who had his own battle with Thawne, when he tried to destroy Barry's legacy.  From Thawne, it moved onto Hunter Zolomon---Zoom, as he called himself, and became a major thorne in Wally's side.  In yet another Crisis, Barry returned, and Eobard once again tried to destroy him, but failed.  Time has been altered and changed a lot in the DC Universe...and we now know that Thawne was responsible for the death of Barry's mother, thus adding another personal touch to this grudge.  The future also gets murky because, at one point, the family paths come together in the form of Bart Allen...an offspring of Thawne's daughter, and Barry's son.  It doesn't sit well with Eobard, and thus has done all he can to destroy Bart, as well as wipe out the Allen legacy off the map.  Barry, as usual, stands as the stoic hero, ready to run circles around his hated enemy.  For Barry & Eobard...it's about legacy, family, and the future.  Who's truly the Fastest Man Alive?

5.  Fantastic Four & Doctor Doom:  Family, Ego, and personal hatred have driven this rivalry for a long time.  Victor von Doom and Reed Richards are two of the most prominent minds on Earth---with Reed being the super genius.  It's the thing that drove Victor nuts---Reed always proving his superior mind to Doom's.  The Latverian ruler was never going to settle playing second fiddle in the genius department to Richards, and thus their feud was born.  It got even more intense when Doom found himself in a suit of armor, rigged to the hilt with many weapons, while also seeking ultimate power through mysticism and science.  He would always be met, however, by Reed and his family, who made up the Fantastic Four.  Time and again, when Doom would set foot in New York, or some other part of the world, the FF would be at the ready.  Doom has also been a ruler with an iron hand in Latveria, but seems to be admired by his citizens.  Doom's ego and personal grudge is unrelenting, as is his thirst for ultimate power.  He has shown some compassion in regards to Sue Richards, but make no mistake, he despises everything Reed Richards stands for, and won't stop until he's gotten the better of him, and proven that HE is the superior mind on Earth.  Reed and the FF are determined to take down the Ruler of Latveria, and make sure he'll never harm the world again.  For 57 years, this feud has brought us many an epic battle...and we look forward to more.

6.  X-Men & Magneto:  This is an interesting feud, that isn't quite so much based on personal hatred, but different sides of the same coin.  A bit of yin & yang, but not quite.  It's more on idealism, and what each thinks is the best route for their kind to take.  Mutants have been outcasts for years---feared, hated, misunderstood, attacked, killed, maimed, and generally been dealing with prejudice their whole existence.  It's fascinating how these issues cause two parties to diverge in different paths to achieve the same objective:  equality and peace.  On the one hand, you have Charles Xavier and his X-Men, a team of mutants who have banded together to protect humanity, and work towards a peaceful co-existence between mutants and normal humans.  Then there's Magneto---a man who suffered greatly in World War II, as he watched his family put into concentration camps by Hitler's Third Reich for simply being Jewish.  His own prejudices and hatreds run deep, as he feels that---as a mutant himself---that THEY are the superior species on the planet---the next evolution of humanity.  And in order to achieve true peace, he feels he must call other mutants to arms to take up the eventual war between humans and mutants, thus putting him at odds with the X-Men.  Their battles have been epic, and it has caused pain on both sides, but it is often interesting how certain incidents also make strange bedfellows, as we have seen Magneto work WITH the X-Men to win the day....but in the end, Magneto will never budge from his point of view, and feels Xavier is foolish to believe in humans...but Charles' optimism and unwavering faith in his fellow man drive him to draw a line in the sand with his old friend---even if it must mean taking his friend down.  There is mutual respect...but that's about as far as it goes.  Wolverine said it best in the first X-Men movie:  "You know Magneto's right.  There's IS a war coming....sure you're on the right side?"  It's awesome when you have a story this rich, that reflects our own society, and makes you see things from all sides to gain perspective.  

7.  Daredevil & The Kingpin:  No rivalry on this list has seen a villain that went toe to toe with Spider-Man dozens of times, become the #1 hated man to the Devil of Hell's Kitchen.  If there is ANYONE who has made Matt Murdock's life a living, breathing Hell---it's Wilson Fisk.  Fisk likes to live up to his nickname---The Kingpin.  The man who rules the underworld of New York...who feels virtually invincible.  Not because he's paid off police, judges, or political officials in the city, but because his massive size and power increases his already huge ego to no end.  Daredevil has found ways to defeat the Kingpin and take him down...but outside the law AND in the courtroom.  But Fisk is no dummy---he managed to find ways to attack Daredevil personally...like hiring an assassin named Bullseye to try and kill him but end up killing his girlfriend Elektra at the time, causing Matt immense grief.  Or...such as gaining information on his ID as Matt Murdock from Murdock's girlfriend, Karen Page, who sold it to Fisk for  money so she could continue her drug habit.  Kingpin beat him down badly, and forced Murdock to leave New York for awhile.  But Matt would come back, and take on Fisk again, and beat him.  There's is a story of Fisk's ego...being the big, schoolyard bully who can push and beat down anyone who doesn't follow him or bow down to him...and Daredevil---who isn't afraid to take on the big bully, and show the city that he's just a man...nothing special.  Both men have eaten at each other's personal lives, and it's become a blood vendetta for the two.  But you alwys look forward to the next time they square off...wondering if it will be the last.  

8.  Justice League & Darkseid:  We go from dealing with enemies who relegate their battles to either a city or a country, or even the Earth.  This feud is about the universe, and one being's quest to be its ultimate ruler...and create a dark apocalypse for which everyone will bow down to him.  Darksied is a powerful being with God like powers.  And while the New Gods and Darkseid and his minions have waged many a battle, it is with the world famous Justice League where the ruler of Apokolips has had the biggest problem.  Darkseid has tried to take over the Earth several times over the years, only to be met with resistance from the Justice League.  He has used many of his minions to stop them in their tracks, but to no avail.  Kalibak, Steppenwolf, and DeSaad were no match for the World's Greatest Super Heroes.  At one point, he even used one of this minions---Glorious Godfrey to go down to Earth, and use his powers of influence to destroy the super hero credibility, and destroy Earth's Legends.  he nearly succeeded, when heroes were outlawed by the President.  However, many defied that order, and tried to keep the criminal element from going on a massive crime spree across the nation.  Eventually, the League rose up to meet the challenge, and take him down.  They have even battled him face to face several times, while he was in search of the Anti-Life Equation, which could destroy all life.  Darkseid's lust and thirst for ultimate power is what drives him to plot, but also find a way to destroy the League in order to achieve his end.  It's amazing how, in many of the battles with the League, he tends to underestimate the likes of Batman, Green Arrow, Flash, and several others who do not possess superior power like his, but he DOES relish going toe to toe with Superman at times...their battles are epic in and of themselves.  But yes---while he is as powerful as any god...the League, when banded together, are just as equal as he is.

9.  Avengers & Thanos:  This epic tale of two rivals is yet another team vs. supreme being, with the fate of the universe at hand.  Thanos was from Saturn's moon of Titan, and was born with the Deviant gene.  Many of his race felt he'd be the one to one day destroy the universe.  Thanos is a nihilistic being, who cares nothing about anything nor anyone but himself.  It has put him at odds with Iron Man, and the rest of the Avengers, as the assembled to do battle with him time and again.  One of the things Thanos desired was the Cosmic Cube, which had bounced around many hands before Thanos got ahold of it.  He also wanted all the Infinity Stones, as to destroy half the life in the universe in one snap.  He had succeeded with that quest, but he is also met with resistance by whatever remaining Avengers are are left.  Thanos feels he cannot be beaten, even when he has.  The Avengers are the biggest thorn in his side, and no matter what combination of the team it is, they fight on to defeat him, and await his eventual return.  Much like his DC counterpart, Darksied, Thanos not only is analytical in this thinking, but also able to throw down when it's called upon.  He is the greatest threat in the universe, but yet the greatest threat to HIM, is Earth's Mightiest Heroes.  And their battles are epic in scope, and branch across the galaxies.  Thanos is unrelenting in his quest, and the Avengers are there to meet him at every turn.  

10.  Captain America & The Red Skull:  This is an 80 year war....not only between the Axis and Allies, but between two men who idealistically, and personally, have a hatred that runs the length of most of the 20th Century.  The Skull was Hitler's right hand man, who also had ambition WELL beyond Hitler's, and then there was Steve Rogers, who only wanted to serve his country and end the war.  He became the living embodiment of the United States and its allies--Captain America.  He and the Skull battled numerous times during the war, especially when the Skull was going to rise up a new Reich and take power with his organization, HYDRA.  Cap was there to help put him down.  But the Skull never took his losses lightly.  Always seeking more power, he searched for the Cosmic Cube and possessed it for a time, and helped HYDRA infiltrate America to destroy it from within.  He hates Cap's and America's values, but he seeks true, ultimate power.  Cap is a man out of time, but not a man who forgot about justice and doing what's right.  He is still the living symbol of freedom in the world, and his relentless spirit to knock out evil puts him at odds with the Skull.  The Skull has tried several times to steal Cap's life force, draining the Super Soldier formula from him, to kill him.  It is ideology that truly drives their feud.  The Skull is maniacal...and Cap is the resistance to meet him.  Their battles are incredible, and the Skull still works on today, to destroy America, it's values, and what it represents....which is all rolled up in Steve Rogers.


HONORABLE MENTIONS:  

Wonder Woman & Ares:  One is the God of War, the other, and Amazonian Princess with life and powers imbued to her by Zeus.  Ares has been there from the beginning, urging on mankind to destroy itself, and create chaos and disorder on Earth, while Diana of Themyscira is a woman entering a man's world to save it.  

Green Lantern & Sinestro:  Hal Jordan of Earth, chosen to be one of the many Green Lantern Corps to help police and protect the universe at the behest of the Guardians, and Sinestro from Qward---a former Corps member who decided to go rogue, and seize power for himself.  A battle of will vs. fear for the fate of the universe.  Hal & Sinestro have had many stellar battles through the years.

Wolverine & Sabretooth:  Two mutants with rapid healing power, beastial like features and instincts, subjected to the same Weapon X program.  One becomes a paid assasin and mass murderer, while the other becomes the lynchpin of the X-Men.  Their hatred for each other runs deep, and their battles have been bloody, vicious, knock down, drag out affairs where we have not seen a clear winner---but when they fight, it's always to the death.

Teen Titans & Deathstroke the Terminator:  Slade Wilson is a contract killer and assassin who never misses.  His objective is the Teen Titans, who had battled his first son Grant, known as the Ravager, and was killed.  Terminator has taken it personal, and took the job provided by a villainous group called THE HIVE, and went after the Titans, whom he felt responsible for his son's death.  He even put a spy in place on their team to learn their secrets.  Time and again, he's battled the Titans, and, as yet, the Titans have managed to defeat him.

Optimus Prime & Megatron:  I was reluctant to even include this one, since the comics, animated TV show, and movies have long contradicted themselves.  But nonetheless, Prime and Megatron probably should've made the top 10, but I wanted to focus more on the comic book super heroes, and not the Transformers.  But since there WAS Transformers comics at the same time the original animated series debuted, we'll stick 'em here.  What more can be said about Prime and Megatron---two leaders of warring factions.  One trying to save their home planet of Cybertron from being ruled by the evil Decepticon leader.  Prime and Megatron are equals, and their battles have been mostly stalemates, until the movie came out.  And, at some point, Optimus Prime gets killed.  But he always manages to find a way back to take down his arch nemesis.  


Well...that's MY list, kids.  How will YOURS fare?  I'd like to see them!  So please leave a comment in the space below.  How right or wrong am I?  

Now, before I dismiss class for this week, it's time for your pop quiz.  Remember, the honor system is in place, and look forward to seeing your answers:


1.  Two part question:  A.  How many Green Lanterns patrol the universe?  B.  What sector does Hal Jordan, John Stewart, Guy Gardner, and Kyle Rayner patrol?

2.  Vulture, Doctor Octopus, Electro, Sandman, Kraven the Hunter, and Mysterio make up what super villain team that plagues Spider-Man time and again?

3.  Who were the original members of The Flash's Rogues Gallery?

4.  Who were the members of the original Defenders?

5.  Who was the entity that had taken all of the heroes and villains in the Marvel Universe, and transferred them to a planet to partake in the "Secret War"?



Alrighty!  That's it for this week...don't forget to subscribe to our class, and pass the good word around!  Until next week...CLASS DISMISSED!  

THE FLASH - Season 5.13

REVIEW:  THE FLASH – SEASON 5, EP. 13:  “Goldfaced”

In an effort to thwart Cicada, Barry and Ralph go undercover and into the black market to find a device that will allow them to bring Cicada down, and come across the man known as Goldface, who’s running the show.  Meanwhile, our intrepid reporter Iris tries to get a lead on Cicada’s whereabouts, only to get herself caught in a sticky situation.

We’re in the lab where Sherloque is hard at work trying to connect the dots between Nora and her “mystery” accomplice (Eobard).  She races to the future to talk to Eobard, letting him know that Sherloque is on to her.  Eobard tells her to find a way to misdirect him---using his weakness.  Which, in Sherloque’s case…is love.

Barry is trying to play interior designer at home, while Iris is busy getting her paper started.  She’s frustrated because she’s had critics online calling her out on her writing skills.  Barry assures her that she’s a legit reporter.  Eventually he agrees that she can investigate and write about Cicada.  She’s off to get some information.

Back at the lab, Barry, Ralph, and Caitlin are looking for ways to find out how to stop Cicada.  Caitlin explains that the brains of twins are different in their cortexes (or something to that extent), and if they can use the cure, they can take Cicada down.  However, they need to be able to contain Cicada long enough to inject the cure.  But they know they can’t even get close to him.  Caitlin knows of a weapon that can immobilize him, a field generator.  Ralph knows of that, and several other weapons, that were stolen.  Ralph knows of a guy that has underworld connections.  They talk to Ralph’s old partner, Earl Cox, and he tells him about Goldface.  They then head into town, and eventually call out the password, and they get sucked down into a place where they’re cut off from Caitlin with no communication.

Nora drags Sherloque to Jitters, in order to occupy his mind and throw him off her trail.  She sets up a meet and greet with a woman, who happens to slip on some coffee spilt onto the floor through Nora’s design.  This woman falls into Sherloque’s arms, and she’s grateful.  She says her name is Renee Adler.  She offers to buy him a scone, and as they begin to talk, Sherloque goes into detective mode, and over does it.  The woman accuses him of being a stalker and takes off.  He’s a bit bummed, but Nora offers to help him out with making it up to her.

Ralph and Barry are in the market, snooping around, looking for the field generator.  Ralph tells him to not be too “cop like” and let him handle the situation.  Barry comes across a guy who’s selling guns that can destroy cops even through their protective gear.  Barry makes an offer to the guy after a demonstration to buy them all off of him, which raises a red flag to  Goldface,.  The guy says he’d talk it over with Goldface, and see if they have a deal.  Ralph comes back, and tells Barry NOT to go overboard, but it’s too late, he’s gotten Goldface’s attention.  Goldface offers a chat.

Iris is interviewing Dwyer’s boss about him, and though he’s reluctant, fearing for his life, he tells her about a problem with his paychecks.  He gives her a name to follow down…Robbie Burn.

Back at The Market, Goldface inists on knowing who Barry and Ralph are.  They are both held at Gunpoint, and Goldface demands to know about them.  So Barry says he’s the one that blew up a wherehouse, and robbed the Central City Mint last month.  He has no record because he leaves red herrings behind.  He makes up a name---The Chemist.  Goldface backs off, and says he’s got a deal for them.  Steal something for him, and they’ll get what they’ve come for.  He wants a 3-D printer from a lab that prints out organs.  Then he can sell them on the black market.

Iris manages to locate where Dwyer had some of his paychecks sent.  It’s dark and dank, and as she looks around, someone’s watching.  She’s at Dwyer’s, and he comes upon her.

Back at STAR Labs, Nora has invited a few of his ex-wives to try and help him with this new woman.  But, the plan backfires, and they now know what Earth he is on (since he was so good at hiding his location), and they want their money or he’s in trouble, because Breacher will come for him if he doesn’t.  Nora feels bad, and she knows she screwed up again.

Barry and Ralph are at the lab looking for the printer, and Barry feels bad that he screwed up.  Ralph tries to assure him it wasn’t his fault, but he takes the hit anyway, saying that he tried to get those guns off the street, and got overzealous.  He also realizes that he can’t be afraid to get the Flash’s hands dirty---sometimes, the ends justify the means.

Iris comes face to face with Dwyer himself, saying that she’s been looking for the owner of the house…Robbie Burn.  Dwyer says that HE is Robbie Burn.  Uh oh….Iris is in deep, and Barry can’t save her.

Iris sits down with Dwyer, and says that she is writing an article about lead in the water in his area.  He says that he hasn’t noticed.  She says that sometimes you don’t know it at first, and it can happen to little kids first.  She then asks him if he has a daughter.  Dwyer says he used to.  He then tells her that he feels fine, and doesn’t have time to deal with her.  Iris then asks him to come to her office.  He refuses and says that he wants to finish it right now.

Nora tries to reassure Sherloque that he will never end up alone, despite what one of his ex’s said.  She tells him he should focus on the now, live in the moment, and make the most of it.  She gives him much to ponder on.

Barry and Ralph arrive at the lab, ready to break into it to steal the printer, along with Goldface’s crew.  As they set up inside the van, Ralph locks Barry into the fan, saying that he was right…the Flash CAN’T get his hands dirty…but HE can.  Ralph takes off to help them steal the printer, and Barry yells at him that he can’t help him.

In the lab, one of Goldface’s men asks Ralph where Barry is, but Ralph says he’s finding a way to cover their tracks.  Inside the lab, they’re looking for the printer.  Ralph finds it.  Ralph looks at the brochure with kids in it.  Ralph then calls over to one of the guys, and eventually knocks him out.  He’s then caputured by Goldface’s men.  They head outside, and Barry manages to escape the van, and he and Ralph take out the men outside.  They then use the guns that they found at The Market, and put them on a stun setting, and go after the rest of Goldface’s mean, taking them down.  They then have their bombs activated on their wrists, and Goldface meets them outside.  He then says he’ll kill them in a conventional way.  They then shoot him, but to their surprise, they see that he’s a metahuman made of gold, and the fight is on.  They’re easily handled since their powers are dampened.  Barry notices a fuse box and goads Goldface towards him.  Goldface lashes out at Barry with one of his chains, but he hits the fuse box, and gets electrocuted.  In the process, Barry and Ralph don’t blow up, but Goldface is still alive.

Back at Dwyer’s, Iris is about ready to leave, when Dwyer notices the bag she left at the door when she came in.  He suspects she’s not who she is, and attacks.  She does what she can to fend him off early, but traps her in the kitchen.  Just as he’s about to kill her with his knife, she stabs him right in his wound.  He recoils and falls down.  Iris walks up to him and says they’re gonna beat him, and walks off.

Back at the lab, Caitlin gives both boys the okay on their checkup.  They failed to get the field generator, but managed to take down Goldface’s operation.  They feel good knowing that if they lost their powers, they can still stop the bad guys.  Barry then gets a call from Iris, and he races over to Dwyer’s house.  Cicada is gone as Barry races through the premesis.  She asks if they had gotten the field generator, but Barry says no.  But she spots a syringe on the ground, and she says she knows how to beat him.

Sherloque bumps into Miss Adler again, and she is about to leave when he tells her that he is a detective and he’s exceptional at deductive reasoning.  She tells him to prove it, and he deduces a guy who’s sitting at a table, having his coffee.  When Sherloque deduces right, she’s impressed.  She gives him her number and she walks out, but never opens the door…it opens for her.  He notices, and immediately goes to the lab, closes Nora’s file, and opens up Cicada’s again.  He starts looking through the file, and finds out that she is a meta, and he won’t let her get hurt.  In the background, Nora vibes through the wall, happy that she accomplished her mission.  You see her with Eobard talking about how their plan worked, allowing them to continue their mission.

________________________________________________________________________

Another quality episode from the creative team of The Flash.  We're moving our story along, while introducing a new villain to the scene, and allowing SOME character development to occur.  

It was GREAT to finally introduce Goldface to the Flash mythos.  He's been a longtime thorn in the side of our Scarlet Speedster (as well as a certain Emerald Gladiator).  He was well portrayed, and loved that they kept his powers hidden for awhile.  But to see them on full display was pretty awesome.  And the good thing is:  He's still alive, so he'll be back around to create more trouble for The Flash down the road.  Now...I just wonder if he hooks up with Amunet Black like he did in the comics?

This episode showed what great chemistry and teamwork Ralph and Barry have together, powers or not.  Ralph has REALLY come into his own this season, and to see his connections with the underworld, his detective work, AND his time as the Elongated Man, he's been a great addition to the team.  To see him and Barry work together to take down Goldface's operation sans powers was a nice wrinkle to this episode.  It showed true teamwork, and for Ralph, his willingness to NOT let Barry sully his hands is a sign of true friendship.  Kudos to both tonight on a job well done.  They didn't get the object they were looking for...but in the end, they were willing to take the small victory in shutting down the Market, and getting those lethal guns off the street.

Iris back at being the intrepid reporter again, pulled her version of a Lois Lane, and went right after the story....and got herself in waaaay over her head.  But damn, if Iris isn't a tough woman who can handle herself.  Gutsy to go right after Dwyer, come face to face with him, and hold off his attack.  Now, because of what she stabbed him with, she knows how to beat him AND she knows he's got some damage.  The public may have liked the tabloid presentation, but that gal has NOTHING on Iris West-Allen.  This is the Iris West-Allen I'd been waiting for again.  The relentless reporter looking for the story and the truth---and helping her super hero husband nab the bad guys.  

We got to see Sherloque's ex-wives, which as both comical AND sad at the same time.  And what do you know....they ALL look alike!  So...it seems our dear detective has a penchant for a specific woman...including one on THIS Earth named---and I guess they wanted to go According to DOYLE on this one---Renee Adler.  For one of his wives to tell him that he isn't good enough to be loved was a painful thing to watch.  But thanks to Nora's pressing, we see that he's got potential in Renee----a LOT more than anticipated.  Looks to us like Sherloque found THIS Adler to be a meta---one that he will forego Nora's case in order to save her from Cicada.

Which brings us to Nora.  Again...the lies continue.  And thanks to Eobard, she manages to get him off her trail.  She knew he was fast closing in on her truth, and that was NOT gonna go over well in the long run.  So, now with him being distracted with saving Renee from the death knell of Cicada's knife, and thus giving him a chance at love once again, it keeps him OFF Nora's radar, and allows her to continue her plans with Eobard.  And, I think we're all in agreement here, that when the other shoe drops for her (and considering it's Eobard...and he should NEVER be trusted!), the backlash is going to be DEVESTATING to Team Flash....especially her parents.  So...not sure how we're going to get to that point, but when it does, it's going to be an exceptional powderkeg that blows.

Cisco was off this week...still working on the cure up North.  Cecile is busy with work, and I am guessing that Joe and Jenna are still hanging with Wally.  Will be great when we get the team back together again to finally deal with Cicada.  Oh...and I wanted to talk about the nice Easter Egg that Sherloque dropped last week about the mind machine given to him by one Jervis Tetch...the Mad Hatter.  That was cool.  I'm sorry I missed it and didn't mention it last week.  Nice they threw in a Batman baddie to help the story along.  

Well...that pretty much does it for this week, guys!  We're moving along at a steady pace, and I'm liking what I see so far.  They've done a nice job this season with the balance of storytelling, the pacing, the character interactions, and keeping all their plots in the air, and not having them go stale.  

As always, subscribe, pass the good word, and leave a comment if you can...I'd love to hear from ya!  

Until next week....keep on running!

ARROW - Season 7.12

REVIEW:  ARROW – SEASON 7, EP. 12 – “Emerald Archer”

Ollie and the gang get some tag-alongs as they do what they can to protect Star City while being filmed by a documentary crew, who want to know about the team’s life as vigilantes and what the Green Arrow means to Star City.

We open up the 150^th edition of Arrow with a movie style opening as we see this documentary going on, we get a clip of Quentin Lance from 2014 talking about how much he hates vigilantism.  We see clips of the police and Team Arrow battling the bad guys.  We get views from Thea, Diaz, and Sara Lance about their views on vigilantes.  The documentary goes on to talk about the role in vigilantism.  From Star City to Central City, to Gotham.  We see more opinions from Cindy Simone, and we finally see Oliver talking about his role as the Green Arrow.  He says he feels happy he doesn’t have to wear a mask.  He finally gets to see William as he gets to come home.  William is wondering what this is all about, and Oliver and Felicity say that the SCPD wanted to have a documentary on Oliver to help public relations.  They also interview Felicity, who says she hates the word “vigilante” and says they should be called “heroes”.  Diggle’s old interview about vigilantes is show, then they cut to Diggle in current time, who feels humiliated about that clip, and says Oliver has changed in the last 7 years.  Dinah also gives her thoughts on the subject. 

A call comes in and Dinah and Oliver go to check it out about a vigilante attack---since vigilantism is still illegal in Star City.  They come upon Rene, who’s been hurt.  When they ask who attack him, he says they took the new Green Arrow.  Ollie asks the documentary crew to turn the camera off.

Ollie walks through the precinct, wanting the cameras off.  Him and Dinah talk to Rene, and told him that he shouldn’t be out doing anything vigilante like.  They discuss what happened to the new Green Arrow.  Rene says another mask took her…one with an exo-suit.  The Mayor comes in, and puts her foot down, wanting Oliver to answer to the city for his time as the Green Arrow.  Dinah shows resistance, but makes sure the documentary team gets that info.

Felicity is working at home, when William barges in and demands the security measures be taken off his pad.  Felicity talks to him about what’s bothering him, and also commends him on finding her firewall, and he wonders why he didn’t get to come home during Christmas Break, because HE was the only one left at boarding school.  Felicity says it was for his own good, but he isn’t happy about it.

Oliver heads to ARGUS to get access to their black ops satellites.  He and Diggle talk, and he admits to Dig that he has another sister.  Curtis comes in to help out locating her.  They come across a building that apparently someone…this mask…has been using as an HQ.  Ollie and Dig discover one of Huntresses’ masks, and Emiko’s.  This person is hunting vigilantes.

We see the doc crew talking to Laurel, who talks about her own experiences as a “vigilante”.  She says if what they did was right…they wouldn’t hide behind a mask.  They talk to a kid named Rory…who said he put up the mask, but continued to help people.   They talk to Rene, and says that politicians may care about the city, but not the people living in it.  They talk to Curtis, who says that while he and Oliver haven’t seen eye to eye, he sees him as a hero.  Then we see them talking to Barry Allen, who says that Oliver is damaged but doesn’t want anyone else to suffer his fate. 

Curtis comes through, and gets the location to where Emiko might be.  100 Ferro St.  Apparently that’s the place owned by Adam Hunt.  They crew and Team Arrow head there, and suddenly, they are attacked by the Chimera…which they’ve named him…and he gets the upper hand on Oliver and starts wailing on him, until Dinah and Diggle plug him with bullets, and he falls out the window.  They find Emiko, and she says he’s coming for Oliver.

Rene is at home with Zoey, when the door knocks, and it’s William, who’s come over to work with Zoe on her homework.  Rene pulls his father act, and William and Zoey talk about how things are with him and his parents, and he’s reluctant to give up info.  He just wanted to get away from home.

At the hospital, the team talks about trying to locate Chimera, and they get an update on Emiko’s condition.   Mayor Pollard shows up, and tries to look for the new Green Arrow, but, she’s gone.  Back at her lair, her and Rene talk, and Emiko admits that she is Oliver’s half-sister.  Rene gets it, and she says she didn’t want that to change their dynamic, which Rene says it won’t.  At the station, Ollie talks to Dinah, and admits to her that Emiko is the Green Arrow.  She understands why he didn’t come forth with it sooner.  The Mayor wants Ollie at the town meeting tonight, but he refuses, because he doesn’t want to put people in danger.  Dinah tells him it’s the Mayor’s one chance to have the city publicly crucify Ollie for his actions as the Green Arrow.  Ollie and Diggle have a private chat, and offers his help, but Ollie says he doesn’t want Diggle and the others to cross the line and get arrested.  There is no more Team Arrow, according to him.  Diggle reminds him otherwise…there was ALWAYS a Team Arrow…even when he was in Slabside.  That never sat well with Dig.  He goes on to say that Ollie took the hit for them, but now it’s time for them to pay HIM back for watching THEIR back, by watching HIS.

The city shuffles into the Town Hall meeting, as the team prepares for any attack.  Felicity is running point.  The boys are suited up and ready to go, while Dinah is inside holding down the fort.  Ollie and the Mayor go at it in their debate when Chimera kills the power, and bursts into the building. The fight ensues, Chimera gets the upper hand on Ollie, and is bummed he doesn’t have the mask anymore.  Just then, the Team attacks, and the battle continues.  Just as more people are escaping the fight, the documentary people almost get crushed by a wall, but Dinah saves them and the Mayor with her sonic scream.  They then manage to work together and take down Chimera.  But now they’re all arrested because of the vigilante law still being in place. 

Back to the police station, they find out that Chimera was a fan of Ollie’s who saved him some time ago, and was obsessed.  Laurel knows that she can’t help them legally outside of not pressing charges.  Dinah comes into the Mayor’s office to resign, and then Ollie shows up to offer himself up to the authorities, and to say that if they arrest his friends, they arrest him as well.  The Mayor admires the fact that they all stick together.  She says the Vigilante Act is still in place, but tomorrow, all of them will be deputized.  She says she believes in Dinah and her friends, and this is their chance to prove her wrong. 

Felicity finally confronts William about school...saying that he faked his school's website, and that he's not been at school, and wants to know what's going on.  He says he was expelled from school.

We see Ollie back at the old Arrow lair, and the doc crew, and they ask him why they’re here, and he said they’re going to rebuild, and be better.  We then pan back to see a female watching the documentary, which is supposedly banned in the future.  The girl—as we find out is Mia Durden--- and a boy named Connor hunt for the location of the old Arrow lair and find it.  Connor comments about the vigilantes using it, and she says that they got what they deserved, because she hates vigilantes.  

_________________________________________________________________________________


Not a bad installment to celebrate 150 episodes of our Emerald Archer, by giving us a show shot in a completely different style, and giving us something we've been wanting since last season...or at least the BEGINNING of THIS one:  The reunion of Team Arrow.

I dug the documentary style shooting, with the interviews talking about the role of vigilantism in Star City (as well as Central City and Gotham---though it would've been REALLY cool to at least MENTION the Flash and Batman by name, but I guess I'd be asking for too much).  It was exceptionally cool to see Thea return, as well as past interviews from Diggle, Quentin Lance, and getting comments from Cindy and Sara Lance. Hell...even got some remarks from Diaz lol. It shows a lot of people's stances on the vigilante issue, but the documentary never really resolves the answer to whether it's a help or a problem...which is by design I guess.  But I liked the WB movie intro thing that happened at the beginning...giving it an actual "film" feel.  To find out in the future that this documentary has been banned, is interesting.  Nothing was resolved for US with it, so what was there about it that made it such "illegal material".  

I see that the two youths who stumble upon the Arrow Lair are Mia Durden and Connor Hawke. Mia obviously has a serious anti-vigilante thing going on.  Hoping we get more background on THESE two later on----and I have to wonder if either Mia, Connor, or BOTH MIGHT be behind the attacks on Star City in the future, thus bringing the old crew out of Mothballs?  Do they even TIE into William's story in this future reality.  Time will tell, but it's a different arc to the future we weren't privvy to before.

Out of all the interviews given by our special guest stars....Barry Allen was the best.  Knowing what we know as viewers, it comes off as amusing for Barry to play completely dumb in regards to Ollie being the Green Arrow,  THAT is what you call a friend good at keeping a secret (since, well---you know---he keeps one himself).  But also awesome to get Grant Gustin into the show's 150th episode.

Dinah had to walk the fine line so long, but when push came to shove---she showed the Mayor that she was a vigilante herself at one time, but a metahuman as well.  Dianh, to her credit, was ready to resign and take her punishment, but I'll give the bitchy Mayor credit---she believes in Dinah.  NOW...what with all of Team Arrow now deputized by the Mayor...what will this mean going forward?  Will this deal last long?  And how long before the citizens either protest, riot, or cheer them on?

William's issues really come to light.  What in the hell did that kid do to get expelled?  And just what have he and Zoey been talking about?  I wonder if his isolation from his family, plus all the issues he's had to deal with when Ollie came out as Green Arrow, manifested themselves into some not-so-great behavior.  

Chimera as a kid obsessed with masks, and wanted to collect them...crazy.  It served the purpose to give the episode an action sequence, and see Ollie at work first hand dealing with a villain threatening others...including his own sister.  Not like Emiko to be taken down so easily, but the kid obviously did his homework in creating a super suit.  

Curtis needs to learn to keep his trap shut when talking about ARGUS related methods...yeesh, man, why don't you just wave a flag saying "Hey!  We're a super secret spy type organization that uses unethical means to get the job done!".

All in all, was a good episode that gave us some set up for what's down the road, and we get the team back at capacity.  William's issues are worth keeping an eye on, as well as how we can tie them into the future storyline.  Mia and Connor's appearance make for an interesting arc to it.  

Thanks for stopping by and checking this space out---I appreciate it!  As always, please subscribe, pass the word around, and don't be afraid to leave a comment!  

Until next week....keep your sights on the bullseye!

IMPACT! WRESTLING - February 1, 2019

REVIEW:  IMPACT! WRESTLING – February 1, 2019:  The Champ & The Machine take on Kross & Moose, Jordynne Grace & Kiera Hogan hook it up with The sinister Su Yung & Dark Allie, Rich Swann adresses his past, and LAX & The Lucha Bros get together in a six man tag with partners Daga & Taurus.

We’re back across the border in Mexico City for another installment of IMPACT! Wrestling, as tonight’s installment features The World Champion Johnny Impact teaming with “The Machine” Brian Cage to take on Moose & Killer Kross, X-Division Champion Rich Swann & Sami Callahan’s issues come to light, and Jordynne Grace & Kiera Hogan look to avenge their loss at HOMECOMING, as they square off against the evil duo of Dark Allie & Su Yung----with Rosemary roaming about….

Our show starts off with the Lucha Bros and their teammate Taurus, as we get a six man tag team match against LAX and their teammate,  Daga.  Crowd is hyped for the Luchas, and this looks to be a great match…especially if it’s anything like the match they put on at HOMECOMING.  All six men meet in the middle of the ring for a face off.  Pentagon and Santana are the ones to start the match, but Fenix catches Santana with a drop kick, and the match is on…all men climb in and start going to work.  Apparently we’re on Lucha rules for this tag match.  Daga lands a suicide dive over the top rope onto Fenix.  Santana and Pentagon are back in the ring trash talking. Then a chop fest happens.  Both men land superkicks, but Santana misses one.  Into the ropes and Santana lands a cutter, goes for a pin, but Pentagon kicks out.  Ortiz tags in and with Daga, they get Pentagon, and work him over.  Pentagon is alone in the ring against LAX and Daga, but somehow tosses Daga out of the ring when Daga tries to nail him in the corner, Ortiz hits the ring post, then Santana misses Pentagon, and hits Santana in the corner.  He then tosses Ortiz into Santana.  Fenix tags in and begins to work over Ortiz.  But he tags out, as Fenix tags out to Taurus, who’s not had much to do in this match.  Him and Daga go at it….seems a bit of history there.  They trade moves, then Taurus gets flown out of the ring by Daga.  Ortiz tags in, and gets Fenix outside.  Then Pentagon nails everyone with an over the rope moonsault.  Ortiz gets back into the ring and then he gets nailed by Ortiz with a moonsault outside.  Then, Fenix lands his own moonsault onto everyone on the outside as we go to break.

Back from the break, where Pentagon on Taurus land a double superkick to Ortiz.  They start working him over.  Taurus goes for a pin, but Ortiz kicks out.  Pentagon tags in, and they’re going for the spike, and nail it. Pentagon seals the pin, and the Lucha Bros and Taurus win it in an exciting, fast paced match to get the crowd into it early.  After the match ends, respect is given, but Pentagon wants the mic…I think he wants another crack at the tag team championship.  He gets right in the face of Konnan.  He then calls out Ortiz about asking for another beating.  Ortiz admits it, and Pentagon throws down the challenge.  Pentagon demands a title shot.  He wants a rematch next week.  Another chapter of this great rivalry is coming….I would’ve waited for a pay per view, but hey…IMPACT needs to get eyes on the product, and this is a good start.  I look forward to seeing this match again.

Matthews & Callis promote the title match between Cage and Impact at a show called UNCAGED.  Backstage Melissa is interviewing Killer Kross, who’s upset that he’s not in the title match against Impact.  Kross doesn’t like Cage sticking his nose in his business.  He calls out Impact, calling him a fraud and a hypocrite.  Moose calms him down, tells him that they’ll take care of business, go downtown, and take Melissa with them. 

LAX and Konnan are backstage where they talk about the match next week with them and the Lucha Bros.  Konnan warns them to just keep it business, and they agree.

We get the name for the next PPV, REBELLION, which happens on April 28^th, and will feature the match between Impact and Cage.

Tag team action again as Allie & Su Yung are ready to hook it up with Kiera Hogan and Jordynne Grace.  This is a rematch from HOMECOMING.  Allie and Su waste no time in attacking Grace.  But Jordynne gets them into a double suplex.  She starts working over both Allie and Su Yung.  Grace rams Yung in the back in the corner, and goes for a pin, but Su kicks out.  Tags Hogan in and gives her a body slam onto Yung.  Goes for a pin, but she escapes at two.  Kiera just keeps going on the offense with Su in the corner throwing kicks and hip attacks.  Goes for a pin, and still kicks out.  Jordynne’s back in on the offense, and Su manages to tag to Allie, and she tries to get on the offense on Grace, but Grace counters. Grace then falls out of the ring after the attack on Allie.  Su tries to spray her mist into Grace, but misses.  Grace tries to samoan drop Su, but Allie lands a superkick.  They work Jordynne over on the outside, as Kiera keeps trying to get to her partner, but the ref keeps holding her back.  Kiera can’t seem to keep her temper in check as Allie and Su goad Kiera while punishing Jordynne.  Jordynne tries to fight back against Su, but she taks Allie, and Allie tries to work over Jordynne, but Jordynne fights back, and lands a huge shoulder block in a cross ropes maneuver. Both women try to get to their partners, but the lights go out, and when they come back on, Rosemary arrives…looking for a tag.  Allie stares at Rosemary, and Kiera Hogan takes advantage, nails a neckbreaker, and scores the pin.  Rosemary disappears yet again, and all Kiera and Jordynne can do is stare in disbelief at what just happened.

We’re back from the break, and we get another Scarlett Bordeaux vignette where she’s training with her trainer, whom she mocks during the whole thing.  The guy ends up spilling water on her, and she ISN’T pleased.  Still find it interesting she’s working out in THAT outfit…with heels.

More tag team action tonight, folks, as we get Eddie Edwards and Eli Drake.  Eli wants the “old” Eddie back, but Eddie’s in the ring with “Ken”.  The Rascalz arrive and will Drake and Edwards be able to coexist.  Drake wants Eddie to get rid of the kendo stick.  He wants Eddie to wrestle.  We get Wentz picking up the pace in the match early with some quick moves of chain wrestling.  Eddie gets back into the corner, where Eli tags in, they both talk it over, and Eli comes in, and immediately gets into some chain wrestling action with Wentz.  A corkscrew plana leads to a two count, and Drake kicks out.  Finally, Wentz tags in Dez, and they both go to work on Eli.  They get a two count on Eli, and Eli manages to get a tag to Eddie, and Dez goes to work on Eddie.  Another tag, and Wentz over the top rope for a splash and a two count.  Wentz fights off both Drake and Eddie, heads to the top rope, but Drake knocks him off.  Eli and Eddie argue about his taking advantage on the outside.  Eli comes back in, and begins working over Wentz.  Eddie gets tagged in, and begins to really work on Wentz with a couple of chops.  Thrown into the ropes, Wentz manages to avoid a clothesline and nail Eddie with a flip splash.  Both men down, and as Wentz ties to go for a tag, Drake takes out Dez.  Eddie lands a rolling back drop. Eventually, Wentz gets the tag, Dez is in and works on Eli, both of them come in and try to suplex him, but Eli gets one instead with BOTH men.  Only gets a two count, and Eddie comes in, and he and Dez trade blows until Eddie lands a vicious clothesline.  He then suicide dives out onto Wentz.  He picks up the kendo stick and looks to end the match with it, but Eli stops him, as well as the ref.  While the ref is distracted, Eli nails Dez with the kendo stick, tosses it out of the ring, and gets the Gravy Train for the win.  Eddie and Eli talk about the kendo stick, and says Eddie didn’t need it.  Dirty tactics by Eli Drake gets them the win for tonight.   Was not a bad match, every entertaining.  Unusual tag team Eddie and Eli are…but it could work.  Even in a loss, Rascalz look exceptional.  Tag team division is in pretty good shape.

We get a video package from former Knockouts Champ Tessa Blanchard.  She basically said she’d hurt Gail Kim all over again.  But February 15^th, she issues a challenge Taya Valkyrie.

Interview with Rich Swann and his history with Sami Callahan, who used Swann’s personal life to try and persuade him to join OVE.  Swann recalls their history, and gives Callahan credit for saving his life, but he said he saw Sami change.  He says all Sami wants is another person to watch his back, and for Swann…that’s not family. 

Melissa is with the Knockouts Champion, who reminds Tessa that it’s her own damn fault for getting suspended.  But assures Tessa that if she wants a title shot on February 15^th, she’s got it.  Then she ups the ante----she wants a street fight for the title at UNCAGED on February 15^th.

Fallah Bahh heads to the ring, as we have singles action against another luchadore…Psycho Clown, who’s got a giant “Hang Loose” hand that shoots flame out of it.  He’s the face of AAA wrestling, and Fallah Bahh is in a bit of disbelief.  Mexico City crowd hyped for their home country star.  They trade cheers, and then the match begins.  Bahh throws down some chops to get Clown down, but misses the legdrop, and Clown tries to mount some offense.  Clown gets out of the ring, and Bahh comes off the apron onto clown.  Both men get into the ring, and Bahh immediately goes for the mask.  Clown goes to the top rope to get a move on Bahh, but Bahh stops him.  Clown, however, manages to reverse it, and gets Bahh with a stomp off the ropes.  He gets Bahh out of the ring, and nails a suicide dive.  Clown goes to the top to get another high impact move after a chop on Bahh, but Bahh catches him in a belly to belly, but only gets a two count.  Back into the corner where Bahh was ready to do the butt drop, but Clown reverses it into a quasi-powerbomb.  Only gets a two count, they battle again, and Clown manages to get Bahh into a cradle, and uses his weight to score the pinfall.  Clown scores an opening salvo against Team Impact for AAA as they ready for the World Cup at UNCAGED.

In the locker room, Cage approaches Johnny and they both argue about the match tonight, and Johnny doesn’t want to be screwed over.  Cage says that’s HIS problem, and says he wants to keep him healthy, so that UNCAGED, he can take Johnny’s title.  Johnny says he got his title shot, and even got the PPV named after him.  Tensions are high for this main event.

In the locker room, Psycho Clown is motivating his guys from AAA for the upcoming World Cup against Team Impact.

Main Event time as Moose and Killer Kross head to the ring.  Cage heads to the ring first.  Then the Champ arrives.  We get some quick offensive moves from Moose and Impact early.  Both men tag out and Cage and Kross enter.  Both men throw some blows, and Cage gets the upperhand, lands the hurricanrada, and Johnny tags himself in, and lands a senton over the rope, but only gets a two count on Kross.  Impact goes to the ropes and Moose threw a knee into Impact’s back, but Impact lands a boot to the face, but the distraction is enough for Kross to get the upperhand.  Tags into Moose, and Moose starts working over Johnny with closed fists.  Moose goes over to Cage and nails him, and Cage tries to get into the ring, but is held up by the ref, allowing the double team.  Moose and Kross keep working Johnny over into the corner, keeping him away from Cage.  Kross keeps up the offense, and then drags Johnny over to Cage, mocking him about making a tag. Moose is tagged in, and works Johnny over in the corner with shoulder blocks and a vicious chop.  He keeps pounding on the back of the Champion, but the last time he does it, Johnny turns over and nails  Moose right between the legs….but Moose ensures that he can’t make the tag, tags in Kross, and Kross tries to go to work, goes for a move, but Johnny reverses it, but can’t make the tag.  Champ is looking like a chump in this match.  Moose tags back in, lands a side slam, but only gets a two count.  As Moose gets Johnny into the corner, Johnny manages to escape any further damage and gets the hot tag to Cage, and Cage starts beating down both Moose and Cage.  He lands a slam, but only gets a two count on Moose.  Just as Cage looks to put Moose away, Kross comes in and lands a kick to the head, but it doesn’t faze Cage, as he lands a couple of blows to Kross.  Moose then lands a blow to Cage, but unfazes him as well. He lands a blow onto Moose.  Things break down and all four men are in the ring.  Johnny manages to get Kross down and hits a 619.  Cage looks to get an F-5, but Johnny’s on the top rope in the middle, and goes for a kick, but Moose moves out of the way and Johnny hits Cage.  Cage goes for a clothesline on Johnny but Kross gets nailed instead after Johnny moves.  Cage and Johnny argue in the ring, and when Moose nails Johnny with a spear, and Cage watches as Johnny gets pinned.  The Champion has been pinned yet again.  Cage walks out of the ring as the show goes off the air.

_________________________________________________________________________

This was a pretty good show, with some pretty good action, and moved some stories along.  We also got wind of the next PPV...coincidentally a few weeks AFTER Wrestlemania.  We also have a big show called UNCAGED, that will be a part of the regular show I believe.  Either way, we're moving some stories along, and getting some decent matches set up before the next PPV.

They were smart in giving us an exceptional tag team match to get the show started.  Was good we got a quick recap of last week, but LOVE when they don't BS and get to the action.  And LAX with Daga, and the Lucha Bros with Taurus was just off the hook.  It had a great pace, some pretty decent high spots, and it really got the crowd into the show.  Sure, it's a lucha style match, and that'll win over the Mexican audience every time, but nonetheless, the match was excellent.  To get another match between these two teams is a gift we should all appreciate.  I really wouldn't put it on a regular show, but I'm not the one programming this thing.  And they need all the eyes they can get on the product, so I can't blame them, either.  But LAX and the Lucha Bros just tear the roof off of every arena they're in.  THIS is what tag team wrestling should be.

Speaking of tag teams, wasn't sure how Eddie Edwards and Eli Drake would work out.  And yes, Eli took advantage of a ref distraction to play dirty and use the kendo stick to win the match, but all in all, Eddie and Eli's story is a neat one worth watching.  I see Eli turning on him at some point, and these two WILL have a match against each other.  But for the sake of the World Cup they're planning against the AAA promotion, they're working well.  No shame in the Rascalz losing tonight....they lost in a screw finish, so they stay strong.  And lemme tell you, these kids are exceptoinal.  They have all the earmarks of a great tag team, and they should be in the mix real soon.  Dez and Wentz have extremely good chemistry together, and their future looks bright.  Add in Trey, and it's a group of young men with no ceiling.

Got to see even more lucha action tonight in the form of Psycho Clown, who handled the bigger Fallah Bahh, but Bahh did pretty well in this match as well.  He showed a little bit of athleticisim, and held his own against the much quicker Clown.  

Scarlett Bordeaux working out in that gear...yeesh.  And the heels---who does that?  Well, who CARES...long as we get to look at her.  Hope her hype is worth the look.

The Dark War has started....and while Jordynne & Kiera got some much needed revenge against Dark Allie & Su Yung...Rosemary is back, and the chaos is about to ensue.  I see a one on one with Rosemary and Dark Allie for her soul.  Should be fun to watch.  One thing that DID bother me about this match was too much Kiera trying to get into the ring to help Jordynne...she only made matters WORSE for Grace, and it got a little annoying.  That being said, Kiera dontinues to improve, and she's still young enough to improve dramatically, and REALLY take on the top tier talent when she's ready.  

Killer Kross & Moose work well as a team, and it showed greatly in tonight's main event.  What's really bad is how exposed the Champion is.  Twice he's been pinned in the middle of the ring clean, and they're milking the "paper champion" angle for all it's worth.  Cage is a freaking beast, and could quite possibly be the face of the company if they push him right.  He's over with the crowd, has a great look, built like a brickhouse, but is mobile and fluent in the ring.  Kross is determined to prove that Jonny is a phony and a hypocrite, and thus far...the Champion has not looked good at all.  So, unless he's going to put on a stellar match against Cage...I am not sure his title reign will be very much longer.  Kross and Moose are great heels...one vicious, the other cocky.  It's a nice ebb and flow from two distinct personalities.  

Finally...we get the thrid match between Taya and Tessa, this time Tessa is the one chasing the title.  And Wera Loca decided to add a stipulation for the match---a street fight for the strap.  This is going to be a barn burner.  Taya has the experience and the technique and power, while Tessa is quick, brutal, and dirty as hell when she has to be.  This match has got to be the payoff match for this feud---if it goes on beyond this, you're dragging the story down, as well as the talent.  They need to start building up their Knockouts roster to give Taya more competition.

Overall, a pretty good show, we got the lowdown on the new PPV coming up, a special show next week, and more down the road towards REBELLION.

Thanks as always for checking out the blog.  Please subscribe and leave a comment if you will...would love to hear from you.

Same time, next week...