THE ARROWVERSE STATE OF THE UNION - 2020/2021

THE ARROWVERSE STATE OF THE UNION - 2020/2021

I have been thinking about things that have been happening in the Arrowverse over this past season, and I feel that there are some things to talk about, address, and where I think the universe (via their individual shows), should go.  So...with cast changes, replacing main characters, and what's to come, let's see where we stand as our shows are on hiatus until 2021.

BATWOMAN:  Of all the shows that has A LOT of changeover coming for the next season, Batwoman is the show that is going to be the one with the BIGGEST change.  And how the direction of the show going forward is going to depend on how the show runners can not only tie up the loose ends and finish the storyline that's been left hanging because of the shutdown, and how they can incorporate the changes while keeping an audience.  This show was the one that came off low on the totem pole, because it took a long while for it to catch its footing, and even then, some people were put off by aspects of the show.  

The big change, as everyone knows, is that Ruby Rose is OUT as Kate Kane/Batwoman.  She departed the show due to not particularly liking the heavy work schedule, and she also apparently suffered an injury while performing a stunt on the show.  There were also rumors about the fact that Rose was a bit difficult to work with.  Whatever you believe, Rose is gone, and the CW had to scramble to figure out how to replace her, since the show had gotten the green-light for a Season 2.  Now, many had THOUGHT that they would just simple recast the role of Kate Kane, and pick up from there.  And with about 2-3 episodes that were still slated from Season 1 that had NOT been shot, or completely shot prior to the shutdown, you have a storyline that's left unfinished, and with Rose gone, how will they fulfill the rest of that storyline, and give viewers a satisfying ending to the story arc?  

Well, it turns out that the showrunners decided to go in a completely different direction, and go with a completely NEW character instead.  So, Kate Kane is gone, and Ryan Wilder is in.  Not much is known about this new character other than that she USED to run drugs on the streets of Gotham before having a change of heart, and is now homeless, and a lesbian, and will now inherit the mantle of the Bat in the upcoming season.  She is also NOT a character from the comic books.  She is an original CW idea, and will have no real connection to Kate Kane or anyone in the Bat mythos.  I can see how, as a viewer, it will be quite jarring, and can pose a HUGE problem for the show.  Many people weren't happy with the direction of the show to begin with, weren't happy with Rose's casting, and felt that Kane's sexuality became something of an issue, because it seemed to permeate the show, and it became LESS about Batwoman, and more about Kate and her trying to fit into the world.  Now, I had believed that they could easily avoid any complications in storytelling.  But, this is where the show is at, and I will be curious to see how they handle Kate's departure, and the impact it will have on those around her:  Jacob, Mary, Luke, Sophie, Julia, and even Alice.

It took awhile, but the showrunners FINALLY found their new Scarlet Knight:  Javicia Leslie, who'd been on such shows as God Friended Me.  She becomes the first African-American woman to take the lead role in a superhero show.  She's got a GREAT look, and I feel that she will benefit, because Ryan Wilder is a blank canvas of a character right now, and that will give her free reign to define this character on her own merit, and mold her into our hero.  She'll have room to play and experiment, and hopefully, they will be able to write her into the Bat mythos in a way that will appeal to the fans, and give her a chance to get the audience behind her, and make them believe in her as our Lady Crusader.  Flash star Grant Gustin has already welcomed her to the Arrowverse family, and I'm very curious to see what she can do...so I'm on her side, hoping she can give us a new Batwoman to cheer on.  Hoping that she will also have great chemistry with the cast.  So, pulling for Javicia here for her success.  Now, I had actually lobbied for WWE Superstar Sonya Deville...since she kind of checks pretty much all the boxes for what the showrunners were looking for, but I'd still be okay with her being a guest star on the show...perhaps as a new nemesis for our heroine or even a new love interest.  I just want one thing from the show runners:  while I DO want character development, her sexuality should NOT be the focal point of the show...her redeeming her dark past to become the protector of Gotham should be the driving storyline, and how she molds herself into this superhero.  I'm all for representation across the board, but you have to remember:  it's a superhero show FIRST---that's what fans want to see...the superhero kicking ass when called upon.  Also (okay...TWO things), get the stunt and fight crew from Arrow to do the fight scenes for this show.  Arrow was gritty, with really well executed fight scenes...Batwoman deserves the same thing.  If there is one show in the Arrowverse that has an uphill climb to avoid cancellation...it's this one.  So, finishing the last story arc strong, and hitting the ground running with our new heroine is of the utmost importance.  This show is also supposed to have a crossover this upcoming year with the new show Superman & Lois, but not sure if the casting change has altered that particular story.  We'll have to wait and see.

THE FLASH:  The new anchor show of the Arrowverse, our old pal Barry Allen is quickly losing his speed, the Speed Force is gone, and Iris is missing in the Mirror Universe.  As we left off with Team Flash, they were looking to stop the new Mirror Master (I'm not calling her Mirror Mistress..lame), and get their friends back.  They too had to leave on a cliffhanger due to the lockdown, and had about 2-3 episodes before their season finale as well.  There shouldn't be too much problem finishing that story arc, and moving into a new story immediately after.  The show runners were really smart in breaking up the season into two "graphic novel" type stories.  Throw in CRISIS to separate the two, and the show had another solid season.  There IS, however, ONE storyline that will prove to be a possible problem...that is, provided, they make the deicision as to whether or not to either write off or kill the Elongated Man - Ralph Dibny - and remove him from the show.

Hartley Sawyer, who had been playing the malleable sleuth since Season 4, was recently fired from the show for past tweets he had posted that were of a racial matter, and of sexual misconduct.  It is yet another blow to a CW show, as Ralph was universally liked by fans, and had just recently begun his own storyline with Sue Dearbon.  Now, at the end of the season, it was written into the story that Sue had been accused by Eva McCulloch of killing her husband (which we KNOW she didn't, but since he was blackmailing her family, it made her the easy target).  Ralph informed her, just as she thought she'd manage to solve the part of her life.  Now with a criminal charge over her head, the show runners left the story hanging there, and I feel there is a couple ways they COULD go with this story:

1.  Ralph ends up getting killed...along with Sue...thus kicking off a storyline that had been featured in the comics called Identity Crisis, in which Ralph did die, as well as Sue.  While this WOULD create some huge drama, since you'd have a heavy hitter villain involved, and could threaten all of Team Flash...I feel it's a cop-out idea.  Killing off Ralph and Sue right now would be a monumental waste of two characters who'd barely gotten their feet wet as a team.  There's great chemistry there, and there are a NUMBER of stories to tell with Ralph and Sue if you give it a chance.  

2.  Simply write the two off for the remainder of the story arc.  Sue is a wanted criminal, so it would make sense for Ralph, wanting to protect Sue until he can clear her name, to go on the run and stay in hiding until the case can be solved.  It keeps them off TV for awhile, and it gives you a chance to do what I feel  is the BEST option:

3.  Recast the role.  Look...there are SEVERAL ways to get around recasting Ralph Dibny.  And even using the "going on the run" story would fit.  Think about it...Ralph's face is malleable...have him reshape it into someone else's face as a disguise, and simply put another actor in the role.  It's an easier fix than having to replace the Lady Crusader. And something can happen to the extent that the face he has becomes his permanent one.  It's not that hard.  I like Ralph and Sue, and these are two characters you could LITERALLY spin off into their own show, with crazy hijinks and mystery involved.  If you're familiar with Nick and Norah Charles of the old Thin Man series of movies---that is who Ralph and Sue are.  It would be shame to waste a TON of story ideas with those two.

Outside of that, the show is running on all cylinders.  This past season was one of the best yet, and if they keep the formula of "mini arcs" instead of dragging a big bad throughout, it will allow for better storytelling, character development (as we got out of Iris this season, which I LOVED), and we can bring back some more of the Rogues Gallery.  Eric Wallace has done an excellent job as the show runner.  But, I WOULD like a crossover with the rest of the Arrowverse at SOME POINT in the future...and I WANT something to be done with the Hall of Justice and the Justice League (yes, we need to get moving on that...Warner Bros. and DC need to stop being pansies about that and let it happen!).

SUPERGIRL:  The Maid of Might is the one show that might take a bit longer to get back into production.  That is due to the fact that star Melissa Benoist is in her pregnancy, and is not slated to give birth utnil the end of the year.  With most of the CW shows coming back in January, this show will probably be delayed until Melissa is ready to come back to work.  Plus, not sure how much of the final episode or two they had filmed before production halted.  They have this current storyline with Lex Luthor to finish, then it's onto the next threat.  Now, I have been VERY stoked that Lex has been a major thorn in the side of the House of El...but I feel that, after this arc is completed, Lex needs to take a powder for awhile.  And when the time is right...he needs to go back to terrorizing Superman.  Supergirl needs new threats and enemies of her own, and to NOT heavily borrow from her cousin's list of enemies.  This show has a solid cast, and their stories are there to be told.  We got Alex in a new role as a superhero, so to have HER learning to accept and adapt to this new role will provide some good stories.  What becomes of Catco what with Andrea Rojas possibly being outed (we're not sure, have to see what the finality of this arc brings), will Kelly end up joining the Super Friends in the Tower, and will we see the blossoming relationship between J'onn and M'gann?  As for Brainy and Nia...need resolution to THAT story as well.  And how will Kara and Lena repair THEIR friendship?  It's also time that Kara got a new relationship, and I am not sure William Dey is the guy, but it's a start.  She's been stuck in neutral in the romance department, and it's time to get her back out there.

If there is one thing...ONE THING....that I ask of the showrunners for this season:  PLEASE BRING BACK CAT GRANT!   Even if it's just for a guest spot.  Calista Flockhart is SORELY missed on this show, and it would benefit from JUST a touch of Cat...especially to finally get Cat to tell Kara she's known she's Supergirl for awhile, and NOTHING she did fooled her.  But just for the comedy ALONE.  And, we can use a guest appearance by James Olsen for an episode, just to check in on him.  Of all the shows in the Arrowverse that was MOST effected by the outcome of CRISIS...it was this one.  Supergirl is the Paragon of Hope, and I want to see that more explored in this season.  Gotta lighten up just a little.  Oh...and another trip to Argo just so we can have another Erica Durance appearance as Alura...I'm all for it.

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW:  Our misit gang of time travellers finished off yet another rousing season, but with it came change.  With the departure of Brandon Routh and his wife Courtney Ford, we bid farewell to The Atom and Norah Darhk.  We also bid farewell to Charlie, as actress Maisie Richardson-Sellars departed the show a second time to puruse other projects.  It leaves only Sara and Mick as the originals of the crew when the series began.  Tala Ashe's original version of Zari made one final appearance on the show, before going back into the totem, wrapping up her storyline with Nate.  The "new" Zari, Behrad's sister in THIS timeline, is now involved with John Constantine, and we'll see how THAT relationship plays out.  As for Nate...with no other plotholes tying him down, he can be refocused into something more, giving him a wider canvas to work with, and more character development, other than being comic relief.  So, the team will be slightly different this coming season, with Ava, Nate, Zari, Behrad (the actor has been moved to series regular for next year), Mick, Gary, John, and the missing Sara, there is your team.  I am not sure if  Mona will be back full-time, but I am sure she'll have SOME involvement with the upcoming storyline, as the team will have to locate a missing Sara Lance, who was abducted in the season finale.  Not sure if it's aliens or even something else that has her, but the main focus will be in getting her back, and Ava having to lead this motley bunch to save her.  Not sure if  Mick's daughter Lita will be tagging along, and whether or not we get an appearance from Astra, who is now holding down the fort at John's house in London.  Either way, it opens it up for more mirth and mayhem, and I'm kinda hoping that MAYBE this is the season we can get Booster Gold on the show.  He'd be a great addition.  But regardless of the cast changes, the show always finds a way to keep us entertained, as it tends to throw all the rules out the window.  But this will be a chance this season to allow Jes McCallan to give some more development to Ava Sharpe, and mold her into a better leader.  And the more off-kilter they keep this show, the better it will continue to be. One of my OTHER hopes, is that we get Ryan Choi to join the team as the new Atom.  But this show is in good shape, and I feel it doesn't need any changes.  

BLACK LIGHTNING: This show I honestly have no new ideas on how to improve it.  Last season was a banger, and they can only go UP from there.  You still have the threat of Gravedigger, who survived his encounter with our heroes, and Lady Eve, Lala, and Tobias, the threats are not gone from Freeland, even if the ASA is.  We have an actual team for Black Lightning now, other than the Pierce Family themselves.  With Geo-Force, Erica, and even Grace (providing she comes out of her coma), they are more than ready to take on any threat that comes their way.  I don't expect the Markovian issue to be so easily resolved, and I want to see how all these newbies react to becoming a real team.  This would also be a GREAT way to introduce a new character to the Outsiders....and old friend:  Tatsu.  Katana would provide great training, and keep the kids on their toes...and would give an equal to Jefferson to bounce ideas, strategy, and support to and from.  The character development on this show is top notch, and everyone has had pretty equal time to explore their turf.  I look forward to continuing to see the growth of these characters, as they continue to get used to the new Earth around them...and that means some serious crossover with other members of the Arrowverse.  I feel that with Grace's condition, she can be taken to STAR Labs, which would allow Lynn and Anissa a chance to interact with Cisco and Caitlin, and put their heads together to help Grace.  It's time for the Pierce family to explore outside of Freeland and Markovia.  I want Black Lightning to feel like an equal member of the League, and someone who not only can ASK for help from his fellow Leaguers, but GIVE help in return.  Outside of that, I completely trust the show runners with this program.  Arguably, it's been the best show of the entire Arrowverse.  

SUPERMAN & LOIS:  This is the new show that's already been lit to series by the CW.  This will undoubtedly pick up where we left off in CRISIS:  With the Man of Steel and his stoic Daily Planet reporter wife having to navigate saving the world, getting the story...and raising two sons at the same time.  This will be a perfect opportunity to show a new dynamic not really explored for the Last Son of Krypton:  parenthood.  I can see A LOT of comedic moments, all the while giving us the time honored tropes that go along with Superman and Lois Lane.  It will also give us a chance, if they decide to, give us appearances from John Diggle and Lyla Michaels, since they're living in Metropolis now.  Maybe...JUST MAYBE...we can finally see Diggle embrace being Green Lantern.  But we're also not sure if he's going to be on the mentioned, but not in production as-of-yet, Green Lantern Corps show on HBO Max.  But I have no doubt this show will give us a lot of what Supergirl already does, but I think with a tad more lightheartedness.  I find it crazy that in this age...we have TWO superhero shows based off our Kryptonian friends.  I'm hoping for a lot of fun in this one.  Supposedly, we're SUPPOSED to get a crossover between THIS show and Batwoman, but not sure if that's still possible, what with the casting change going on over at that show.  But we'll keep an eye out.

We are still not getting any confirmation as to whether or not Green Arrow and The Canaries has been green-lit to series, so we're in a holding pattern there.  I am not sure how much THAT show will bump into anyone else in the Arrowverse, since it takes place 20 years in the future.  Lots of people liked the "backdoor" pilot that aired as the 9th episode of Season 8 of Arrow.  We'll find out more probably next year some time.  

That's where we are as of this time for the Arrowverse.  We've got a long wait until January of 2021 when these shows are supposedly going to start up again...but A LOT has to come into place---mostly---having production start UP again.  This COVID virus has been a pain, and with a lot of the states here in the US seeing spiking numbers, and travel bans still in place, it will be difficult for the shows that film in Vancouver to get back there to shoot.  Black Lightning and Stargirl are shot in Georgia, but even THEN, codes have to be followed.

It's tough time right now, kids...let's just hope that this country can get on top of this thing, so that EVERYONE can go back to work...and WE as a nation, can get moving again.

That's all for now---be sure to continue subscribing to the blog, tell your buddies, and leave a comment.  What do YOU expect or wanna see from your favorite shows this next season?  Lemme know!

Until then......

STARGIRL - SEASON 1.8

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.8:  "Shiv Part 2"

Well, Courtney Whitmore learned a hard lesson last week:  The Cosmic Staff alone cannot save Stargirl from an ass-whipping.  And Stargirl took one, courtesy of her high school arch rival, Cindy Burman, who we also know is Shiv, daughter of the Dragon King.  Shiv has been created and trained as a killer, and was about to polish off Stargirl last week, had it not been for the timely intrusion of the Janitor of the school...whom we now know is the Shining Knight.  Shiv wants a seat at the Injustice Society Table, and is bored with playing the snobby high school girl.  However, after this battle, she now knows Stargirl's ID...and that will win her some brownie points with the Icicle and the team, who're looking to discover the identities of this new Justice Society that's popped up.  Now, we continue on and see what Cindy does with her newfound knowledge...

**************************************************************

We jumped into Part 2 of Cindy's story, with her armed with the knowledge that Stargirl is Courtney Whitmore. She is also looking to impress her father, Dragon King, enough to get invited to have a seat at the Inustice Society table.  This episode dealt with the fallout of her first encounter with Stargirl, and what the dominoes that fell because of it.  

We got Pat doing what he could this episode, covering up for Courtney's injuries at the hands of Cindy, by crashing his car into a light post, and getting her from the hospital.  She apologizes for jumping into the fray without thinking, and while he's not happy, he's also determined to find out what else is going on with the ISA, as well as finding out WHO Cindy's parents are.  But one thing he IS not happy about, and let's Courtney know:  keeping Barbara OUT of the loop.  He had to inform Barbara of what happened while she was in Oakdale finishing a deal with Jordan.  They were at dinner discussing the deal, and he excused himself for a meeting, while she got the call from Pat about the accident.  

Pat and Courtney were about to leave the hospital when they saw Hank in the room with his dad, who is still comatose.  Courtney says 'hi' to him, but he's in no mood to talk, and shuts the door in her face.  At home, Courtney is resting, and Mike brings her up cookies.  He apologizes for his behavior about being overprotective of his relationship with his dad, but she says it's behind her.  This is the first time that Mike and Courtney bond as brother and sister, and that will be huge down the road.  Barbara gets home, Pat lies about teaching Courtney to drive, and explains the accident.  Barbara's not happy, and really doesn't wanna talk when Pat is about to explain the truth to her.  She sees Courtney asleep, and goes off to bed herself.

Cindy has a chat with her father about her fight with Stargirl, and he's upset that she went after him, and took the suit without her permission.  She again reiterates her desire to join the ISA, but he refuses.  He's upset that he had to halt HIS work to clean up HER mess, but she says she knows who Stargirl is.  He orders her home, and not to do ANYTHING in the meantime.  Cindy storms off, hating on her father for disregarding her yet again.

The rest of the new JSA meet up at Pat's garage, and Rick is visibly upset about what happened to Courtney the night before.  He knows it was Cindy, so, he figures that finding her, and punching her out would resolve the issue, but Beth does what she can to reason with him.  She tells him he needs to mellow out, and that she has a plan to get info on Cindy AND the ISA.  So, Rick and Yolanda go along with it.

Pat later on the night before, had a sit down with the Cosmic Staff.  He remembers about how Sylvester Pemberton had already been the Star-Spangled Kid by the time the Staff found him...he'd already been an established hero.  But Courtney is new at this, and she doesn't have the experience. He asked it to protect Courtney, and to take her FROM dager should it get to be too much for her.  He also can't believe he's talking to a Staff...but after he leaves...it glows---showing it listened.

We check in on Jordan, who has cornered a man named Mr. Riley, who had worked for a company called Bannerman Chemical.  Apparently, THEY were the one's responsible for the death of his wife.  Riley denies any involvement in it, but that doesn't save him.  Jordan says he is looking to rid the world of chemical plants like his, and ends up killing Riley for his troubles.

Bet's brilliant plan has the crew show up at Cindy's house, and Beth is going to get some intel.  Pat shows up, and both Yolanda and Rick inform him of the plan, and Pat goes to run interference before Beth gets herself in deep water, only to have Cindy's stepmom Bobbi answer the door.  Pat and Beth have to act quickly, by acting like adopted father and daughter.  While Pat has to run interference for Beth, she finds a way to sneak away to the hallway, where she uses Dr. McNider's goggles to scan for anything, and sees a pinpad there, manages to find the code, and finds the secret passage into the ISA lair.  Meanwhile, Pat is having to schmooze Bobbi to provide distraction.

While all this is happening, we have Hank back at home, suffering some nasty migraine, looking in his father's office for some pills.  He finds them, but with his powers emerging, they're out of control, and causing him pain.  But...he finds a key.  Curious, he begins to get a bit of a handle of his power, and uses them to find out what the key fits into.  He ends up finding out it goes into a keyhole in the bookcase.  Once opened, he finds his father's Brainwave costume, and several videotapes.  He also finds a file on Cindy, with a note from her father, telling Brainwave about his daughter's abilities, and that she's ready for him and the ISA.  Hank is in shock, and he takes off.

Also happening at this time, is that Barbara tells Courtney she's got a visitor - Cindy!  Cindy shows up with balloons and chocolates, and they end up having a little chat.  Cindy talks about how lonely she feels since Hank spurned her for Homecoming, and that her one friend spurned her.  Then she was really upset that Courtney decided to spurn her because Cameron asked Courtney to Homecoming, so she "overreacted".  Cindy goes on to say that she and Courtney are a lot a like, and under different circumstances, they'd be the same.  But, as she leaves, she makes a threat to Courtney about killing her friends and Pat.  Courtney frantically texts Yolanda to let her know that Cindy knows who she is, and that everyone is in danger.

Beth is in the tunnels, and she can't communicate with the rest of the team, because either she's underground, or whatever the ISA has down there, blocks the goggles from doing what they're designed for.  She then hears the growling of Solomon Grundy, and she promptly beats a hasty retreat.  She then makes it up to Cindy's room, and notices an old picture of a man that is described as Dr. Ito...a war criminal from World War II.  Just then, Cindy arrives home, and Yolanda tries to get Beth out of the house, as well as Pat.  Pat had been working on Bobbi's plumbing in the kitchen, and Bobbi appears to hit on him, but he keeps the distraction up.  Yolanda gets suited up, and manages to get Beth out of Cindy's room before she's caught.  Yolanda gets Beth to drop down into Rick's arms, and the trio retreat, and Pat does the same once he sees the kids get to safety.  They all meet back up, and Pat ushers them out of the way before they are seen.  Cindy enters the house, and goes up to her room...and she knows someone's been there.

Courtney, despite her injuries, goes down to the basement and grabs the Staff, but the Staff is reluctant to go with her, wanting to honor Pat's wishes.  She then coaxes it into action when she says that the team is in danger.  Back at Cindy's, as she tries to assess who had been in her room, Stargirl bursts through the window, and Round 2 between the new rivals begins.  They fight all over the room, and eventually fly out the window into the street.  They continue to go back and forth in battle, but Stargirl is still suffering some injuries, so Shiv is getting a bit of the upper hand.  Then, during the course of their fight, Hank shows up out of nowhere to witness the battle.

Hank sees Cindy, and asks what's going on, and she says that he's supposed to help her kill Stargirl.  Hank is confused,and his powers are still haywire.  Shiv attacks again, and this time, gets Stargirl down, and ready to finish her off.  Hank can her the two's thoughts, with Cindy wanting his help to kill her, and Stargirl looking to try and survive.  He ends up stressing out because of the overload, and he sends a mental blast out, separating the two girls from each other.  As Cindy tries to recover, her father's henchmen come up from a manhole, and take her down into the tunnels, much to her dismay.  Stargirl recovers, and goes to find Shiv, only to find her gone.  Hank goes up to Stargirl to find out what she did with Cindy, and he can hear her thoughts, and he finds out she's Courtney, and he hears her thoughts about the JSA.  He's more confused than ever, and before Stargirl can reach out to him, he takes off running.  From down in the tunnels, we see Dragon King watching all that had transpired on his monitors, seeing that his daughter was wrong about Hank---that he DOES have powers...which will serve the ISA perfectly if they can't have Brainwave himself return.

Alrighty!  The show is REALLY picking up some steam now!  More than halway in, and we're seeing the tension heightened, more revelations, and the eventual collision course between this new JSA and the ISA is on the horizon much quicker.  We now have the two main enemies for the show set between Stargirl and Shiv, and now Hank's powers have emerged.  

Brec Bassinger and Meg DeLacy chew up scenery so beautifully.  Whether it's just a conversation between the two, or the actual battles their two characters have, it's magic in the making.  They feed off each other as actresses, and know how to bring the tension and rivalry between these two to life.  You feel the hatred, and the battle scenes thus far have been freaking superb!  I love the effects and battle coreography on this show, and I'm enjoying everything thus far.  I will never get enough of these two on-screen together.  DeLacy especially has done a great job as a villain---both as the snotty Mean Girl Cindy, and as the deadly Shiv.  I'm loving her work.

We got to see Beth step up on their mission, and take charge this episode.  She is really coming out of her shell since she became the new Dr. Mid-Nite.  And for her to stand her ground against Rick...who is just "smash first, think later", and stuck in that revenge mode, she deserves some MAJOR props.   Yolanda didn't have much to do this episode except keep in contact with Beth, but ended up pulling the rescue this episode, was another voice of reason, though she herself wants to get after it from time to time.

Pat had to pull A LOT of duty this episode....having to cover for Courtney's injuries by smashing the car (which sucked...I like that car!), to having to run interference for Beth as she did recon at Cindy's house.  What we DID notice is that Bobbi is more than likely a creation of Dragon King, and she apparently has the hots for Pat.  On the other hand, Pat had to pull the kids out of the fire, as well as come up with the exuse to Barbara about Courtney.  Barbara wasn't happy with him, but he managed to cover.  But you can tell that lying to her is becoming a HUGE problem for him.  He feels that he and Courtney need to fess up, even though Courtney says it's a bad idea, at least as long as the ISA is still around.

I'm happy that Mike and Courtney managed to patch things up, and it looks like their brother/sister dynamic is going to head into a positive direction.  

Hank's powers came out this week, and it will be interesting to see where he stands before the end of the season.  He might join the ISA, because of wanting revenge against Stargirl for putting his dad in a coma (though we haven't reached THAT little nugget of truth as yet, but trust me, we'll get there). Or, will he not join his father's team due to the evil misdeeds .  Either way, Hank is confused right now, and he is just learning about his powers, but he can't control him.  If there's ANYONE that's a wild card in this story---it's Hank King.  

All in all, this show just keeps getting better, and I'm totally hooked!  I'm eager to see how the rest of the season plays out, and we're not far away from that!  The writing, effects, and cast has been spectacular, and this show is thoroughly enjoyable!  It has the perfect balance of drama, action, effects, and character development.  And the nostalgia feels for ME personally as a comic book fan are right there on display.  The actors are REALLY enjoying themselves, and it shows in their work, and that makes for a great show.

**************************************************************

That does it for this week, but make sure you subscribe, leave a comment, and pass this blog along to everyone in sight!  

Until next time....keep your eyes on the stars!

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

COMIC BOOK OF THE WEEK

Welcome yet again to another installment of our cover series, and we're continuing the 80th Anniversary of The Flash with yet another iconic issue of The Fastest Man Alive.  And THIS week, we finally get the past and the (at the time) present to meet!  It's the time that Barry Allen met Jay Garrick!  It all went down in the pages of The Flash#123, and it was a banner issue, for it gave us not only a great story featuring the two men who'd share the same superhero name, but it also set up the concept of more than one Earth that operated in the DC Universe.  So, as we continue our marathon run through the life of the Monarch of Motion, let's peek into this issue, and see what's what...

THE FLASH #123

COVER: Carmine Infantino & Murphy Anderson

WRITER: Gardner Fox

ARTIST: Carmine Infantino

INKS: Joe Giella

COLORS: Carl Gafford

LETTERS: Gasper Saladino

EDITOR: Julius Schwartz

COVER DATE: September 1961

PUBLISHER: DC Comics

TAGLINE:  Featuring "Flash of Two Worlds" -- A spectacular story that's sure to become a classic!

STORY TITLE:  "Flash of Two Worlds" 

The Flash #123 stands as one of the most iconic issues of the Silver Age for DC Comics.  It was the first appearance in awhile of the Golden Age Flash - Jay Garrick.  Executive Editor Julius Schwartz had yet another grand idea, and it turned out to be a goldmine:  re-introduce the classic DC heroes into the modern age.  The team-up between the two Flashes resulted in the dawn of the DC Multiverse, and the birth of what we'd know as "Earth-Two" where the Jay Garrick Flash and his JSA counterparts to Barry and his JLA friends resided on Earth-One.  It proved to be such a phenomenal success, that the classic Golden Age heroes (including the Golden Age versions of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman), would live on in new titles and adventures, and would carry on until 1985' Crisis on Infinite Earths, where DC decided to streamline the continuity, and thus combining the Multiverse into one, singular universe.  Something that would last for a long while, until the story of Infinite Crisis. This issue's story is also a book-length issue, one of the rarities at the time, since many of Flash's early stories had two stories per issue.

THE STORY:  Barry Allen, as the Flash, is entertaining some children that are orphans.  He was performing magic tricks, and scaled up a rope, when he disappeared, only to find himself in a strange city he wasn't familiar with.  It turns out he has arrived in Keystone City, the hometown of his comic book hero, Jay Garrick - also known as the Flash.  He goes to see Jay, and reveals what happened to him:  that he must have breached between two worlds.  Jay had decided to come out of retirement when he finds out his three arch villains:  The Fiddler, the Thinker, and Shade, are pulling off robberies in Keystone.  Both Flashes then suit up to take on the villains and stop their nefarious plan.

*************************************************************

This was the first issue that Gardner Fox ever wrote featuring Barry Allen.  It seemed appropriate that he would pen the story featuring the character HE created with Harry Lampert back in 1940 - Jay Garrick.  Carmine Infantino was also the artist on the final issue of Flash Comics back in 1949...which THIS series picked up THAT series' numbering. The success of this issue also allowed for both Green Lanterns, Atoms, and various other Golden Age and Silver Age characters to crossover.  Barry had named himself after the adventures of the Flash from a comic book he read by---you guess it---Gardner Fox, whom makes an appearance as himself in this issue, as a way of honoring the man who got the ball rolling 21 years earlier.  This issue also premiered on newsstands two months before Marvel Comics officially began with Fantastic Four #1.

One other note:  This cover has been duplicated various times by different DC Comics, including another Flash series, as well as used as an homage by other comics companies.

NEXT WEEK:  We move into a more "modern age"...with perhaps the FASTEST Flash of them all....

STARGIRL - SEASON 1.7

REVIEW:  STARGIRL - SEASON 1.7:  "Shiv Part 1"

Things are getting tense in Blue Valley.  The Icicle and the Injustice Society have scored a couple of victories as of late, as they have obtained a satellite and its codes in order for the Icicle to complete his long plan of taking over America.  We got to see the villainous duo of Sportsmaster and Tigress do battle without very raw and untrained Justice Society.  Now, the kids are going to have to learn how to be heroes on a quicker curve, because the ISA is in full motion with their master plan.  Can Stargirl and her ragtag crew get the training needed to battle these deadly foes quickly?  Pat will have to whip them into shape.  

Will we see further bonding between Barbara and Mike?  And will the Icicle manage to uncover the secret ID's of our heroes?  Let's step back into our crazy Midwestern town to find out what's going on THIS week...

**************************************************************

This week, we got the long-awaited introduction to high school Queen Bee Cindy Burman's activities, as she becomes the nasty Shiv.  We dip into her background, and discover that she honestly is a bit more sadistic than the spoiled, entitled brat she portrays at the school.  We also get our second big battle of the last two weeks as Stargirl faces off against Shiv and a face-off for our arch foes.  It was amazing stuff, and we're seeing the story pick up the pace a bit, as we are headed for the big clash between the ISA and the newly formed JSA.  However...we see that Courtney, above all else, still has MUCH to learn about the hero business.  But we FINALLY get an answer to a question that had plaguing us since episode one:  What's the deal with the Janitor?  We got our answer, and we were on the money (well, those of us, who managed to figure it out).  

We see in this installment that Cindy truly is the Queen Bee of the school, but can honesty care less about anything happening there.  She has the one friend who hangs with her, but she's rude to her, and anyone else in her path.  She manages to run into the janitor, who apologizes to her, and says some weird stuff, as he picks up her books and stuff, but she blows him off as well.  The team, which had just been preparing for school meet up in the hallway, and witness the incident between Cindy and the janitor.  They wonder why it is she's so cruel.  All of them, however, ARE excited, because they are looking forward to suiting up and fighting bad guys.  They know they got training after school, so they're trying to hide their excitement.  Beth almost blows their covers, but they quickly shut her up.

We do get more of the janitor, as he enters his office to put his supplies away, and he checks the calendar, looks at himself, and leaves.  And as we pan away from him, we see a broad-sword along his supplies.  Along with the white horse symbol on his hat...it appears we have found the former hero known as The Shining Knight.

Homecoming is the underlying theme of the episode, as Cindy goes to see Hank, who's still standing steadfast by his father's side at the hospital.  Cindy tries to encourage him to go with her to the Homecoming Dance, but he can care less.  He's also been popping pills to deal with the head pain he's been experiencing.  She's not thrilled, so she takes off for home, where she accosts her new stepmother, who's obviously intimidated by her.  Cindy wants to see her father, but he doesn't like visitors.  She heads down into the tunnels to where his lab is at the ISA Headquarters.  She is bored, and hates being at the school.  She wants to be a part of the ISA, and her father, Dragon King, tells her that she's not ready, and that he is her great creation, but not to bother him with her petty complaints.  She kills a couple of his cronies, and storms off in a huff.

Courtney and Pat have gotten closer to each other because of the whole issue with Stargirl/S.T.R.I.P.E./JSA issue, and it's not gone unnoticed by Mike and Barbara.  They try to play it off as Pat trying to each Courtney to drive, which raises Barbara's dander a bit because he didn't run it by her.  However, he is taking the kids to the Homecoming game, so we get the set up for what's to come later on.  

The team arrives at Pat's garage, where he is going to begin their training.  He has set up dummies all over their secred room, and starts giving the lowdown on the various members of the ISA, which just bores Courtney to death, as she is ready to go into action.  Pat is trying to be patient, and teach the kids, but Courtney takes the staff, and takes all the dummies out.  The rest of the kids aren't thrilled, and neither is Pat, who tells her that it's about being part of a team. The rest of the team remind her of that as well, and they walk off.  

We got some Barbara scenes with Jordan at America First, as he offers her a special assignment - acquiring a property out of town to help expand their rebuilding plan.  She's open to the idea, though she said she had to run it by Pat first.  He then heads home, where he bumps into his son Cameron, who is nervous about asking a girl out to Homecoming---that girl being Courtney.  Jordan retells his story about how he met Cam's mother, and says that he's just got to be himself, and just ask her.  Cam asks his father if he is happy, and Jordan says he is. 

Cindy and Courtney get stuck together as part of a chemistry assignment.  Courtney is amazed at how well Cindy knows what she's doing, and she tells Courtney that her father is a Chemist.  Courtney tells her story about her dead father, and they seem to bond.  Cindy suggests hanging out the upcoming weekend, and Courtney agrees.  Courtney feels good about having seem to have gotten through to Cindy.  Meanwhile, Hank is having issues in class, as his powers now seem to have completely activated.  He can hear all his classmates during an exam, and uses the process of reading their thoughts to pass the exam.  

Cindy is back home, looking for father/daughter time again, and she stumbles upon the ISA talking about Stargirl and the new JSA.  They have yet to discover their identities, and Tigress suggests bringing their kids in on it, but Jordan refuses.  Cindy is then nabbed, and she and her father talk again, and she demands to be on the ISA.  She feels she can use her abilities to find out who the new JSA is, and looks at the suit on the wall.  Once again, her father has ordered her that she is to NOT wear the suit.  

Homecoming arrives, and Pat, Courtney, and Mike are at the game.  As Pat goes to the snack bar, Mike lays into Courtney about the time her and Pat spend together.  He says she doesn't see him spending a ton of time with Barbara, and says that he and Pat have been through a lot, and they don't need her.  He storms off, and Cam approaches Courtney, and asks her to Homecoming, which she agrees...had it not been for her commitment to Cindy.  Now, during this time, Courtney has been keeping tabs on Principal Bowin, who's been on a phone call all during the game.  Artemis has been on the field doing her thing for the team.  Pat has ordered Courtney to leave Bowin be.  Now, as for her and Cam, it looks like the dance for him and Courtney is a go, and she goes to break the news gently to Cindy, who isn't thrilled about it.  Courtney then spots Bowin heading out of the stadium, and back towards the school.

Courtney springs into action as Stargirl, and follows Bowin to her office, as she witnesses Bowin tap on her wall, and a secret panel opens, and Bowin goes in.  Stargirl, with the Staff helping her, finds the secret room, and heads down into it.  

Cindy heads back to the underground lair once again, and is extremely frustrated, and hears the alarm go off.  Checking the monitors, she sees an intruder - Stargirl.  She then takes it upon herself to suit up, and head after Stargirl, and meet her in battle.  Back at the game, Mike says it's worthless to bring Courtney to these games if she isn't gonna be there.  Pat wonders just where Courtney is, and he goes to look for her, sensing trouble.  

Stargirl and Shiv finally meet face to face, and the battle is on.  They battle in the gym, after Stargirl realizes that the passage she was in leads back into the hallway of the high school.  Stargirl handles herself alright during the battle, but Shiv has more training, and a killer instinct.  They battle all over the gym, and Shiv eventually slices the Staff in half, and stabs Stargirl.  She eventually goes down for the count, and Shiv goes for the kill, but at the critical moment, the Shining Knight swats her away with his sword, and saves her.  She'll live, but she's wounded.  The Staff repairs itself, and seeks out Pat, and finds him, then leads him to Courtney in the gym.  Shiv, not wanting to be caught, makes her getaway, as  Pat gets to Courtney, and the Shining Knight recognizes him as Stripsey.  So, he is aware of a JSA presence in Blue Valley.

So...at the end of this episode, we have established that Cindy has now embraced her role as Shiv, and will undoubtedly be a major thorn in Stargirl's side as her major enemy.  I'll admit, with the Staff, Stargirl holds her own in battle, but she is still headstrong and reckless...wanting to do too much, and not using her head.  Cindy has been created as a killing machine by her father, given powers, but not yet having a reason to use them, until now.  And with Pat STUPIDLY yelling out Courtney's name as Shiv makes her retreat, he blows her ID, and now sets a HUGE target on Courtney AND himself...with Barbara and Mike in tow.  Not a smart move on Pat's part.  The fallout of this we'll get next episode, as it is part 2 of Cindy's story.  

We now know that the jantior is the former hero known as the Shining Knight, and he has been entrenched in Blue Valley for quite some time, keeping tabs on the ISA, no doubt.  I am just curious if he will interact with this new JSA at all, or keep to the shadows, so-to-speak.  

We got to see a bit more of Mike's personality come out, and it's obvious he's VERY jealous of how close Pat and Courtney have gotten (if he only knew why), and he takes it out on her this episode.  We also notice that Barbara feels kind of left out of their bonding.  But she is also excited for her new assignment...not knowing that she plays into Jordan's hands.  As for Jordan, we have gotten to see the human ascpects of him this whole series.  He was a loving husband, and he's a good father...but he's the leader of an evil organization.  It's nice that we get a villain that you have to debate whether or not to have sympathy for him...that's flat out good writing.  And Cameron....not sure if he's well aware of the extend of his father's extracurricular activities, but we know he's sweet on Courtney.  I wonder how THAT relationship goes once he eventually finds out (and he will, trust me), that she's Stargirl.  

You kind of see why Cindy is the way she is - created as a killer, but told to play the part at the school.  She's spoiled, selfish, but bored and lonely.  And it looked like her and Courtney would actually bond, but we know they are born to be bitter enemies.  They seemed destined for a rematch real soon, and we'll see just how bitter a rivalry this becomes.  It seems that the Dragon King can't be bothered with her petty grievances, when he's got more scientific work to do, as well as enacting Icicle's plan...for which they need Brainwave for.  But if he isn't able to come out of his coma, then it's up to Hank...but Cindy remarks that he doesn't have any powers.  Little does SHE know.

The team got no real time in this episode, as it focused mainly on Shiv, but also Courtney, and her gung-ho attitude to stop the JSA.  She followed Bowin, because she needed to continue playing her music to try and wake up Brainwave.  And she ended up discovering the ISA underground network of tunnels.  Apparently, all certain places in town lead to their headquarters.  And the team felt that Courtney's attitude was not helping.  After her battle with Shiv...Courtney's going to be re-thinking her stance, and realize that she can't win without the team.  

Overall, another solid episode with some good fight scenes, and some new twists involved.  The story is coming along nicely, and I'm invested in all the characters involved.  

*************************************************************

That does it for this week.  Please subscribe, pass along the good word, and lemme know what YOU thought of this episode, and where the series is going so far.

Until next time...keep looking towards the stars.