BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.13

REVIEW:  BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.13:  "The Book of Markovia - Chapter Four:  Grab the Strap"



It's high octane time!  Black Lightning has assembled a team to invade Markovia to rescue Dr. Lynn Stewart.  Lynn is up against the wall with Colonel Molen applying the squeeze to get the stabilizer for his own pod kids they plan on turning into weaponized meta to attack America.  Lynn has plans of her own, and taking Dr. Jace with her.  Meanwhile, tensions are high with the Pierce family, as Jennifer is still ticked off about how her family lied about Khalil.  Khalil himself is also dealing with his Painkiller part of his mind, and feeling he's a danger to EVERYONE.  Major Grey also playes her hand by programming Erika, a new meta recruit fro the Pit, with the task of killing Lynn.  Can this team get it together to pull off this rescue abroad?  


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We open up with Jefferson talking, having a drink, thinking about Lynn, and the talk of addiction.  He says he's seen the signs of it, and knows it can be all consuming.   He has these powers, but they're useless against drug addiction. While he's pondering that, he's also pondering how it correlates to his life as Black Lightning.  He didn't LIKE that name when the press started calling him that.  But it stuck.  He talks about how he TRIED to balance his life as Black Lightning, while being a teacher, and being married to Lynn.  Feels like they loved too much, and it caused issues.  But in the end, as he continues sipping on his drink, that he will do whatever it takes to get Lynn back...even if it means killing whomever it is responsible.  He wonderes what his father would think.  We see from his point that he had been chatting with Gambi, who says that his powers aren't useless to protect Freeland.

Training the team for this battle hasn't gone according to plan, as Gambi and Jefferson discuss.  He keeps pressing the kids to work a little harder.  Major Grey also feels that his team isn't ready for this kind of mission, and she offers her team's services to perform Lynn's extraction.  Jeff is quick to remind her it's HIS team, and HE is in charge.  She DOES give him a flashdrive of everything they have on Painkiller.  He reminds her that the ASA will wipe their records clean from their database as soon as this mission is over.  Major Grey abides by the deal.  She just hopes that his team can get it together before the mission.  

In Markovia, Lynn and Jace are in the lab, working on the serum.  Molsen comes in to remind Lynn of what he is supposed to do.  She refuses to help, and he shocks her once again using his device that connects to the implant on the back of her neck.  Jace intervenes on her behalf, and just then, a man named Gravedigger arrives.  Lynn notices he's an American, but he says he used to be.  But now, HE is in charge of the operation, and sends Molsen on his way.  He regards Dr. Jace, seeing as they have history together.  She replies that he's not aged a bit since she last saw him.  He says that there are pod kids here in Markovia, and wants them to live normal lives, but needs Lynn's stabilizer.  She isn't buying his act, and sees right through him.  She knows he wants to weaponize them.  He then uses this ominous voice to get her to do is bidding, which she starts doing beyond her control.  He leaves, and says he'll return.  

Khalil is back at the Sanctum, checking the news about Markovia, when Jen walks in, looking to talk.  She knows he's having a rough time, but she knows this team NEEDS him in order to get her mom.  Khalil understands, but says that as long as Painkiller is still inside him, he is a threat to EVERYONE.  He feels he can't be trusted.  Jen feels differently, and tries to persuade him to help nonetheless...to redeem himself.  He says he killed his mother, and just can't bring himself to get invovled.  She wants help saving her mom, but again---he refuses to go.

Lynn is wearing out, while working on the serum, and feeling the pain in the form of a headache.  Jace informs Lynn that Gravedigger has the power to "push" people against their will, making them do things involuntarily, whether they like it or not.  It's causing her great pain, so she asks for the Glimmer...the Green Light drug she's been addicted to for some time now.  Jace gives her the bottle, and Lynn takes a few, to which Jace cautions to her.  After a couple of minutes, she manages to suppress his powers over her.  Lynn has a plan to get BOTH of them out of there, and it comes down to fooling Gravedigger with the serum.

TC is in the mess hall, trying to bond with Erika, who is the meta who can absorb kinetic energy, that Grey has chipped and given a kill order on Lynn.  He can't say much, and she leaves the awkward scenario to sit down and eat.  Anissa and Grace join Jen, but Jen is still pissed off about them keeping Khalil being alive from her.  Anissa says that when he attacked, he wasn't Khalil anymore, and he killed his own mother---she insits that she was protecting her.  Anissa tries to get Jen to understand where she's coming from, but Jen throws it back in her face, and says she's just like their dad, and walks off.  Brandon tries to catch up to her, but he's caught by Sgt. Grayle, who lays into him about not putting forth the effort in the training for this operation.  Brandon isn't thrilled with Grayle's attitue, and he says that he's trying to help them, and Brandon throws it back into his face, saying that NOW he's agreeing to help AFTER being a lapboy for the ASA.  They're about to throw down when Jefferson puts and end to it.  Both men then storm off in different directions.

We see Khalil pakcing up what things he has, and is taking off.  Jefferson catches up to him, and tells him that they could really use his abilities for this operation.  Khalil feels he needs to figure himself out, and taking off is best---to avoid being a threat.  Jefferson can respect that, but feels he should've done more for him.  Khalil says he did enough.  Jefferson says that he had the ASA wipe their registry clean of his file.  He's grateful.  Khalil feels there's enough blood on his hands.  Jefferson says that you can never change the past, but all you can do is move forward.  But, however, he respects Khalil's decision, and SHOULD Khalil comes back...Jefferson says his door is always open.

Lynn and Jace are at work, when Gravedigger comes in to check up on his progress.  He's disappointed when he finds out that Lynn only has two samnples done.  He tries to get her to work harder with his powers, but she says that she needs him to complete the stabilizer.  She needs his blood, because--according to his file she read--he's a stable meta.  His powers have no effect on her at this time, and isn't happy she peeked into his file, but he sits in the chair, and wants them to get on with it.  

Grey, Gambi, and Jefferson are going over exactly where the Markovians are stashing Lynn in their compound.  They narrow it down to a couple of labs or bunkers in the building and strategize on how to get in and out with Lynn.  Grey reminds them that they also need to extract Tobias as well--to which Jefferson isn't pleased about--but Grey reminds him that without Tobias, they can't stabilize the kids here.  

TC meets up with Erika again, and brings her new boots and armbands for her, and she is grateful.  He tries to get closer to her, and looks like he's touching, her, but she brushes him off, tells him to leave, and says he's a creep.  Meanwhile, we see that whole scenario play out on a security camera that Grayle has access to from his tablet.  The team is then assembled and ready to board the plane for Markovia.  They get into the hanger, and they discover Khalil is there.  Jefferson tells them to load up, and get moving.  

En route to Markovia, Anissa discusses her distrust of having Khalil there, knowing what he did as Painkiller.  Gambi and Jefferson inform her that he's okay, but if he goes off the reservation, they'll be ready.  Grayle informs Jefferson that both he AND Erika had chips inplanted in them, giving them orders to kill Lynn when they find her in Markovia.  TC says that when he got close to Erika and him, he managed to deactivate the chips in both of them.  When Grayle asked how he found out, TC said that his tablet told him.  Brandon then starts having convulsions, and everyone is freaking out, as the ship rattles a little more.  Gambi says that because he's an elemental, that being away from the ground for so long is causing him to weaken and go into shock.  Jen tries to calm him down, but Khalil steps up, pinches his neck a little, and Brandon is out.  During this, Anissa steps up to confront him, but Khalil knocks out Brandon, but he's alive.  Khalil says it's all him, and Painkiller would've killed him.  He goes and sits back down.  Raw nerves all the way around on this plane flight

Gambi looks at Jefferson, who's staring out into space.  Jefferson feels he should be the one to rescue Lynn.  Gambi reminds him that the girls, despite their powers, cannot handle Tobias alone.  Gambi then says that he's proud of Jefferson, proud of how he came out since he was 12 years old.  He's now leading a group of youngsters into a rescue mission.  Jeff wonders if his Dad would be proud, and Gambi says he would.  Jeff asks Gambi who HIS hero is---and Gambi says him.  

Lynn and Jace finish getting the serum for Lynn ready to go, and injects it into her.  Lynn ends up having the serum featuring Gravedigger's blood, and hence, his powers.  Jace asks if she can have some, and Lynn says no.  Then guards come in to escort Jace to another building.  

Jeff hands out final battle orders, and says that he's going to take down the initial guard attack.  He wants Jennifer, Brandon, and Grayle to focus on rescuing Lynn, while himself, Gambi, Anissa, Khalil are going after Tablian.  With that, he dives out the plane and lands on the ground, taking out the initial guards standing watch.  He easily dispatches them, and goes off to find Tobais.                                             

We see what we belive to be Col. Molsen enter the security bunker of the compound, only to take all the guards out.  It's Grace morphine back into herself, and taking over the security controls.  She starts guiding Black Lightning to where he needs to go, as well as informing the rest of the team as to what's going on.  She gives Black Lightning, Thunder, and Erika  directions.  They seem to have hit a snag, as there's a huge steel wall in the way.  On the other team, they've managed to find Lynn, and Brandon wonders where Jace is at.  Once Grace lets him know, he breaks off from the team to go after her.  Lightning tries to give chase, but Grayle tells him to go find her mother, he's got Brandon.  Khalil and Lightning head off to find her mom.  

Brandon manages to get to Jace, but there are guards coming at him, which he disposes of easily with his powers.  Meanwhile, the actual Col. Molsen is with Tobias, who's all tied down to the operating table, being prepped to be probed.  He starts laughing when he hears the commotion, because he knows Black Lightning is coming.  Molsen tells his men to move Tobias to another lab.  Black Lightning and Thunder both use their powers on the massive metal wall, but cannot break through.  Gambi says that Erika can absorb energy, and they can load her up with Thunder's powers.  So, Thunder hits her repeatedly, until Erika is full, and she takes all the stored up energy, and knocks down the wall with ease.  Black Lightning says he's got Tobias, and Thunder and Erika provide cover for him while he's gone.  

Molsen goes to grab Lynn, but she now uses the temporary powers of Gravedigger to stop him in his tracks.  She removes the shock piece from her neck, and shoves it into Molsen's.  She sends him a shock, and then forces him to lead her to escape.  

Lightning and Khalil run into some guards, until Gravedigger shows up.  Khalil tells Lightning to go find her mom, he's got this.  Gravedigger says he's heard of him, and they go at it.  Gravedigger gets the upperhand early, but Khalil refuses to back down.  Black Lightning finally finds Tobias, and they bicker, and then fight, but Black Lightning puts him down enough to lead them to escape.  

Brandon finally finds Jace, and he informs her that she killed his mother.  He begins to shake the building from the ground, and is about to kill her, when Grayle comes from behind to stop him, and knock him out, thus preventing him from killing her.  

Kalil and Gravedigger keep on duking it out, and Gravedigger is getting the best of him, and telling him to stand down.  After getting knocked back, the door closes in the hall, separating the two men, the battle over for now.  They finally find Black Lightning and Tobias, and Black Lightning tells them to head to the airplane, and get ready to take off.  Just then, Gravedigger shows up, and blasts Black Lightning with a rife.  After a few more blasts, he knocks Black Lightning out, and goes after the party.   At this time, Lynn and Lightning reuinte, and make their escape as well.  

As everyone but Black Lightning are aboard, Gravedigger catches up to them, and orders them to get off the plane.  Lynn tries to use his powers against him, but he says it won't work on him.  He wants Lynn, and she orders everyone else to leave, because she's going to find Black Lightning.  But she'll agree to stay behind to save thenm.  Just as Lynn is off the plane, and Gravedigger thinks he's won, Black Lightning shows up, and blasts him with a huge amount of electrical energy, incapacitating him.  Lynn and Jefferson reunite, as well as the girls, and they board the plane and take off as the show ends.  The battle won.


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Man, oh man, does this show do it all!  Gave us some TREMENDOUS drama tonight, and a great battle to rescue Tobias and Lynn.  And, we finally got to be someplace OTHER than Freeland.  This was yet another solid episode, and the writers keep upping the ante.  This has been a great season so far.  VERY high stakes.  

This was our first time FINALLY seeing--what I believe, anyway--our roster that will make up The Ousiders.  Everybody had a part to play, and yet---still VERY dysfunctional.  A LOT of issues will need to be resolved before this team is clicking on all cylinders.  But, for the most part, they worked pretty well to get the job done.  It was great to finally SEE Markovia...albeit only a military compound, but nonetheless, being somewhere OTHER than Freeland helps expand the Arrowverse that much more.  I just wonder if the REST of the League have been keeping tabs on what's going on not only in Freeland, but Markovia as well.  Because I'm HOPING for a guest spot or two on this show before season's end...crossing my fingers BIG TIME.

We got some early drama in the episode before the mission began, as tensions mounted high...not just between strangers, but family as well.  Jen is NOT going to be over how her family lied to her about Khalil, and Anissa is STILL untrustworthy of him, especially after her encounter with him, and what he's done.  Khalil himself doesn't feel he's trustworthy, though he applied himself this episode to help Jen get her mother back.  But I don't expect him to stay, as I feel he's still hell bent on getting away from everyone, and until he can feel he's no longer a threat.  But his and Jefferson's chat went a long way to heal some wounds.  Jeff feels the burden of failure when it comes to Khalil, but Khalil won't let him feel guilty...letting him know he did his best.  Letting Khalil know that the family will be there for him should he come home was great.  

Gravedigger---pretty cool villain.  I credit Wayne Brady for stepping out of his zone, to play a badass villain...and he was COOL!  Even though Black Lightning handed him his ass this episode, I feel we have DEFINITELY not seen the last of him.  He's got a cool power.  And he's awesome in a scrap, as he managed to beat down Khalil in a fight.  

Was bitchin' to see Col. Molsen get some payback.  His zapping Lynn and Jace was cruel, and for Lynn giving him some revenge later on was cool.  And how about Lynn!  She stepped up this episode.  Got creative in getting some of Gravedigger's powers, and the acutal Glimmer/Green Light drug she was on actually was a benefit this time around.  I'll admit---woman is clever when she wants to be.  

Finding out Grayle had a chip in him as well was a surprise, but he did his part tonight from keeping Brandon from destroying not only Jace, but everything else in the vicinity.  We have NO idea just how powerful Brandon is yet---and it can be trouble if it's not in check.  I have a feeling Grayle and Brandon are going to continue to be at each other's throats for the time being.  And we can't discount the fact that Jace is going to be working overtime to get free from EVERYONE.  

Grace was awesome for the short role she played, and she showed no fear--she's going to get better as the season wears on, because she'll be training more.  Anissa will help with that.  Erika is still a wild card, even though TC disabled her chip, as well as Grayle's.  So what happens down the road with THEM will be equally as interesting.  Maybe TC and her become friends, who's to say.  But TC is showing to become QUITE an asset to them.  

This still leaves the matter of Major Grey.  I don't trust the woman as far as I could throw her.  If she's ANYTHING like Odell, she's crafty, and has a plan up her sleeve.  She's not going to give up the Pierce Family and Odell's plan without a fight.  

Finally, the Pierce Family is back together prior to Crisis.  Now, the question is:  can they put the squabbles aside?  Can Lynn get off the Glimmer?  And will they be ready for the next threat.  I feel the Markovians aren't done, and they're going to come back quite pissed off. This Outsiders team is going to have to be ready for anything---including each other.  Black Lightning might want to have the Justice League on speed dial.  

Oh...and there's STILL that threat of Tobias---who just gets more fun to watch when he's egging everyone on.  He plays that role SOOOOOOO well.  


Okay guys, it was yet another fun edition, and I DO hope you subscribe, leave a comment below, and tell ALLL your friends about me!  

Until next time...The Power is OUT!

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK


Welcome, welcome, welcome, comic book afficianados!  It's you guy, Professor Mike back yet again with another comic book cover, and the story behind the issue!  This week, we're taking a peek back to 1986, and the Post-Crisis era...commonly now known as the "Bronze Age".  We turn our focus to one of the MOST importatnt series in DC Comics history, as Writer/Artist John Byrne reboots Superman for the modern age.  So, let's check out the skinny on this issue, and the impact it had on the DC Universe.




THE MAN OF STEEL #1  


COVER:  John Byrne, Dick Giordano
WRITER:  John Byrne
ARTIST:  John Byrne
INKS:  Dick Giordano
COLORS:  Tom Ziuko
LETTERS:  John Constanza
EDITOR:  Andrew Helfer
COVER DATE:  October 1986
PUBLISHER:  DC Comics


TAGLINE:  The Comics Event of the Century!


STORY TITLE:  "Prologue:  From Out of the Green Dawn..."
                          "Chapter One:  The Secret"
                          "Chapter Two:  The Exposure"
                          "Epilogue:  The Super-Hero"




The Man of Steel #1 was a series a long time coming for DC Comics.  For years, they had felt that their flagship character had gotten long in the tooth, and--quite frankly--too powerful and unrelatable to the average reader.  His popularity dwindling, they had hired famed Marvel and primary Uncanny X-Men artist, John Byrne, who had also just finished a stint on the first family of Marvel, the Fantastic Four.  Byrne had a HUGE task in taking the Metropolis Marvel, and re-vamping him for the modern times.  In the wake of Crisis on Infinite Earths, he was the ONLY Superman left, having the Golden Age Superman leave with his wife Lois, Superboy, and Alex Luthor of Earth 4, enter a sort of eternal limbo, thus taking them OUT of DC Continuity.  This was all part of DC's process to streamline their continuity, and thus only having ONE Superman, ONE Batman, ONE Wonder Woman, and so on.  Byrne was given A LOT of rope in order to modernize Superman, by depowering him to a more relatable level, re-tell his backstory with his Kryptonian parents, as well as reviving his Earth parents, Johnathan and Martha Kent, having them alive and well.  We also see an appearance from Lana Lang as well as our intrepid reporter, Lois Lane.  The stage gets set to bring Superman up to date, make him more down to earth, and re-introduce new audiences to him.  Byrne does an amazing job giving us a modern day Man of Steel.




THE STORY:  Through four different chapters of this issue, we get to see Krypton, as Jor-El and Lara worry about their only son, as they know Krypton is doomed.  Lara is concerned about Jor-El's decision to send their only child to Earth, but he informs her that he will have great powers there, and can benefit their kind.  Krypton erupts, and Jor-El sends his only infant son on his way, as Krypton explodes.

We then see a teenage Clark Kent in Smallville, discovering his abilities, and learning to fit in.  His parents end up showing him the rocket he came to Earth in.  Clark is shocked by this discovery, and feels he needs to leave Smallville to discover his origins.  He winds up in Metropolis, saving a jet plane from crashing.  He meets Lois Lane, Later, he heads back home to Smallville, scared of the attention he recieved while saving the plane.  

In the epilogue, we see Clark embrace his destiny, and chooses to be a champion of humanity by adopting the role of Superman.




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This issue was stunningly good.  Byrne really embraces the history and heritage of Superman VERY well with his storytelling, which, I believe, he borrowed A LOT from the original Superman movie.  His visual stylings have always been superb.  I really enjoyed his take on Krypton, and that was later used for a mini-series as well.  He gives Kal-El the human element that had long been lost with Superman, what with all the amazing powers he was given.  He's still the Mightiest hero on the planet...but he's not so completely invincible that he can't take a whipping.  Byrne gives a nice pace to his re-telling of Superman's origin, and his Superman visually has probably been my favorite of all time...my deep respects to the late Curt Swan and Wayne Boring before him, but I truly believe that Byrne took the Christopher Reeve look, and adapted it into his own style. I like that we have both the Kents alive and well---for the forthcoming years, they would be an integral part of what made Clark Kent more down-to-earth.  We also get a brief glimpse of Lana Lang, who would later be one of his many friends who knew Clark had powers BEFORE he went to Metropolis.  We also get our first glimpse of Lois Lane.  And it was interesting that we get an interaction between the two before his first actual appearance as Superman.  That sets up the 2nd issue, where it's about Lois pursuing his story.  All in all, a great way to bring the Big Blue Boy Scout into the modern day (at the time in 1986, anyway), and a terrific jumping on point to new readers. 

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 5.2

REVIEW:  DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 5.2:  "Miss Me, Kiss Me, Love Me"


Howdy there, folks!  Yes indeed, we are back once again to hang out with our crazy little band of time travellers!  Last week, Sara came back to the team with a documentary film crew following them around, as they got back to the business of fixing time anomalies, and Astra having released all these famous evil souls back onto Earth to create havoc.  Sara was still dealing with the loss of Ollie and Crisis, and wasn't in the mood to be part of a documentary.  The team was cashing in on its new found fame after last year's battle at Heyworld, and got caught up in the spotlight, as they tried to fix history by taking down a newly reincarnated Rasputin.  Plus, Nate is trying to figure out who the woman was that left him the message to find her.


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We begin this week's little adventure in Hell, where Astra is enjoying herself quite nicely, as John Constantine approaches.  He knows she's released all these infamous souls back on Earth, he wants her to bring them home, but she laughs at him, and has no plans to do so.  She tells him that HE is an important step in her evolution, so in order to stop her, he'll have to kill her.  Frustrated, he disappears to the Waverider.

Hank is working on Gideon, trying to get back the message that Zari had left him, but Gideon has no record of it, since her reboot.  Behrad comes in, and helps Nate up, as he asks what he's doing.  But in the instant they make contact, Behrad changes to Zari very briefly, and then changes back to B.  Nate looks shocked, and Behrad thinks that Nate is getting into his stash.

John returns, and debriefs the team about what Astra is doing with these souls she's released.  They suggest destroying them, but there's a chance that Astra would resurrect them again.  Sara says that until a better decision can be made on how to deal with them, these "Encores" will have to be put in cells aboard the Waverider.  Ray feels they'll need bigger jars jokingly.

Behrad is talking to Sara, requesting time off the ship for his father's birthday, and he is dragging Nate with him.  Sara calls him out, and asks why he never told his parents that he stole the family heirloom to become a time travelling superhero.  He wants to keep it hush hush, and him and Nate leave.

They feel a new time quake, and they discover the source to be 1947 Los Angeles, which--at the period---was home to organized crime and the movie business in full swing.  Sara wants Ray and John with her, while Ava and Mick stay aboard the ship, and be at the ready.  Ava feels somewhat important with her first real mission as a member of the team, since there is no Time Bureau to be a part of.  Mick says they got left behind, and aren't needed...she feels kind of sad about that.

We're in Washington DC in the year 2044, as Nate and Behrad arrive at his parent's house.  They do the meet and greet with Nate, whom Behrad lies to his parents about being a professor at a college.  It's then that Zari herself shows up, video blogging on her phone, all glammed up.  She greets her family, and Behrad introduces Nate to Zari.  Nate is taken aback, and she immediately thinks of him like a stalker.  He says he has met her before, and she says of course, from her blog, which is getting massive hits.  Nate then turns to Behrad, and says that she is the woman in the video message he was shown from Gideon prior to her reboot.  Behrad just thinks Nate is having a mental breakdown.

Back in 1947, John is sensing magic at work, as they head to an office building where they stumble into a detective agency called Webb & Moore.  They see a pile of ash where Webb apparently died from Hellfire.  It's then, that a woman comes by, but she sees them,and starts to take off, they give chase, and talk to her.  She says her name is Jeanie Hill, and she is an aspiring reporter.  She had hired the detectives to help protect her from her boyfriend, Bugsy Siegel.  Bugsy supposedly died, and is now resurrected, and running a joint called the Blue Iguana Club.  John, putting on a phony American accent, calls himself "Moore", and works to get info out of her, and to caputre Siegel.  She says he seems different...he's more vicious.  Ray hands her a wad of cash, and says that should put her up in a hotel nicely until they have dealt with Bugsy.  Ray is impersonating a cop, while John impersonates one of the detectives, and Sara is there as backup.  They all head out to the Blue Iguana.

Mick and Ava have been tapped by Sara to do surveillance.  They're at the bar, and Mick starts drinking beer, while Ava is giving Sara the lowdown on security, and other muscle in the club.  They see Jeanie enter the club and greet Bugsy.  They go to greet her, but Bugsy uses her as bait, because she's in news pictures.  After Jeanie leaves, Sara puts on the charm and goes over to Bugsy, and gives him the business, which catches his attention.  He goes to greet her, and they immediately begin to chatter.  Sara starts laying on the nice nice, and says she's a reporter with a gossip mag, and she's got the skinny on several high rolling officials in the city AND a priest.  He likes the cut of her jib, and she invites him to her car, where she says she stashed the goods.  They head outside, as Sara is getting a signal from one of the team, letting them know she's about to make her move.  But they are soon cornered by Mickey Cohen's men.  Bugsy moves Sara aside, and he pulls out his gun, which has a green glow to it, and he is immediate shot several time by Cohen's men.  But to their dismay, he's still standing, and goes to fire his gun, and the bullets immediately find their mark.  All the men die, and just then, Ray is there to apprehend him.  Other uniformed officers show up, and arrest him, and take him downtown.  But they seem a little buddy buddy with him, and Ray decides to follow them to the station, to see if he can get the gun off of him.  

Zari is at dinner with the family and Nate, talking about the launch of her new clothing line.  The parents aren't as interested, and want to know why it is Behrad has not found a girlfriend.  Nate can't help but stare at Zari, who still feels he's creepy.  He then notices the wall, where he sees a painting or rug of sorts with the family heirloom on it.  He comments about it, but Behrad nudges him NOT to do it with his foot, kicking him.  The parents want to know how he knew about it, and he said that Behrad told him, while Behrad is hiding the heirloom on his watch.  

Ava and Mick are still at the club on stakeout, and she goes into her little aria about feeling useless, having everything she owns in a tiny duffelbag, and not feeling like she has much direction.  She was the head of the Time Bureau, now not much but a member of the Legends.  Mick thinks it's not a bad gig.  Ava wonders if they need them anymore, and Sara says for them to stay put.  They need to figure out a way to get Bugsy's gun off of him.  Ray decides to follow him to the station, see if he fcan give it a shot.  He was going to get after it, when he got to the station, but he notices that all the officers are paid off.  One cop comments how he hates to see the corruption, which Ray agrees.  Bugsy goes to leave, but Ray tries to frisk him again.  He gets interrupted, and has failed to get the gun.  Ray will have to find another way.

John notices a name and number on the inside of the matchbook he took from the detective office:  Elysian 7-5-3.  He heads to the office, and is met by Jeanie.  She knows he's a fake, and tells him to drop the accent.  John is cool with it, and he informs her that he knows where Webb had stashed the blackmail info Bugsy had.  All she wants is her freedom from him, and he wants the gun.  So, when she volunteers to get it, he asks how...she moves up against him, and he gets it...the end up getting busy.

Ava continues to drink, and pour her heart out.  She's homeless, no job, no nothing.  Mick comments that she feels uselsess, but just then Sara calls in, and says that they need to create a distraction, and clear the club out.  They're going to capture Bugsy.  At this moment is when Ray had failed his frisk job, and Bugsy gets a call from Sara, who tells him he needs to hightail it to his club in a jiffy...things are about to go down...juicy, gossipy things.  Bugsy takes off, and the cop Ray talked to earlier has him ride with him to take Bugsy down.

Ava is at the club, belting out some Bel Biv Devoe, and putting on a show, big band style.  Sadly, it's just Ava's imagination as she is singing badly and driving the crowd out of the club.  She is snot slinging drunk.  Sara comes in,and appears to enjoy it.  Mick asks if he wants to make her stop, Sara comments that no, let her finish.  

John drives Bugsy and Jeanie to the club, and they kiss, and says he'll see her later.  As he walks in, he complains about being called about a woman singing badly.  He realizes he's been set up by Sara.  She calls him out for being back from the dead, and he's screwing up the timeline.  He said that killing only got him so far the last time, but THIS time around, it's about having information.  He goes to pull his gun on Sara, but all he has is a normal gun, which he fires and misses her, as she heads for cover.  She uses a champagne bottle to disarm him by throwing it at his gun hand.  He doesn't realize Mick is beside him, and Mick knocks his lights out.  Through all of this, Ava is still slinging drunk singing.

Nate is checking out some family photos in one of the rooms, when Zari walks in.  They sit down, and he asks if she felt some connection to him when she first saw him, as if they had known each other in another life.  She says maybe.  She knows her brother has been lying about being at business school, and that Nate isn't a professor.  She just wants to know if her brother is protecting the totem.  Just as she starts to inch closer to him, Behrad shows up, and ushers Nate out of the room.  She feels like she just missed out on her chance.

John and Jeanie head to Burbank, to a cemetary.  John found out the clue that Webb had left behind.  It was a name and number to a headstone.  He opens a false front, and grabs the evidence.  He's ready to burn it, when she pulls Bugsy's gun on him.  She wants the blackmail goods for herself.  John tries to persuade her otherwise, but she says she's tired of everyone walking all over her, but with the blackmail evidence, she'll have real power in the world.  He relents and gives it to her, say who is he to tell her what to do.  In the distance, Ray and the cop pull up, and the cop maps out a plan, to cause a distraction and get the blackmail goods, taking care of her in the process.  Ray is taken aback, and thought he was an honest cop.  The cop says that nice guys finish last in LA, and he has goons at the ready to take care of all of them.  He cuffs Ray to the steering wheel, and is planning on using him as the fall guy.  Jeanie, meanwhile, gives John the gun, and she is taking off.  Ray sees this, and knows that the car she's getting into is rigged to explode.  He honks the horn to get John's attention.  He goes to scream at Jeanie, but she gets into the car, turns the ignition, and the car explodes.  Ray broke himself free, and looks for John, who says they need to leave, nothing more they can do.  

Back on the Waverider, Sara is about to put Bugsy inside a ready made cell, when John and Ray reappear.  He's pissed that Bugsy corrupted Jeanie for his own selfish ends, and now she's dead.  Bugsy says true, but that they face an even bigger problem:  Astra.  John then grabs Bugsy, punches him with the gun, bloddies him, and uses it as an incantation to head back down to hell.  Sara warns him that he better know what he's doing.

Once more to Hell, and John brings Bugsy to Astra, but not before shooting a few of her guards with the magic gun.  He orders Astra to bring the souls back to hell, and she flat out refuses once again.  Bugsy warns that he has a bullet left.  She taunts John to kill her.  He says he won't...and also says he's not diving up on her.  She laughs, thinking he'll never succeed, but John leaves...but not before shooting Bugsy dead in the process.  Astra is shocked he did that, and John disappears, but not before saying that he'll be seeing her.

He's back on the Waverider, and said that he came close to ending her, but didn't do it.  Ray talksa bout falling in love with Nora, and she was bad, and he's happy there's still good guys in the world.  John is quick to cut him off, and says he's only doing it for himself, and to save Astra.  

Sara drags a drunk Ava to a chair, and asks Mick not to tell her she made a fool of herself tonight.  Ava blurts out how fine she is, but then passes out.  

In 2044, Nate and Behrad talk about how Nate is being played by Zari, much as Nate doesn't want to believe it.  She barges in with her phone, and discovers that she remembers Nate---he was a part of the Hayworld affair over 20 years ago, but yet they haven't aged a day.  She's going to snitch on him to their parents, and when she turns to walk away, Nate opens a portal to the Waverider.  She walks on board, and is shocked as to where she is.  Gideon introduces herself, and Zari is stunned.  Behrad introduces his sister to the team, and she ends up screaming for help.


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This was a pretty straightforward episode, with some humor mixed in.  Not quite the usual hijinks for this team, but I think that figuring things out is what is happening in the first couple of episodes, as we get through the hangover of Crisis.  I can see that they are focusing primarily on Astra, and all the demons she's released, and their ability to capture them and right history.  

Ava seems to be lost---as a clone, she feels she has no more purpose since the Time Bureau was shut down, and she lost her job.  She's broke, and feels no sense of identity.  Now, she's riding around with Sara, and she's trying to find her place in this world.  She will be more than likely having more episodes where she's doing something against her normal character trait in order to find herself.  It should be hilarious.  Also...woman can sing with the "Bel Biv Devoe" song.  Thought that was great. Through all this...Mick was right there....being Mick.

Was good to see Sara take charge, and get back into the flow of things.  She truly is the leader of the team, and they all look up to her.  She has grown so much into this strong leader over the last few seasons, but she still has her funny bone.  Her watching Ava make a complete ass of herself and loving it.  Ray had some minor comedic moments, but was actlually more of the straight man this episode.  

John has now made this personal between him and Astra.  He is determined to change her and save her.  But he's doing it for selfish reasons, apparently.  He will be used a lot as the conduit between the Legends and Hell.  

The Nate/Behrad/Zari situation continues to confuse a little, as we haven't gotten answers as to why the switch.  She is now a "guest" of sorts on the Waverider.  I can imagine that she is going to want to blog about the whole experience, and find ways to get info as blackmail for not telling their parents.  But will this mean that her and Nate will get close as well?  

It was a simple episode, fairly formulaic, with some minor twists.  But we got the premise of what the season is about.  And hey....just like The Flash...there's a new title of the show sequence, and logo.  It fits them pretty well.  I hope we see something similar with the other shows.  It's a new and fresh take, and takes out the voice overs.        

That does it for this week.  Please subscribe, pass along the good word, and leave a comment!  I'd appreciate that!

Thanks for stopping buy, and until next week....Time is on our side!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

THE FLASH - SEASON 6.10

REVIEW:  THE FLASH - SEASON 6.10: "Marathon"


Welcome back to our new Flash review!  It's been quite a while since we've seen the Scarlet Speedster, ever since he save the universe in Crisis, but now we shift gears to the 2nd half of the season, and see just what our Monarch of Motion has been up to since Crisis ended, and we're now integrated into Earth-Prime.  There are some questions that need to be answered, so let's not plod along, and get to the good stuff, as we check back in to Central City...

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We see that Jitters has had a reopening since the Crisis, and it's looking a lot brighter, but the fun is soon spoiled, as a guy with some kind of ray gun shows up, looking to rob the place.  The waitress says they JUST reopened, and they have very little to no cash in the registers.  The crook obviously feels a bit embarrassed, but decides to shoot up the place anyway.  He does a bit of property damage before Flash shows up and halts them in their tracks.  He gets a huge applause from the crowd, says he likes what they've done to the place, and takes off.  

Cisco seems very deep in thought, and somewhat disturbed.  Flipping through a book he's catalogued all the new threats that he's been able to obtain info on thus far since the Crisis, and with National City, Happy Harbor, and several new places established on Earth-Prime, he is concerned about growing threats, and new and improved threats.  He's discussing this with Frost (as she prefers to be known as nowdays), when we hear Nash banging on a door to a different part of the lab.  Cisco has kept him busy, while he's designed a new circuit, though he can't imagine WHY he needs it, considering the extrapolators no longer work.  Nash wants to check the tunnel again, but Cisco assures him there's no more antimatter, but Nash heads out anyway.  

Iris is on the phone, and is happy to report that her story about Flash saving the world in Crisis is still their most viewed story at The Citizen.  Just as she gets off the phone, Barry walks in with a surprise guest---Diggle!  Iris and Dig hug, and he discusses that he and Lyla are moving the family to Metropolis.  He's there to present Barry with something Oliver had left him in his will---the mask Barry made him years ago.  Barry notices smudges on it, and Diggle said that Oliver hadn't worn it in years, so maybe it just got dusty.  Barry is curious about it, and as he looks it over some more, Iris gets a call.  She's got a lead on a story, and she's going to take off and check it out.  They kiss, he wishes her off, and Barry goes back to trying to figure out what the smudges mean.

Iris meets her informant in an undisclosed parking garage.  His name is Gene Husk, and he used to work for McCulloch Technologies.  He doesn't want to be recorded, so she asks him about the symbol that she found on one of the guys she had been investigating, a Malcom Stromberg.  Husk fills her in on the details of what Stromberg was up to.  He got assigned to Husk's R&D division, and had lifted an infrared photon rifle.  Stromberg had no technical acumen.  He found out, Stromberg didn't technically exist, and when he went to report it, he got fired.  She tells Husk that the group that had gotten the rifle, had killed Stromberg.  Iris says they need Husk to help break the story, and offers to protect him.  We then see a woman dressed in a white coat with special glasses and black pants, chasing after a guy with an eyepatch, and she shoots him with the gun, and he disintegrates into nothing.  She calls someone called Black Hole, and in a foreign language, she let's this person know that her job is done.  They then give her another job---to kill Iris West-Allen.

Back at the Citizen, Iris goes over with her team what she knows about this secret organization that Barry and Ralph had stumbled upon a few months ago, turning super powered people into assassins for hire, including Allegra's cousin.  This Black Hole person is the head of it.  Iris, Allegra, and Camilla have been investigating the story, and have a board up with all their info, and relating this to Cecile.  Cecile has her concerns, and asks Iris if she's run this by Joe, and Iris says that her dad would have to get all sorts of legal clearance, and this is a reporter's alley, so they're going to crack the case.  This group is dealing in terrorism, international arms dealing, and more.  Cecile shows great concern, but Iris tells her that a reporter doesn't run away from the truth.  She tells Allegra and Camilla that she's got a meeting with McCulloch Industries' CEO--Joseph Carver--and that if he isn't willing to give a quote, they're running with the story regardless.

Barry and Diggle are back at his place, as Barry keeps racing back and forth, bringing equipment from his lab to test Ollie's mask for whatever substance is on it.  Barry runs some tests, and finds out the mask has traces of Mirakaru on it.  That's Professor Ivo's super serum, and Barry and Diggle wonder if it means there could be some out there, thus proving dangerous, because someone could be making new super threats.  So, Barry and Diggle are off to Lian Yu...but not before Diggle loads up on drammamine.  

Iris meets with Carver, and gets to the point about his missing photon rifle, and the links it's been tied to like organized crime, international arms dealings, terrorism, and murder.  He pulls her aside for a quiet meeting. In a private hallway, Iris sees a door with AV3 on it. He figures out that her source is Gene Husk.  He does admit that someone stole a prototype, possibly from Obsidian Tech.  He said Husk was convinced of a huge conspiracy, so he had him dismissed.  He says that he's installed new security cameras, new badges, and everything.  He goes on to say that he has an obligation to the late Eva McCulloch to protect her investment, and to ask Iris NOT to print the story.  Iris, however, is no pushover, and says she has an obligation to the people to report the truth, so she's running the story.  With that, the meeting ends.  

Iris runs the story, and it's already gotten 100,000 hits.  Then Cecile shows up with bad news - Carver is suing Iris for defamation.  Iris isn't swayed by this, she feels it's a scare tactic.  Cecile, as their legal counsel, urges her to thing otherwise, but then her powers kick in and she senses something wrong.  We see from far away, that the lady in the white coat and glasses with the photon rifle is back, and she's aiming for Iris.  Cecile tells the gals to duck as the woman fires off a shot, hitting and burining the wall.  She goes for another shot, and she hits the board, where all their work is at on the case.  Camilla tries to snap pictures to save some of the evidence and clues to the story.  However, Iris says she's the target.  She wants all of them to go back to STAR Labs, and she's going to check on Husk and use Nash's tunnels to get back and meet then there.  Camilla and Allegra make it back to the lab, and they said that Cecile went to see Joe, and Iris was checking on their source.  Camilla shows Cisco the burn mark from the rifle, and he deduces that it's using high intensity raditation.  They can't get ahold of Barry, because he's on Lian Yu with Diggle, and there's no way the can get a signal out to him.  Frost is out looking for the shooter.  Nash shows up, and checks in on Allegra.  He wonders why he wasn't informed, and Cisco tells him that he's not a part of the team.  Cisco also says that he's the guy that caused Crisis, and Nash yells back that he paid his price as Pariah.  Cisco reminds him about those lost:  Oliver, Harry, Jesse, and they're stuck with the man who killed the multiverse.  Nash storms off, and when Camilla asks why Cisco was so harsh, he replies that he doesn't want a repeat of Crisis.  But right now, they need to find Iris.

Iris finds Husk, and they realize Black Hole isn't what they thought it was.  He is about to say more, but the woman manages to find them, and zaps Husk.  As he's dying, he says "mirror", but that's all he gets out as he dies.  Iris is getting shot at now, and she sees Husk's ID card from McCulloch industries with keys attatched.  She grabs them, and makes a beeline for his vechicle.  She manages to escape getting killed, but the woman manages to hit the back window of the vehicle, thus shattering it.  The charged shards hit Iris' shoulder, but she gets away.  Iris makes her way back to the lab, and wants the binder Cisco put together.  She loooks over the new meta threats and comes across one:  Dr. Kamino Hoshi.  an astronomer who had meta powers, but disappeared.  She had light powers, but they weren't that powerful...she'd need something to focus them through, hence the photon rifle.  So, they have a new Dr. Light they're dealing with.  Iris is injured, but she insists she's fine...however, she passes out.  She handed them a flash drive that had information from Husk, but it's damaged.

On Lian Yu, Barry and Diggle search through the cells, and come across a case, but all the bottles of marakuru are gone.  Barry is sure that someone's got it, and there's a threat out there with it.  Diggle tries to get Barry to relax, but Barry is upset, and his powers flare up and he hits the bars in frustration.  Diggle then tells Barry that Thea and Ollie were here a couple of years back, to face down the man in this cell---Deathstroke.  They had brought his mask and equipment with them...thus the smudges of marakuru on it.  He and Barry sit down, and Barry says he feels obligated to finish what Oliver started, especially protecting this new Earth.  Diggle says that there's more to life than the mission.  Diggle says that Oliver sacrificed his life so that everyone--Barry included--would live THIER lives.  So, he urges Barry to slow down, and enjoy the life he has.  

Caitlin is having a pow wow with Cisco, and sees him looking at an old video of Harry talking about some experiment.  Cisco said that when the Monitor gave him his Vibe powers back, that he felt he failed to save the universe, and that included Earth 2.  He feels responsible and felt he could've done more, knowing how powerful he was, and would've been able to detect the antimatter wave.  She asks him that although he wants to protect everyone on this new Earth, does he regreat giving up his Vibe powers.  He honestly can't give her an answer...he just doesn't know.  He says it's not simple for him.  She suggests that since he's been cataloguing everything on this Earth thus far, that maybe he needs to get out of the lab, and out of Central City for awhile, and clear his head, find out who he is, and finish the job he started.  

Iris is recovering when Joe drops by.  She says she knew what she was doing.  Joe informs her that this Black Hole organization has VERY deep roots, and if she had gotten killed, he wouldn't have had any evidence to bring her killer to justice.  She can't solve the story in one day.  Joe talks about throwing himself into work, and solving as many cases as he could before the Crisis.  But now that the Crisis is over, they have to figure out how to live in this new reality.  Iris isn't sure what to do.  Joe asks if Husk had given her anything else to go on besides this Black Hole person.  She isn't sure, but sees a news story on TV about Carver and McCulloch industries, and she begins to put the pieces together.

Carver is seen talking to someone on the phone in the same language we heard earlier, which is this Dr. Light.  She is stationed just oustide the West home, as he is identified as this Black Hole character.  Light goees into finish the Iris job, and fires a shot at Iris.  But it turns out, it's a hologram, and Joe has the drop on her, as well as Frost.  Back at the lab, Camilla was the one disgused holographically as Iris.  Iris is at McCulloch Industries and confronts Carver, exposing him as the Black Hole, and knows all about his plan.  He tipped her off when commented that the badges use ultraviolet light, the same as the guns.  It also uses optic lenses to focuse the power like Ultraviolet.  He used Stromberg to get the gun from Gene Husk.  He then gives her credit, but if she exposes him, he'll have her family and friends killed.  She says that if anyone she loves dies, she'll expose him in front of all the reporters in down the hall.  At that moment, Light knocks down Joe, and shoots Frost.  Frost manages to freeze the bullet, and get it out of her.  Frost is about to get up and fight, when Light gets a call from Carver, cancelling the contract.  She takes off, and Frost wonders if that's it.  Carver then takes off to confront the reporters, and says he's dropping the lawsuit against Iris.  

Cisco is packing for his worldwide trip, when Nash comes in.  Cisco apologizes to him, and says that it was uncalled for in regards to what he said to Nash.  He's going on a trip to catalogue all the new threats out there, and wants Nash to hold the fort while he's gone.  Before he takes off, he tells Nash that he hopes he finds what he's looking for.  Nash pulls out a polaroid of him and a woman that is Allegra's doppleganger looking like Indiana Jones.  

Barry and Iris catch up, and he tells her what the mask truly represents that Oliver gave back to him.  They both realize that they have been moving in overdrive since Crisis has been over.  And they both need to slow down a bit.  Later that night, Iris is up to  get a drink, when she sees the keys and ID card of Husk's on the counter.  She remembers his last word:  mirror.  She then flashes back to her time in the hallway at McCulloch Industries, where she saw the door with the number AV3 on it.  She quickly scribbles in on a note pad, and holds it up to a mirror.  Backwards, it reads EVA. Iris pops open her laptop, and does a quick serch, and finds out Eva McCulloch mysteriously disappeared. Iris scribbles a note to Barry, saying she's chasing a lead.  She heads back to McCulloch, and gets into the building, and down the hallway to the door.  The door as a special key on it, so she usues the symbol on the keycard to get in.  It looks to be Eva McCulloch's old office---with tarps covering the furniture up.  Iris looks around, and sees a computer that's running.  She throws off a long tall tarp to see a giant mirror under it.  She wonders aloud what happened to Eva, and turns away from the mirror.  Then, to arms reach out from it, and grab her, pulling her into it as the show ends.  


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This was a pretty good episode, coming back from Crisis, and we were all wondering how Barry's world had been effected in this new reality.  As we have seen...A LOT has changed.  

Cisco has a new journey:  He's feeling guilty about those lost in Crisis, about those that--had he been able to use his Vibe powers---could've avoided losing.  However, he is now more determined to find out just what they're now dealing with as far as new threats, since now Black Lightning, Supergirl, and Batwoman's foes all now occupy the same Earth.  Not to mention that some of Flash's own Rogues seem to have gotten an upgrade.  Hence, we get a new, and albeit different Dr. Light.  This is not a Linda Park doppleganger, but a completely new woman.  And she's working for this Carver guy---a new criminal mind known as Black Hole.  Will be very interesting to see how he deals with Team Flash in the future.  But we also know that Metropolis, National City, Star City, Happy Harbor, Gotham, Central City, Freeland, and Gorilla City all occupy the same Earth now.  This'll make for more fun team ups!  But this will take Cisco off canvas for a tiny bit.  In his place, we got Nash filling in, who is also on a personal quest:  to find HIS version of Allegra...his adventuring partner/love interest.  NOW we understand WHY he took such an interest in Allegra a few episodes back.  All makes sense now.

It appears that Killer Frost has dropped the "Killer" part of her name, and is just Frost now.  Gonna have to get used to that one.

Was awesome to get some Diggle/Barry time.  It finally allows these two to  strengthen their friendship, and bond over the loss of Ollie.  Diggle also gives Barry sound advice in this episode.  Great stuff.  And apparently, this story takes place just after Ollie's funeral, but before Diggle leaves for Metropolis (and he finds a certain green power ring).  But I love that Barry now has a chance to bond with other members of the Arrowverse now.  I liked his growing bond with Sara during Crisis, since they were the two closest to Ollie.  He and Kara already have a strong friendship.  But now he can bond with Diggle.  And if Diggle DOES become Green Lantern, it plays real well into the whole GL/Flash friendship of the comics.  The one comedic point of this episode was when Diggle loaded up on drammamine, knowing Barry was gonna race him to Lian Yu with him.  Classic.  Nice to know some things don't change.  But this is good for BOTH characters.  

This was a VERY Iris-centric episode, as girl power reigned supreme.  Team Citizen has picked up the slack from the story that was left off from a few episodes back, and is now become the focal point of the 2nd half of this season.  I am truly enjoying the "graphic novel" nature of the story arcs this year.  While you'll still have some elements that will move the entire story forward for the team during the season, but big bad's are broken up.  It keeps the season fresh, and gives us a whole new threat to deal with.  And since we're back to McCulloch Industries, that can only mean one thing:  Mirror Master is coming back.  But this won't be Sam Scudder.  But will it be Eva McCulloch?  A female Mirror Master?  It's possible.  But I like how we got the ladies involved, and they're running like a well-oiled machine.  I like them a lot, and it's finally allowing the Iris character do what she does best:  be the investigative reporter.  Iris now gets to have her life OUTSIDE of being a part of Team Flash, and being in Barry's world.  Especially now that Barry himself has a new group of Super Friends to play with.  I feel this will be a good jolt for the show, and give some much needed character development for everyone.  But...we DO know that when it comes to the super villain..it's still going to have to be the Flash to come to the rescue.  Overall...I'm liking where we're going thus far.  

Oh...one more thing:  I LOVE the new title intro.  It's GREAT!  A nice refresher from the same old voice over intro.  It's great to break out something new...the new title card is awesome!  I'm hoping ALL of the shows get something of a makeover in this department.  

That's it for this week---be sure to subscribe, tell everyone about this place, and leave a comment!  I'd appreciate it.

Until next week----Keep On Running!

BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3.12

REVIEW:  BLACK LIGHTNING - SEASON 3, EP. 12:  "The Book of Markovia - Chapter 3:  Motherless ID"


It looks like we're hitting critical mass on this show, and the stakes are about to get higher!  With Lynn and Tobias now captured by the Markovians, Jefferson and his family must find a way to rescue her, and take down the Markovians once and for all.  But that may mean working with somebody they'd rather not:  the ASA.  Major Grey is now in change, as Odell is gone.  And will Lynn survive her ordeal with the Markovians?  And we also can't forget about what the team is going to do with Khalil...


We get to see Dr. Jace recording a video diary, talking about herself in Markovian captivity.  She knows they have captured Lynn, and that if they know Lynn has the answers to the stabilization process for the metas, than her usefulness will be at an end.  But, she plans on playing on Lynn's sympathies to gain her trust.  We see that doesn't work out too well, because Lynn starts kicking her ass all over the lab, and yet, she still tries to play the nice card.  It isn't until Col. Molsen comes in and zaps Lynn with a shock, which is fed to some inhibitor around her neck, that she relents in the attack.  Moslen tells her that he knows she's addicted to Green Light, and that Odell manipulated her, and got her hooked on it.  She refuses to believe it, but Molsen says it's true, because he had a mole in the ASA when it happened.  Odell is the true evil, he says.  He gives her a tablet of Green Light, and says that he wants her at optimal condidtion to create the stabilizer for him.

At the Sanctum, Jen is still very upset about everyone keeping Khalil's status of being alive from her.  She goes after TC, but Gambi says that he's trying to help.  TC tells her that he is part machine because of the chip Odell put inside him.  It's like an operating system.  She still believes that he's still in there somewhere, and still lashes out at everyone who knew he was alive, and didn't tell her.  She then apologizes to TC, and allows him to dig more into Khalil's mind, and find out what he knows.  Meanwhile, Jeff pulls Gambi aside to talk about the newbies in the Sanctum---TC and Brandon---and Gambi says they're okay.  They're here to help.  Jeff then gets a text from Lynn, and he grabs Anissa, and they bail.

When they get to the room she was staying at, they find out that Sgt. Grayle is there instead, and it was HE who sent the text.  He informs them about how Lynn was kidnapped and how she was using what's in Tobias to use as a stabilizer for the metas in the Pit.  They're not sure about trusting him, but he informs them that he knows who they are, and he knows they could kill him where he stands.  But he's there to rescue Lynn, the kids, and Freeland.  He iforms them that Major Grey will be the one who will be leading the team to go and get Lynn from the Markovians.  Jeff tells him to set up a meet, but on HIS terms.  Grayle takes off, and Anissa admits to her adverse feelings, and that there will be a set up.  He then begins to tell Anissa about Lynn and her addiction.

Tobias is strapped down, ready to be poked and injected again, but not before harrassing a black man who's Jace's assitant.  He injects Tobias with no mercy, and Lynn is shaking behind the wall, going through withdrawls.  Jace says if she gives her the formula, they can BOTH get out of there, because she says she's a captive too.  So, Lynn begins to give her the recipe to her hommemade cookies.  Jace isn't amused.  Lynn says she would rather die, than make weapons for Molsen.

Jen is still with Khalil, trying to reach him, and Brandon is there, standing by her.  TC has been researching Khalil's chip, and may have found a way to access it.  It's very complex, but he manages to get inside, and finds himself in a hallway.  He looks around, and sees a door with the #8 on it.  He then sees Painkiller in the hallway, who then lunges at him and attacks.  TC panics, and breaks the connection, running off into another part of the Sanctum, obviously in fear.  Gambi says that Painkiller treated TC like a virus and kicked him out.  Jen asks what it is they can do, and TC says that a firewall might help, which Gambi says is a good idea.

Jeff informs Anissa that her mother is addicted to Green Light.  Anissa is upset that her dad took off to join the Resistance, instead of helping her.  He said that Henderson called him, and said the kids were in trouble, and by the time he got off the phone, Lynn had bolted.  He said he'd known for a little while, but Anissa says that he can't solve this problem by himself.  He feels awful, but she says it's not his fault.  But she says that when they find her mom, they need to help her...together, as a family.  

TC is going to try to get into Khalil's mind again, only this time using Jen's powers as a way to keep him at bay, and force him behind the firewall.  TC goes in, and Painkiller is there to greet him, but Jen uses her powers, and it begins to push Painkiller back behind a door in the very same hallway.  TC locks it, and Painkiller is locked behind the firewall.  

Jeff and Anissa meet with Major Grey, and they share info on Lynn.  She says she has a team assembled and ready to go, but Jeff isn't happy about trusting her.  Anissa says that maybe they should listen to her---since she has insights into the Markovians more than they do.  Jeff reluctantly agrees, but says the team he's bringing in---they get pardons from the ASA, and their records wiped clean.  She reluctantly agrees, and they shake hands on the deal.  

Jen and Brandon are keeping tabs on Khalil, wondering why he hasn't woken up yet, and Gambi says that TC informed him that Khalil needs to "reboot".  Jeff then arrives, and pulls Jen aside, saying that the Markovians have her mother.  Jen says she's going with him, and he feels it's too dangerous.  She insists on going, and she says Brandon is going with her.  Jeff says no, but she then blasts Brandon with her lightning powers, and he's fine.  She says Brandon can handle is own.  He informs Jeff that Dr. Jace killed his mother, so, with all due respect, he's going.  Jeff wants Gambi to hold the fort down, and run recon on this end, but Gambi refuses, says he's coming along for the ride.  Anissa is also discussing the mission with Grace, and Grace insists on going.  Anissa is afraid Grace can't handle it, and Grace says she begs to differ.  Anissa still refuses, and they fight, but neither gets the upper hand.  Anissa says that she's afraid Grace would get killed, and she can't handle losing her again.  She insists that it's HER fight, and not Grace's.  Grace tells her that Anissa's fight IS her fight.  

Jace and Tobias come face to face for the first time in awhile, and is loooking to extract marrow from him. Tobias does what he does best---get under her skin.  He tells her how useless she'll be once Lynn gets the stabilizer working.  He knows that he's the golden goose for Col. Molsen.  Jace informs Tobias that once Molsen is done with him, he's going to lobotomize him.  That doesn't sit well with Tobias.

Major Grey is looking over some of the meta kids still in the Pit.  One, in particular, has been given exceptional fighting skills, since she's been chipped.  She informs the good doctor there to make sure she's ready.  She then has the order given to the girl's programming that she is to kill Lynn.  

Jace sees Lynn struggling to make the stabilizer, because her withdrawls are causing her to be weak.  When Jace sees what she's working on, she tells Lynn that a methadone cure will not help her.  It's either the Green Light or death.  Lynn eventually gives in, and takes it.  We then see Jace pay a visit to the Colonel, and he asks if he has stabilized metas yet, and she says no.  He's not pleased, but she says that any stabiliaztion output will be anywhere up to 50-60%, they will die.  He says he wants that serum, and Jace informs him he'll have it soon.  He says he better...or she will suffer the consequences.  We also see the shock clip on the back of her neck as well.

Jeff and Grey arrive to plan their attack.  Jeff has the team assembled, and he says that EVERYONE on this team will get immunity after this mission.  Grey says they need to work together, and the team just isn't into it.  They're not doing it for her or them.  Jeff informs them that, whether they like it or not, Major Grey is the best chance they have to rescuse Lynn.  So, they need to park the differences, and go to work.  Behind them, we see an electronic map of Markovia.  

Khalil hasn't woken up yet, and it's worrying Jen.  TC goes back into his mind, and finds Khalil behind the door, in what used to be his old home.  He finds him in what he percives to be his room.  He tries to convince Khalil to leave with him but Khalil refuses.  He says he can't leave...Painkiller won't let him.  TC comes back out, and says that Khalil refuses to leave, because he feels he shouldn't.  Jen wants to find a way, and that's when Brandon says that Jen can become pure energy.  Gambi asks if Jen's been able to use her powers that way, and she says yes.  But, he warns her that if she goes into his mind as pure energy, and gets trapped...she'll die just like Khalil.  She's willing to take the risk, so with TC's help again, she goes into his mind, and finds him.  At first he thinks she isn't real, but she says she is.  She tries to convince him that he needs to come with her, and that he can reclaim his mind.  If he doesn't, he will die.  She says he can't stay in his self imposed prison.  They move out of the hallway slowly, but Khalil sees Painkiller behind the firewall, and Painkiller tells him he can't leave...that he'll be nothing without him.  Khalil then sees all things he did while programmed as Painkiller.  Jen and TC are desperate to get him out before the mind meld breaks.  TC is weakening and urging them to hurry up.  Khalil says he did terrible things, and Jen tries to tell him that it wasn't HIM, but Painkiller.  Khalil says he IS Painkiller.  Jen tells him it's time to make a choice---be the cold blooded killer, or reclaim his humanity.  She says she can't stand to watch him die again.  He makes his choice,and comes with her and TC.

Khalil wakes up, and Jen goes to touch him, but Gambi warns her not to.  His body is a living toxin.  Any skin contact can result in death.  Khalil repeats what he understood from his programming about knowing about his poison powers.  He wonders how he knows, and TC says it's from the chip the ASA planeted in his head.  That they instilled knowledge and skills within him, to turn him into a killing machine.  So, he knows that he can cause illness, to a virus, to absolute death with his touch.  He gets up, and goes to leave, but not before telling Jen that they could never be together.  He says he's literally poison.  


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This was a pretty powerful episode, and we're finally seeing the apex of this arc take shape.  There are some wheels spinning,and we'll see which one stops first.

Khalil is finally himself again...but he knows that he is a danger to anyone around him.  Credit to Jen for not giving up, and for TC the assist.  She found the man she loved, but it came at a price:  he literally cannot touch her.  Any skin-to-skin contact with him is deadly.  And considering the HUMAN half of him is now in control--he knows they cannot be together.  So, once again, Khalil is sacrificing himself for Jen.  I know for a fact that he will continue to wrestle with the Painkiller part of his personality...fight the programming.  But I also feel this is NOT the last time we see Khalil---I have a feeling he'll be a major part of this story as it reaches it's end.  

Dr. Jace is someone we've not seen for awhile, and she's still doing what she does best:  manipulate all the players around her to gain an edge.  She knows that she's not needed by the Colonel once Lynn starts working on the stabilizer serum.  But she's going to find a way to BE useful...and work her own side to gain her freedom.  Col. Molsen knows he's got the power over the ASA now, and he's ready to have his own meta army ready to attack America.  The Markovian War is just about to start.  And Tobias...despite his usual charming self, he just realized that he's only a means to an end---and will be easily discarded once the Colonel gets what he wants---and he'll promptly turn Tobias into a vegetable.  Lynn is the one in real danger, though.  Not only having to fight for her life by creating the sabilizer serum for the Colonel, but also fighting her addiction to Green Light.  She again tried to go cold turkey, but they forced her back on it.  It's a struggle she's going to have to deal with.  

The uneasy---and, let's face it---untrustworthy allice between Major Grey of the ASA, and Jefferson and his team...is going to be interesting.  Both sides expect to be played, and Major Grace has already played one card.  By having the one meta kid she had chipped and programmed to kill Lynn when they find her.  I have a feeling this kid will be a major pain to the team once she's exposed, and Major Grey's plot is discovered.  But we see the team now finally assmbled:  Black Lightning, Lightning, Thunder, Brandon, Gambi, and Grace.  Whether or not TC is involved I don't remember.  But that's the team to begin.  I also have a feeling Sgt. Grayle will be working from the shadows to help Team Lightning win the fight, but also still take down the ASA.  But I am hoping that Jefferson AND Anissa are being constantly aware of a double cross---they should KNOW it's coming.  

Again...a quality episode, and I enjoyed it a lot.  We're going to Markovia, it seems, and the battle will be joined there.  What happens next is going to be VERY interesting, and I expect the action to pick up.  We now know that there ARE members of Team Lightning more than capable of holding themselves well in a fight---but Brandon.  Not sure what he can do besides his powers.  Grace showed she can work well in a scrap, PLUS her powers, makes her dangerous.  So, she'll prove to be an asset.  Either way, it's getting pretty damn exciting in Freeland.  

Thanks for checking in once again, and I appreciate you guys, as always.  DO please subscribe, pass the word around, and leave a comment about anything---love to hear from ya.

Until next week...the Power is OUT!

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK COVER OF THE WEEK


Welcome back!  It's time for yet another comic book cover of the week!  And this week, we go to 1992, as we witness the launch of a brand new comic company that sets the industry on fire:  Image Comics.  And of all the colorful new characters introduced to us---this week, we focus on Image's "flagship" character:  Spawn.  Created by Todd McFarlane, Spawn has become one of THE most iconic comics ever.  And with 305 issues and counting, it is Image's longest standing series.  We have witnessed the journey of Al Simmons from soldier to dark world entity striving to be good with powers from Hell itself.  So, without further ado, let's see what the debut issue says about the man we know as Spawn.




SPAWN #1


COVER:  Todd McFarlane
WRITER:  Todd McFarlane
ARTIST:  Todd McFarlane
INKS:  Todd McFarlane
COLORS:  Steve Oliff
LETTERS:  Tom Orzechowski
EDITOR:  Todd McFarlane
COVER DATE:  May 1992
PUBLISHER:  Image Comics 



TAGLINE:  None

STORY TITLE:  "Questions"


Spawn #1 was one of the first major issues to be published by Image Comics, which had been co-founded by writer/artist Todd McFarlane.  Image was the first company where the creators OWNED total control of their work, and were paid for it.  Each of the founding members had their own production studios, and decided to release their books under a banner publishing name.  McFarlane's Spawn became an instant hit---based partly on McFarlane's popularity at the time, having been fresh off a run as the artist on Marvel's Amazing Spider-Man.  A dispute over royalties and other issues forced McFarlane and several other artist/creators such as Marc Silvestri, Erik Larsen, Whilce Portacio, Jim Lee, and Rob Liefeld to leave the company and form their own---Image Comics.  Over the years, the creators came and went from Image, and the company has restructured a lot, but it has been firmly entrentched as the #3 comics publisher in the country.  Spawn has led the way with his popularity, haveing gotten an HBO animated series, a feature film, a toyline, and massive appeal.  McFarlane has also finished a script for a new Spawn movie, and we shall see what happens.  But Spawn #1 sold 1.7 million copies upon release, and he has been ranked #60 on Wizard magazine's Top 100 Characters list.  He has remained the longest tenured character published by the company.


THE STORY:  There is a strange assailant attacking people in the city and ripping their hearts out.  An otherworldly being arrives, but his mind is reeling with jumbled thoughts.  Eventually, this being realizes that he made a deal with the Devil in order to return to Earth to come back to his wife and child...five years after his death.


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This issue starts us off in a very gloomy and dark way, and we see our hero returning to Earth after a 5 year hiatus from being dead.  McFarlane sets up Spawn as a hero desperate to reunite with his family, only to realize he can't.  We see that he made the Devil's deal, and that is going to have severe consequences down the road.  We also have a psycho killer romaing the streets stealing human hearts.  So, right away, we've got some pretty heavy stuff here.  This is McFarlane's art at its peak, and showing us he can create an intriguing story, and pull us in from the outset.  It's amazing how huge Spawn became in the wake of his first issue.  I remember how big it was when Image Comics created.  It was something that rocked the industry, and set a new standard of creator-owned character and stories with much better pay.  Spawn is a part of that legacy that lives on.  A reminder of the past, and a sign of the future, as Image has become an industry standard for writers and artists to bring their creations to a new audience.  Everyone should have this issue...as well as this series.  It is also the one book published continually from Todd McFarlane Productions.