SUPERGIRL - Season 4.6

REVIEW:  SUPERGIRL - SEASON 4, EP. 6: "Call To Action"

Not even a celebrated holiday like Thanksgiving can be free of the woes of the world.  Especially in National City, where the tensions between humans who're urged on by the hate speech of Agent Liberty, and the aliens who are trying to live a peaceful existence on Earth, are rising and reaching a boiling point.  In a time and place that honors a holiday devoted to giving Thanks for what we have, and for bringing different peoples together---regardless of culture---there are those who feel paranoid and threatened by the presence of strangers who will act upon their anger and fear with violence.  Thus is the backdrop of the Maid of Might's current dilemma.

With a simple alien couple taking a peaceful stroll, discussing the upcoming holiday, and acknowledging each other, one particular couple gets assaulted from a man in a golden mask---much like our villain, Agent Liberty.  He is stopped by Supergirl, however, and even Manchester Black lends a hand to save the couple from a beating.  Both give a nod to each other, and Supergirl then questions where the man they caught got his mask.  Just as they're about to get info, leaflets fall from the sky.  With Agent Liberty's mask on it, and the usual hate speech.  When asked who Agent Liberty is by Kara, the man replies "We all are."

Lena is in her lab, when Miss Tessmacher arrives.  Apparently, Lena's been trying to work on a cure for cancer, but has thus far struck out.  The heart she has isn't responding to whatever treatment or experiments she's conducted on it.  Miss Tessmacher tries to reassure her that they'll find a way, and have another sample to work with.  Lena burns the one she has, and prepares to start over.  This is something new---and apparently something Lena's been keeping under wraps for some time---and the idea she has for it later on is a bit shocking....maybe.  She IS a Luthor, you know...

We see Lena yet again, as she meets up with James, and they discuss the Liberty issue.  She says he's booked on a show---a "Crossfire" kind of show, where he'll be slated to present one stance, and whatever his opponent will have on the alien issue.  James says he's meeting up with the Children of Liberty to get an interview, tell a more comprehensive story.  Lena isn't thrilled about it, but James says it doesn't matter what she thinks.  She pulls her "Boss" card, and says that he's supposed to be on tv, so figure it out.  Tensions have begun to rise between the two---trouble in paradise, perhaps?

At the DEO, Kara and Alex are ripped by Col. Haley about going out and taking on anyone involved with the Children of Liberty.  As much as they protest, she puts her foot down, and says that it's NOT the DEO's concern.  Both are upset that the Col. has shut them down on this issue.  Frankly, considering the kind of powers she has, and the fact her cousin doesn't really operate under US military or governmental rule, I keep wondering WHY Kara keeps doing it....feeling like a lapdog to a government oversight committee (because, let's face it, that's who Haley is), that likes to flex its muscle in order to show everyone just WHO is exactly in charge.  They talk to Brainy who, after some misunderstanding (man does NOT know literal from figurative), to keep their investigation on the down low.

Lockwood heads home, yammering on the phone to someone (not sure, but COULD be him putting more plans in place to escalate the conflict).  He's met by his family, when we see him on TV, giving his rap about how humans need to stand up for themselves and whatnot.  His family feels he's famous now.  

James and Lena's issue only escalates when he informs her that it's a blind meet with the Children of Liberty, hoping to get a one-on-one with the head guy, and Lena isn't thrilled that he's going into this unprepared.  They squabble more about it.

J'Onn goes to see Manchester Black, and invites him to Thanksgiving dinner at Kara's.  Black's not really in the celebratory kind of mood, but J'Onn gives him Kara's address anyway.  J'Onn leaves, and Black heads to the bathroom, where we see the man he captured from the other night.  And with a pair of pliers, he plans on getting answers...no matter what.  

James---facing his dilemma of the talk show vs. meeting with the Children of Liberty, lucks out when Kara offers to take his place.  She feels Nia can help her, but, as seems to be the case, lately, Nia is asleep at her desk.  When asked why she's asleep so much, she says she's got narcolepsy, and they offer her help in finding medical treatment, but she refuses.  Ooooh, if they only knew the Dreamer's true power....

Back at the DEO, Alex and Brainy aren't getting very far on the clues from the Flyer that Agent Liberty sent out.  Trying to keep it on the down low, once Haley arrives to check up on them, Brainy uses the hokey excuse of looking up her pie recipie to find out why it's so good.  She leaves, they get back to work.

While James meets up with one of the Liberty agents, a man named Tom, he's asking about why Tom joined, and Tom responds to how he's just protecting his family, and when Tom uses "roaches" to describe the aliens, James takes offense to that.  Seems to me, Tom doesn't have much in the education department in regards to slurs being used against minorities.  

 we see Lena and Tess again, working on heart #2 in this creepy little experiment of theirs, and it seems they're still no further in succeeding in their tests.  When Lena decides to burn it, it appears that the heart absorbs the heat and fire, making it superhuman?  Alien?  Either way, it's got Lena and Tess mystified.

Kara goes head to head with Lockwood on this talk show, and she gives a very impassioned speech about equality...especially in the backdrop of the holiday.  Lockwood sees this as an opening to discredit aliens, and he made sure he used James as Guardian to help further is side in the debate.  Kara is left speechless.

Getting back to Manchester Black, we see that he's not done torturing the lad from Liberty about where he can find the head boss.  Wonders what's so great about the mask...noting the infrared lenses.  Once the poor boy spills the beans, Black decides he's had enough use for him.  You can guess what happens next.

Thanksgiving at Kara's is less than exciting, though they try to honor the holiday with a nice feast.  Brainy is surprised to see Nia there, and there's some flirtation going on with her and him.  Kara and Alex's Mom is there, and she inquires about Nia's nacrolepsy.  Nia does what she can to deflect, and the subject changes.  Manchester decides to join the festivities.  The topic of the day doesn't seem to be put to rest just for the holiday, as Kara worries about how such an agenda can be battled, and how can alien people be protected.  It's then that Lena suggests that what if humans had powers?  It would ease the tension.  James talks about WHO would get these powers.  Everyone except criminals, Lena suggested.  James and the rest inform her that this would be an extremely bad idea.  Brainy just happened to talk about the clues he uncovered regarding the flyer, and they also find out that the masks' infrared lenses can help see the markings the group has made on the homes of the aliens---and put it all together to find out that the Children of Liberty plan to march into these homes at sunset to start killing aliens.   All formulate a plan to go after these people before they go and do something extremely stupid---like committing violence against another living being, and putting their own lives in danger, and mostly...committing murder for a cause that's doing what it was designed to do---create paranoia, dissention among the public, and chaos.  Brainy, Alex, and Kara go to see what they can do to find the homes and get rid of the markings before the riot group can show up.  James also sees what he can do by talking to Tom before it's too late.  Lena doesn't agree with this, but James insists it's what has to be done.  It's at that point that Lena confesses to working the DA to get Jame's case dropped by giving them information about Mannheim.  James doesn't like the direction Lena is going, and it seems their breakup is imminent.

Kara is flying around the city, trying to erase as many markers as she can, but even she knows she won't get everybody.  Brainy is doing his part on the ground, as well as Alex, but Brainy is met with members of the group, hell bent on destroying a business, and he manages to defeat them. Another section of the group manages to invade a home, beat on a man, while his daughter watches in fear.  She then uses HER powers to summer her pet dragon, and make it LARGER, thus becoming a full fire-breathing dragon.  It goes around looking to destroy anyone in its path, and, with the help of Supergirl, manages to subdue the creature, just in time for it to return to normal size.  James finds Tom, and urges him to stop before this gets out of hand.  Tom is hell bent on doing whatever it takes to "protect his family".  James is forced to take him down, and let him know there's another way.  Manchester Black, however...feels there's only ONE way to take care of the problem...with a loaded gun.

After the day is saved, we see Haley once again chastising Kara and Alex, and says she won't be afraid to drop the hammer on them if they disobey again.  But because of the night's incident, the relents and realizes that the Children of Liberty are a threat worth looking into.  In a private moment, she comes down hard on Alex, but Alex answers right back that she goes with her gut, and that if that isn't enough for Haley, she can take the job and shove it.  She then salutes Haley and walks off.

Lockwood gets another call from the tv network to inform him that he's got his own show.  Now he has an even LARGER platform in order to spread the hate propaganda.  We also see Manchester Black, going back to our tied up boy, Petrocilli, and torture him some more about finding Agent Liberty.

Tom and James meet again, and James wants to met the head guy.  Tom has a few of his friends show up, put a bag over James' head, and off they go.  I believe that Lockwood's plans for James are underway.

Lena and Tessmacher are once again back at the lab working on this Hauron-El heart, and seeing that it's resistant to fire, she feels it's time for human subjects.  Ooooooh boy---the Luthor influence hard at work...
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This episode was good in the fact that we see just what propaganda can do when it's used to manipulate those into believing the worst in others, and thus making a public paranoid enough to want to take violent action against another.  Agent Liberty's plans are running like a well oiled machine...despite Supergirl coming in and derailing his plans.  Now, he'll have James in his grasp, and the possible brainwashing can begin.  Kara's debate with Lockwood went well...to a point.  But she's not a master of public speaking and manipulation like Lockwood is.  And with him having his own show....it's only going to escalate into a full blown war.

Credit Lockwood for taking advantage of whatever Mercy Graves got her hands on technologically.  To create masks with infrared lenses that spot the markings made on the houses was genius.  Using dogs to sniff them out is even more subtle.  Average citizens caught up in the hype using their animals to track aliens and set up their homes for attack.  Lockwood is organized, I will give him that.

Haley I feel is till a two bit politician type soldier who, while she may care for America, isn't afraid to wear her prejudice on her sleeve, and seems to get off on lording her authority over Alex AND Kara.  What upsets me most is how passive Kara just relents to it.  I know she's just trying to show she's actually one of the GOOD GUYS, she shouldn't be adherent to the DEO...even IF Alex is in command.  Clark, while working WITH local law enforcement and governments, doesn't ALLOW himself to be RULED or ORDERED around by them.  If Superman sees a disaster or a problem he KNOWS he can help with...he'll help.  Kal doesn't deal with lines on a map.  Clark Kent may reside in America, and it's primarily where Superman hangs his cape, but he feels he's there for THE WORLD.  I don't see WHY Kara doesn't grasp this yet.  I wonder if it will take until the end of this season where Kara feels she needs to be more a global guardian (which I'm sure she IS---to an extent), but not be hindered by the DEO and Haley's draconian rule.  

James and Lena's romance is pretty much on the rocks.  James, while he FEELS he's doing the right thing in reporting, is seriously putting himself at risk, and it WILL get him into trouble.  But the fact that Lena lied to him, and her stance on just giving everyone "powers" in order to resolve the whole alien/human conflict is narrow sighted at best, despite her intentions.  He motives MAY be noble, but the MEANS in which she plans to support said motives are in the shady area.  Guess that Luthor gene runs deep enough ,where morals are negotiable.  

Manchester Black...well, I DID say the week prior, that he's going to take the darker path to seek justice for his lady.  Even if it means leaving broken bones and dead bodies along the way in the process.  For him...it's pure revenge, no and's, if's, or but's.  The ends justify the means, and he'll get justice any way he can...even if he has to kill a TON of people,and it brings him into direct conflict with both J'Onn AND Kara.  

I guess the little girl really did know how to train her dragon (if you don't get THAT joke, you're hopeless!).  And the dragon gets a credit for doing what he was supposed to do...protect his owner.  Didn't take long for him to take a shine to Kara though...how cute.

Have you all picked up on the fact that Nia's powers come from her "sleeping"?  Good, another thing I don't have to explain.  I do love the flirty banter she has with Brainy...and how clueless he is to it.  He may catch on eventually...when he learns how to balance those emotions of his.  He can't be walking around like Star Trek's Data and Spock forever.  

Alrighty kids, that does it for me, but I WOULD appreciate you subscribing, leaving a comment, and passing the word of my existence around.  I'm grateful.  And by the way, if you think my review is cool, and you're looking for even MORE of an opinion on our favorite CW shows, please check out my friend Jocelyn's You Tube channel.  She does amazing watch and review's there.  Her channel can be found at Jocelyn RP Subscribe...you'll be glad you did!  She's got all sorts of cool stuff on there!  

Until next week....Up, Up, and Away!

IMPACT! WRESTLING - November 15, 2018

REVIEW:  IMPACT! WRESTLING - November 15, 2018:  A rematch made, A challenge thrown down, and the Dark Bunny surfaces!

This week's episode of IMPACT! provided some okay action, but did set the stage for the next PPV - HOMECOMING.  We had Tessa Blanchard in action, Johnny Impact defending the Championship against Matt Sydal, LAX made an appearance, Su Yung was also in the ring tonight, and yet more from Eli Drake.

Show started off with Tessa Blanchard taking on newbie Ray Lyn.  Lyn got some shots in on the Knockouts champion in this bout, but it wasn't enough as Tessa dominated this match early and often.  Several body blows and strikes to the back of the head for both women to feel each other out.  Then Tessa went to work.  She hit Lyn with a beautiful facebreaker and a cutter on Lyn, before mouthing with the ref.  She continues to pile on the offense.  At one point, Lyn gets the offense attack back, hits Tessa with a knee, and then a flying hurricanrada and a dropkick, but Tessa proves to be too much as she continues clubbing her, and finishing her off with a turnbuckle powerbomb and an a buzzsaw DDT for the pin and the win.

Tessa then gets on the mic, and starts trash talking Taya Valkyrie, mocking her marriage to IMPACT! Champion Johnny Impact, and says that's why Taya is popular, and mocks her as to why she's used every excuse in the book as to why she's not Knockouts Champion.  Tessa feels she's better than Taya.  After mocking her about her husband, that's when Taya came out, and cause Tessa to run up the ramp.  Taya says Tessa better be ready, because January 6th at Homecoming, she's got her title shot!

KM & Fallah Bahh are backstage, and KM lets Fallah know they're out to impress Scarlett tonight by taking on LAX.

We get this promo from a new group called The Razcals, who put on this cheap "That 70's Show" skit.

KM & Fallah Bahh square off against LAX.  Both teams get in some offense early, with some early chain wrestling from Bahh and Santana.  Both men shake hands, and then Santana uses it to deliver an enziguri, and LAX goes to work.  They double team Bahh, work on his arm.  Bahh takes control, starts kicking LAx, but they toss him from the ring.  Action gets back inside, and KM delivers a body slam and a standing elbow drop to Ortiz.  Bahh comes in and they pound on Ortiz.  He reverses moves and gives and elbow and dropkick to re-assert command of the match.  Santana tags in, but is met by KM when he tries a bodyblock with KM trying to deliver a bodyslam, but Santana reverses and delivers several kicks to KM's head.  Then a flying senton splash.  2 count for Santana, tags in Ortiz.  They go for a double suplex, but KM reverses it!  Double suplex of his own, and Fahh tags in, delivers a double crossbody to LAX in their respective corners.  He then uses his backside splash to both.  Fahh with  a samoan drop on Santana, only a 2 count!  Fahh tries to go for a splash, but LAX avoids him, and he's out of the ring.  They double team KM with a springboard lionsault to get the victory.

Backstage, Ortiz is giving Santana grief about how Bahh dominated them in the match.  They bring up the OGz, and wonder why they've been quite, and Konnan says to stop worrying about them.  The Lucha Bros. disposed of them.  LAX feel that their next tag title defense should be "in the family", and want to give the Lucha Bros. the chance, but Konnan says this isn't the right time.

Heather Monroe is another newbie to the IMPACT! scene, and she gets the unfortunate challenge of former Knockouts champ, Su Yung.  Kiera Hogan comes out and warns Monroe about Su...saying that she's left a trail of bodies in her wake, and to be careful.

Matt Sydal and Ethan Page are saying they need to separate themselves from the pack, and Sydal says that he's going to use the power of the "third eye" to help guide him to glory against Johnny Impact tonight.  He says he sees right through Johnny.

The Desi Hit Squad are lazing about in Vegas, mocking America and Thanksgiving Day.  Gama Singh says that he will show up next week, and ruin Thanksgiving for everyone.

Eli Drake comes out, and says he's finally rid of Abyss.  He's used this lawsuit to get to Abyss because he's the last of a dying breed.  Meaning that he's the only one who can grab an audience and not put his body at risk.  It was all about getting rid of the stunts and gimmicks, and to put all the focus on Eli Drake.  That doesn't sit will with Tommy Dreamer, who comes out and lectures Eli and what it means to be hardcore, and lists the men who busted their asses to entertain the crowds   Insulting the fans is like insulting Tommy himself.  Eli mocks Tommy, says he can't touch him in the ring or on the mic.  Tommy gets pissed off and says he wants to fight.  Both men ditch their coats, but Eli bails the ring before anything happens.

Alisha Edwards is in the back pleading with Moose to stay away from Eddie, because Eddie's not done with him.  Moose says if he sees Eddie, he'll just beat him up again like he did last week.  It didn't take too much longer after that, when Eddie comes rushing in, and starts wailing on Moose.  Alisha can't control Eddie, and he and Moose start duking it out until 3 guys in blue hospital like outfits grab Eddie and hold him off.  Moose gets a couple of shots in before Eddie's carted away, with his wife apologizing to him trailing behind them.

Backstage yet again, and we see the refs discussing how Tessa Blanchard decked one of them last week, and that can't be happening again.  Scarlett Bordeaux comes up to the refs, flirts, and says she likes men of authority.

Matt Sydal and Johnny Impact face off.  Series of reversals before Sydal nails Impact in the gut with a kick.  Impact gets Sydal in a headlock, and more reversals happen.  A series on the ropes leads to a standing moonsault, that Sydal counters.  Johnny sweeps his legs, goes for a standing shooting star press, only a 2 count.  Tossed into the corner, Sydal avoids Impact, and Johnny hits the floor.  Matt works Impact's spine a little, gets him back into the ring.  Johnny tries a sunset flip on Matt, and another 2 count.  Sydal gets Impact locked up with his knees and face, but Impact breaks the hold.  Sitting corner dropkick by Matt, but only a 2 count again.  Impact fights back, but Sydal attempts a spinning heel kick and misses, Impact nails Sydal with a backbreaker.  Impact with a flying kick of his own, followed by a shining wizard, still only gets a 2 count.  Impact with an attempted neckbreaker, Sydal breaks it with a knee.  Johnny fights back, delivers a german suplex, but Ethan Page gets up on the apron to distract the Champ, but Sydal only manages a 2 count.  Another springboard shining wizard from Impact to Sydal, but no pin.  Impact tries to go for the Starship Pain, but Page drags Sydal out of the ring.  Impact with a parkour dive on Page, and sends him reeling.  Sydal takes advantage, and  kicks Impact's head against the barrier.  Sets him up for a shooting star press, but Impact is up, and Sydal hits a meteora.  Impact delivers his neckbreaker and Starship Pain for the win.

After the match, Killer Kross comes out to admit that Johnny got the better of him last week, but reminds Johnny that he has no friends in the back, and that he could use one...Kross.  Kross reiterates that change needs to happen, but maybe it's not HIM that's the leader of change...maybe it's Johnny.  The Champ says a big fat "NO" to Kross, and leaves the ring.

Katerina meets up with Jordynne Grace, and says they should team up, they'd be a powerful tag team.  Thick Mama Pump is having none of it, and challenges Katerina in two weeks.

Su Yung meets up with Heather Monroe in the ring.  Monroe does her best to get some offense in with some forearm blows, but Su proves she's too much for the young star. Su kicks her multiple times, lands a devestating neckbreaker off the top rope.  Monroe tries to get in more offense, but a right handed palm smash ends the threat.  She lands the Panic Switch, but refuses to pin...instead, it's the bloody glove mandible claw that Su clamps on for the submission win.  After the match, Su looks to feast upon her prey some more, before Kiera Hogan comes out and tosses Su from the ring.  Hogan checks on Monroe until this dark music hits.  It's Allie!  Garbed all in black, with a bloody veil over her head.  She's got face paint on, and a dead look in her eye.  She gets in the ring, and Hogan tries to reason with her.  With her back to Su, Su attacks Hogan and delivers a Panic Switch to her.  Allie just looks down at her with no emotion at all.  Su grabs Allie by the arm to lead her away, and there's slight hesitation, before Allie relents and leaves with Su.  The bubbly Allie has completely lost her soul, and the Dark Bunny now belongs to Su Yung.

Our Main Event of the night sees another match up between Sami Callahan and Brian Cage for the X-Division Championship.  There has been A LOT of bad blood over the last few weeks between these two, and the score would be settled here.  As the bell rings, Cage is all over Callahan, pounding on him and delivering a series of clotheslines until Callahan meets him with a foot to the face.  Sami hits the ropes for a clothesline, but Cage is doing his best Hulk Hogan imitation, and it's not fazing him.  Sami hits a few more, to no avail.  Cage clotheslines him, and tosses Callahan around the ring like a rag doll, before doing some curls and delivering a fall away slam.  Into the ropes, and Callahan reverses, delivers a hurricanrada to Cage, who responds with one of his own.  Off the ropes again, and Cage hits him with a dropkick.

Cage keeps the offense on, pounding Callahan and keeping him grounded, until Dave of oVe intervenes, drags Cage out of the ring.  The ref spots them, and forces both members of oVe to the back.  Match continues, with Cage giving Callahan a vertical suplex on the outside.  Sami lands a brutal piledriver on the apron to Cage.  He then uses the steel staris on Cage's legs, injuring one knee.  Cage gets control again, delivers a kick to the head, then both men trade reversals until Cage delivers a sit down spine buster.  2 count.  Cage goes for a powerbomb, but Sami turns it into a guillotine choke.  Cage powers Sami to the corner, and attempts to climb the rope, but Sami delivers a death valley driver, which looked nasty, and Sami only gets a 2 count.

Both men slow to get up, Sami attempts a pile driver, but Cage reverses it to attempt a german suplex, but Sami counters that into an ankle lock.  Cage gets to the rope for the break.  Sami gets to the 2nd rope, and Cage catches him mid-air, but not enough to stop Sami from deliering a sunset flip powerbomb.  Cage kicks out at 2.  Cage delivers another powerbomb and a devestating drill claw for the pin and the win.  Cage retains the X-Division Title.

Afterwards, Cage gets on the mic, and says he's cashing in his option, and giving up the X-Division Title to challenge Johnny Impact at Homecoming!

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This show had some pretty decent action.  The KM/Bahh match with LAX was excellent, and SHOULD put KM & Bahh in the Tag Title conversation---they earned that tonight against LAX.  It's good---LAX NEEDS to challenges instead of the OGz.  It's time for that feud to end and move on.  I'd also like to see a Lucha Bros./LAX match...that would be great!  The Johnny Impact/Matt Sydal match wasn't too bad, but could've done without the Page interference.  Still, it's a good build for the Champ and remain credible.  And despite his words tonight, I still feel Killer Kross is NOT done with the Champion yet.

Tessa Blanchard in a squash tonight to prove her dominance.  Loved that she threw shade at Taya, and that Taya gave it right back.  Their match at Homecoming should be a a good one.  But I feel it's just not quite the right time to take the belt off Tessa.  She's doing some of the best heel work right now, and is very much taking a page or two out of dear old Dad's book.  

The Desi Hit Squad....who honestly cares?  I don't.

Scarlett Bordeaux looking like the minx that she is....moving on.

The Razcals?  In a cheap, wasted bit of TV time trying to copy a bit from "That 70's Show"?  No originality there.  These guys don't look like much, and I certainly hope they wrestle better than they can cut a promo.  That was crap.

Su Yung has finally gotten Allie over to the dark side.  She is now complete with Dark Bunny music...and Kiera Hogan looks like our only hope right now to save her.  But it may be too much to save Allie's soul.  Rosemary is needed back immediately.  Look, as cheesy and hokey as this story may come off to some, I credit EVERYONE involved for staying in character.  I can see this prompts a heel turn for Allie of sorts, and with Rosemary HOPEFULLY back by the early part of 2019, we can finally see the Demon Assassin take on Su Yung and finish her once and for all...and save Allie's soul.  But I believe that means having to battle the Dark Bunny for that soul, and these two go back a long ways..well...their dopplegangers do.  I'm enjoying the hell outta this.  Plus, it gives a big boost to Hogan as one of the big babyfaces on the Knockouts roster.  

Eddie Edwards has lost it!  He's obsessed with destroying Moose, and no matter what his wife Alisha does, it won't stop him.  I feel a Homecoming match between these two with some kind of stipulation involved is coming.  

Eli Drake's little fake out isn't something that's impressing me too much.  I just think that this swerve to get rid of Abyss, of all people, is going to give him a rise?  Then to bring out and piss off Tommy Dreamer...not doing yourself any favors there.  Not sure what they have planned for Drake, but I do see an ass whipping by Dreamer in his future.  

I thought that maybe Cage's and Sami Callahan's little feud would go on longer, but with Cage's win tonight, it's done.  Cage is hunting for bigger fish, and he wants the top prize.  Cage and Impact should make for a pretty decent match.  One guy all power with great resiliency and intensity, the other, some power, lot of finesse, and high (dare I say) impact moves.  It's a nice contrast that will HOPEFULLY make for a good main event at Homecoming, should the match be signed.  It looks like the card is beginning to shape up.  We'll check back next week as we hear more, with any luck, about more matches on the card.

Until then, hope you enjoyed the review, and, as always, feel free to comment and subscribe.  I greatly appreciate it.

Until next week...

THE FLASH - Season 5.5

REVIEW:  THE FLASH - SEASON 5, EP. 5:  "All Doll'd Up"

The Scarlet Speedster over the last few years, has faced quite an array of villains as they have trolled Central City for their own purposes.  But he has NEVER had to face a villain quite like this.  Meanwhile, we get more West-Allen Family drama with Nora, and the rest of Team Flash is on the hunt for Dr. Thomas Snow.

We begin this week's tale with practice time at STAR Labs---and Nora's a no-show.  She's pretty much giving BOTH her parents the cold shoulder, and it's taking a toll on Iris.  Barry, ever the loving husband, still stands by her, but Iris has her doubts about herself.  A call comes in about a police chase with a crook on a bike, and Flash is off to stop them and retrieve the goods the crook pilfered.  Turns out, there's more than one crook, as the first one hands the second one the booty, and is off to the races.  As Barry tracks down the first one, and manages to stop them with pallets, Nora finally shows up to catch the second rider, and nabs them off the bike, but the bike skids out of control, and nearly kills a couple with an explosion, where (thankfully), Barry pulls off the rescue.

Back at the lab, Iris lays into Nora about being irresponsible, and giving her the reason for the training, but Nora just brushes her off.  At that point, Iris has had enough, and takes off.  Barry FINALLY puts in his two cents and tells Nora she shouldn't be making her Mom in THIS era do time for something that happened 30 years from now.  

Team Flash is still working on finding Cicada, and Sherloque whips out a map with several possibilities as to where Cicada could be at.  They don't have the equipment to run a trace, and Ralph and Wells argue, yet again.  That gets put aside, as they focus on Caitlin's dad.  She drags out the puzzle that her Thomas left her, and Cisco, who's finally returned to the team, but still injured, vibes the puzzle, and sees Thomas working on an equation on a blackboard.  Turns out, Dr. Snow had been at Hudson University, where he was also friends with the late Professor Martin Stein.  The team is off to the University to get some clues.

While all this is happening, we see our new villain, who can bend, contort, and stretch his body about wearing a raggedy doll mask, makes his way into a couples' home to steal a valuable necklace that a groom decided to give his bride for their wedding the next day.  He makes off with it, as the bride sees him and screams. Next day, Barry's doing CSI work, and Iris is questioning the couple.  Turns out, since they're working the same case, Barry decides they should team up.  Long overdue for some Barry/Iris time together.  They're back at the lab discussing the case, as well as Nora.  Iris feels awful and down, and Barry tries to cheer her up.  They come up empty on the clues, but keep searching.

Nora is back at the West house, chatting with Cecile, when she goes on griping about her mother.  Cecile puts an end to that rant quickly.  She decides to make a deal with Nora...help her out around the house, and she'll talk about some of the things Nora DIDN'T get to know from the Flash Museum.

Barry and Iris get a call about a bomb threat at an architect's building, where he's discussing putting up a building in Gotham (Easter Egg!), and our Doll man slithers in with the bomb...intent on bringing the house down.  Flash gets there in time to rescue the architect, and get a glimpse of the mysterious Ragdoll before he gets the architect out, and the building goes up.  Back at STAR Labs, Barry & Iris continue the search, and get a hit when Barry figures out how to get the Ragdoll's fingerprint.  He's a man named Peter Merkel, who had been arrested for theft.  His mother is a prominent woman holding a fundraiser that night.  Barry and Iris get dolled up in fancy clothes to visit Merkel's mother, Tracy.  Upon meeting her, she's well aware of Iris being a reporter.  Iris asks her about Peter, but Tracy has not seen him.  She reiterates how she gave him the best of everything, but her demeanor is ice cold.  This strikes a nerve with Iris---who feels that, in protecting Nora in the future---she took away Nora's chance to be her own person.  Barry tries to comfort her, by telling her that she doesn't HAVE to be that person.  Barry heads home, as Iris does more digging on Peter.  Meanwhile, the Ragdoll looks upon them from above.

Team Flash arrives at the University, where they search for clues about Thomas Snow.  Cisco vibes again, and sees the same as he did before, only now, he sees the location of where Thomas was...a place called Viera Chemicals.  They head over to the plant, which had been closed due to a fire.  There, they search for more clues.  Ralph comes across a container with the logo for Caitlin's Mom's work:  Tannehauser.  Cisco, who had found out he was still bleeding from the hands when he used his powers last, still tried to vibe one last time, but could not, and collapsed.  The investigation ends there.  Back at the Lab, Cisco wakes up, and Caitlin gives him hell for not telling her about his condition, which he still has traces of the chemical and Dark Matter from Cicada's knife...and the more Cisco uses his powers, the more it's killing him.  He feels useless, since he's felt good being a superhero.  Caitlin assures him he's worth more to the team than just his powers.

Back at the West home, Cecile continues to spin stories from Barry's past to an excited Nora, who loves hearing these stories.  But the thing is---Nora finally puts two and two together, and figures out the stories Cecile has been telling her isn't about Barry---but Iris.  Nora finally realizes her Mom isn't what she thought she was.  

Barry's at home, when he gets a call from Iris.  Iris informs him that Peter's out to make people's lives miserable by taking something away they value most.  They ponder who the next victim it would be when Barry's attacked from behind.  The Ragdoll tells Iris to come and get him.  Iris tries to reach Nora, but she's not home, and left her phone.  She rallies the troops, and they head out to rescue Barry.  We see Barry tied to a chair on the roof of their apartment building when Iris and Ralph hit the roof, intent on taking the Ragdoll out.  Irish shoots at him, but he says he'll push Barry over the ledge if they don't back down.  She complies, but he shoves Barry off anyway.  Ralph does battle with the Ragdoll, while Iris leaps off the roof after Barry.  She catches up to him just to release the power binding cuffs off of him, which allows him to save the both of them.  Nora, who had finally gotten home to answer her phone, got the message from Caitlin that her parents were in danger.  She arrives just in time to see Barry and Iris safe, and Ralph bounce down with the Ragdoll underneath.  

At STAR Labs, Cisco, Sherloque, Ralph, and Caitlin figure out that the Thinker had left his other satellites in orbit, and they could hack them.  Now, they can track Cicada.  Cisco now feels like a part of the team again.  Wells and Ralph decide it's time to pick up the trail again, and are off.  Meanwhile, Nora is amazed that her Mom dove off a building to save her Dad.  She brings the photo album that Cecile showed her, and her and Iris begin to finally bond...with Barry watching from a distance, smiling.

Cisco and Caitlin finally know that the can scan the Terrehauser sites to find her dad.  Caitlin has a moment of hesitation about her.  Cisco assures her that when SHE is ready, they'll forge ahead.

This episode kept two plots going, all the while bringing in another villain of the week.  Not as strong an episode, but, as I've said before, it keeps the pace of the story going.  We got A LOT more traction on the location of Thomas Snow, and it will be very interesting to see what's happened to him...since he KNEW about Caitlin's alter ego a loooong time ago.  How will that reunion go?

Got another Gotham City reference in an Arrowverse show---please...seriously...if you're gonna have Superman appear in Supergirl, can't we have Batman already?  It's freakin' time!!

Love having the Barry/Iris alone time.  It was great to see them working as a team...not just Iris as a reporter, but Barry as a CSI.  Putting their heads together while also having quality married time (even if work superceded it), was nice for a change.  It took awhile for Iris to have her semi-breakdown with Nora, but it was coming.  Loved that Barry kept the unwavering confidence and belief in her, when she was at her lowest.  Her willing to throw herself off the building to save Barry gave her redemption in Nora's eyes.  NOW...hopefully, we'll REALLY see the Allen Family dynamic at work.

HUGE props to Cecile this week---my, my, my is this woman a clever one.  THAT is a Mom who knows how to manipulate, but in a good way, to get Nora to see the light.  Cecile herself told stories of how marveled she was at Barry, but also at Iris...without saying her name.  Cecile left all the cookie crumbs out on the floor for Nora to scoop up.  That woman is gooooood.  She has become very much the voice of reason in the family.  I love it.

The Ragdoll is a villain I'd seen before, and kudos to the actor portraying him.  I mean, you'd have to be a contortionist to do the job THIS guy did in this episode.  Don't get me wrong, I know A LOT of it was special effects, but to be able to move your body like that..it was exceptional.  Even for a minor villain, he was creepy enough, and NOT someone I'd want to see in a dark alley on Halloween night.  And, thankfully, a villain that Ralph could defeat, while becoming a huge looking fruit in the process.  Best part---a villain that can come back to plague The Flash again.

Finally, it was nice to see how deep the friendship is between Cisco and Caitlin.  When Caitlin was down, Cisco built her back up, and now vice versa.  I worry about Cisco using his powers again...don't wanna see the man die---he's the other comic relief besides Ralph and Sherloque.  But to see these two really have each other's backs is a testament to their long friendship.  And they'll be leaning on each other even more down the road, as Cisco's powers become a problem, and Caitlin's issues with her Dad.  

Like I said---it was a good episode, not great.  Not too much Flash action, but sometimes, you don't need a lot to tell a good story.  And right now, this is a good story.  You have 3 storylines going on, and they're all getting their balance, and one might be resolved next week, we shall see.  I see more rough waters ahead for the Allen family...but that's to be expected---specially since Nora STILL isn't forthcoming with her TRUE reasons for being here.  And I expect a little more movement on the Cicada front next week.

That's it for now.  As per usual, I'm grateful for everyone checking out the page, hope you've enjoyed what I wrote, and PLEASE don't be afraid to comment...I promise I don't bite.  Slobber, maybe...but not bite.

Until next week...keep on running!

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - Season 4.4

REVIEW:  DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW - SEASON 4, EP. 4:  "Wet Hot American Bummer"


There have been many things the Legends have had to face in their time together:  Alternate Realities, Super Villains, Monsters, and Aliens.  But NOTHING could prepare this group for the challenge of.....Summer Camp.  It is here that we join our wayward time travelling heroes as they drop in on 1995 to rescue young campers from a monster terrorizing them.  To quote the 80's band, The Smiths:  Stop me if you think you've heard this one before...

We begin this little tale where we join Sara and Ava enjoying a rare date night at Ava's watching a horror movie called...wait for it....Swamp Thaaaang (more on this later).  Somehow, when chatting about horror movies, and the weirdness of the title, it causes Sara to contact Gideon, and inquire about any incidents at a summer camp with a weird monster, and---wouldn't you know it---they get a hit!  Sara convinces Ava to join her on this mission (leaving Nate and Gary in charge at the Bureau---why do I have a feeling THAT doesn't go over well?).  Anyway, they head to Maine where they hear the story about a swamp monster plaguing the campers there.  Leave it to John to throw in the comment about knowing a swamp creature himself, but this creature would never have been spotted in upstate Maine (I'll reiterate more later, but suffice to say:  EASTER EGG!).  Ray, of course, is all to excited about the mission, since it gives him a chance to flex his camper skills.  They all pose as camp counselors to investigate.  I should note that it's quite comical to see this cast all dressed up a camp counselors, complete with matching shirts and shorts.  They meet the head of the camp, who has a very Kathy Bates like personality---meaning about a charming as a garden snake, and one of the other counselors, a dashing young chap who seems to take a shine to the group.  Seeing Constantine in these digs is just hilarious in and of itself.  

We move along, where John is using baking powder or some substance to put a wall of protection around the camp, ensuring that monsters can't get in, while Ray, Ava, and Sara all try to talk to the campers, and find out what's going on.  It's apparent that Ava, because she's a clone, has never had a childhood, so her interaction with kids is---less than exemplary.  While Sara, who DID spend time at a summer camp in her youth, is more robust and enthusiastic.  Ava comes off like a strict disciplinarian, to which Sara tries to ease her mind about it.  At one point during the night, while they take watch, two of the kids sneak out and meet at a secret location....a boy and girl, who're about to have their first kiss, when suddenly, they're snatched away and disappear.  The team tries to get answers out of the kids, but to no avail.  Ava especially goes about it the wrong way.  One of the girls DOES give out information as to where the two missing kids MIGHT be---and she speaks of some kind of swamp monster.  The team heads out at night to face off with the creature when---all of the sudden---Ava gets dragged into the water.  Turns out, the kids punked the team,and Ava is made fun of in the process.  Desperate to find answers, the team does the Scooby Doo split up---with John and Ray trying to find the kids by searching the forest, while Ava and Sara try to talk to the kids.  In hoping to relate to them, Sara gets the idea that if they thought like the kids, they'd get an answer.  John gives them a potion that will make them girls for a short time.  

Meanwhile, back on the Waverider, Zari is keeping tabs on the fake Maya (who we know as Charlie from last episode).  They know they're not getting answers out of her about this monster, so Charlie fakes getting hurt, which prompts Zari to check it out.  Zari falls for the oldest trick in the book, and gets locked on the energy cell.  Charlie's efforts to get off the ship is wasted when she bumps into Mick.  Her and Mick have a heart to heart about their lives, comparing the time they spent in prisons.  Mick manages to convince her to stick around and help out.  Charlie DOES manage to give enough info on this creature, who is called a Strigga.  The monster apparently sucks the life force out of the kids.

As Ava and Sara, now as young girls, try to bond with the other girls and get some answers, Ray and John continue their seach, with Ray trying to bond with John (and doing a lousy job of it).  John goes on to remind Ray what a fool he was to let Nora Dhark go.  They stumble upon a decrepit cabin, where they discover cages with the kids in them.  They let Ava and Sara know, just as the girls get info on where the make out spot is.  Turns out, according to Charlie, that while they THOUGHT the Strigga was the head of the camp, turns out that Charlie says this one she met was a man.  They figure out that it's the male counselor all along, and they do battle.  They manage to defeat the monster, and all the lifeforce he took from the missing kids, with the help of John, flow back into them...except one.  John has to cast another spell, using his own energy to revive one last boy.  

Later, we see everyone back aboard the Waverider, as Sara has given Ava a better understanding of what life was like as a kid.  And they have John in the medbay getting looked at, but he's weak.  Charlie gives herself a new makeover, and decides to stick around to help the team, as long as she gets kept out of hell.  

At the end of our little tale, we see Nora Dhark, concocting a potion that turns out be....soup.  Turns out, Nora seems powerless, and is stuck at a Renissaince Faire of all places.  

This episode wasn't my favorite of the season...was hoping for something a LITTLE more Friday the 13th, but with it's usual flare for the comic fun that we've grown to have in this season thus far.  Was hoping that the 90's setting would've given it a more 90's feel and pop references, but it didn't.  This one might've been better served as the pre-Halloween episode.  There was some humor in it, but some if it fell a little flat to me.  I DID enjoy the Swamp Thing reference by John...harkening back to the Hellblazer and Swamp Thing comics that John Constantine has been featured in.  Outside of that, the show didn't provide much in the way of character development, aside from John's issues with his personal demons, which we've already been made aware of, and Ava's lack of a family since she's a clone, which we already had established.  Mick bonding with "bad girl monster" Charlie (now looking like Maya), isn't a stretch, and you kind of knew she'd stick around, for "redemption" purposes.  But outside of that, it seemed like a one-off episode, with nothing of substance to provide us outside of Nora's whereabouts.  If there's going to be an episode where they fall short of the mark---this one is it.  Just lacked the wacky spirit and slapstick fun we've had with the first few episodes.  This one just wasn't it for me.  Hopefully, this is just an aberration, and they're back on track next week.  Oh...and one last note:  nice of them to title the episode after the hit comedy movie Wet Hot American Summer.

That's all for this week, and hey...check out all my other blogs.  I thank you all for viewing.  Comments would be cool too.

Same time, next week!

ARROW - Season 7.5

REVIEW:  ARROW - SEASON 7, EP. 5: "The Demon"

Things have certainly begun to heat up in the Emerald Archer's world, and this episode gave us some more insights into the mysterious Dr. Parker, we see more from Diggle & Curtis' current mission with ARGUS, Dinah, Laurel, and Felicity hooking up to help Ollie, and the identity of the mysterious Demon is.

Ollie certainly has had more than his fair share of trouble since being put into Slabside.  He's been beat up, beat down, and put through the psychological wringer.  Still, he keeps his head on his shoulders.  Last week was a true test of that when we meet the mysterious Dr. Parker, who's psychological methods seemed a bit suspicious at best, and he was trying to break Oliver down...get him to give up the violent vigilante life.  This week's installment sees him buried in Level Two, where we get a new guard with a tough guy attitude, where Ollie gets a shock bracelet put on his arm...just to keep him in line.  When inquiring about when he gets visitation hours, the guard was only to happy to inform him that his visitation rights were revoked.  This doesn't sit well with him, and neither does that fact that one of the other prisoners transferred down here he knows, and wants information from him about Level Two.  The guy refuses, and proceeds to attack Ollie, who allows him to push him to the ground.  Our favorite guard notices, shocks the other prisoner, and he gets carted off.  

Ollie heads back to his cell, only to be attacked by a figure from the dark.  After taking them down, we find out that it's been the supposedly dead Talia al Ghul.  Talia is apparently the "demon" for which some of the prisoners up top spoke of.  She managed to find her way off Lian Yu, and---thanks to some "medical assistance" from Diaz, but somehow got herself caught and stuck in Slabside.  She plans on getting out, and wants Ollie's help, but he's not having it.  Ollie later sees the guy that shoved him on a gurney coming out of the medical room....dead.  Talia later informs him that he's in danger, as well as everyone else in Level Two.  Ollie decides that he'll help her break out, and they stage a fight to get them both captured.  Once in the lab, we find out that the good Dr. Parker isn't quite the "healer" we expected him to be.  

Meanwhile, Felicity goes to see Ollie, only to find out through Stan that Ollie's visitation rights have been revoked.  Felicity wanted to get word to Ollie that she had a lead on Diaz, and that he'd be going down soon...with Laurel's help.  Laurel tried using her legal leverage, which went for naught.  By hacking into the system, Felicity finds out about Level Two, but realizes it's an "off the book" part of the prison.  With the help of Laurel and Dinah digging through Star City police records, they come across Dr. Parker's records, only to find out his methods to "cure" those who suffer from violent tendencies suffer memory loss.  Felicity realizes that Parker is out to erase Ollie's mind, and is desperate to save him.  At the end, we see that the info that Talia managed to get to Felicity could actually RELEASE Ollie from prison.  We'll see how that works out later.

Ollie and Talia manage to break free of Parker's control, and fight off everyone to escape.  Realizing that if he broke out, he'd be a fugitive, and then he'd never see Felicity again, he hands a flash drive to Talia, tells her to give it to Felicity, and he'd hold off the guards long enough for her to escape.  Ollie does, Talia takes off, and he's beaten down and put back into his cell.  We later see Stan let him know that Felicity has a lead on Diaz, and that they're going to try and take him down.  The good doctor, who managed to escape his ordeal, was about to take off from the prison when he's faced with Talia, who shows NO mercy in her approval of his "methods".

On the ARGUS end of things, we pick up from last week's mission, where Dig and Curtis are tracking down this biological weapon that was stolen.  They talk to their superior about how to obtain it....by having Curtis pose as a man called Santo, who had dealings with this bank guy named Byrd.  There's supposed to be a meet to obtain the weapon, but the deal goes south quickly when Byrd doesn't show up.  Despite Diggle telling Curtis to abort the mission, Curtis sets up the actual meet with Byrd instead.  Curtis is apprehensive about going back out into the field again...especially in the wake of Oliver being arrested.  Curtis feels that it's cost him too much, and doesn't want to put himself in the crosshairs anymore.  Diggle understands, but hands Curtis a pep talk nonetheless.  Apparently it works, because not only does he make the meet, but confronts Byrd and his henchmen in Mr. Terrific fashion...beating the bad guys, and managing to disarm the bomb Byrd had activated.  Despite the success of that mission, another mystery unfolds later back at ARGUS, when Curtis decrypts a file to discover a painting titled "Dante".  Him and Diggle realize there's more to that painting than what they see.

And at the tail end of this episode...we finally see Silencer meeting back up with Diaz, who---SURPRISE!---has Anatole with him, ready to kill him.  

Okay...so this episode had it's fair share of action in it---mostly from the prison fight scenes which were awesome.  Ollie can be brutal as hell when he wants to be.  It was cool to see Parker exposed---I never trusted the man---and his little experiment didn't last long thanks to  Ollie...AND Talia.  Talia showing up again throws a huge monkeywrech into this story.  I have no idea if her role will be expanded, or she was just a 'one-off' for the episode.  However, having Talia out there doing who knows what is just another headache Ollie is going to have to deal with down the road.  When asked how she got to the Slab...we get our nice little Easter Egg in the form of her "ran into an old friend in Gotham".  Uh huh...subtle..NOT!  How many more freakin' hints they gonna drop before we get the brooding bastard on the show, huh?  MAKE.  IT.  HAPPEN!

Laurel and Felicity working together is still a weird dynamic, but we're seeing Laurel make some effort into her redemption...but she's still a bitch.  It's also obvious that throwing Dinah into the mix is like adding oil, vinegar, and water into a solution...each are separate, but, stirred together, they mix for a little bit.  At least enough to find out about the good Dr. Parker and his machinitions.  Plus, now they feel they have an ace in the hole to get Ollie out.  

Curtis and John's working relationship has gotten better, and do enjoy the chemistry between the two.  While Curtis does provide some comic relief this episode, it was good to see him put his brain to use in the field...plus, showing that Mr. Terrific is still alive and well, and can kick some ass when needed.  Curtis might be warming up to that again...we will have to see.

Diaz about ready to kill Anatole for betrayal is nothing new---a plot point to drive the next episode.  We'll see how long a life span Anatole has.  

Well, I did enjoy the epsiode...I like it when they move the plot along, and there's not a lot of drag time.  We're close to getting Ollie free, where he can take down Diaz, and hopefully, help out with whatever the hell it is that Dig, Curtis, and Lila are facing.  I would like to see Diaz's story wrap up soon, so that they can kick off this arc with Lila, Dig, and Curtis into high gear, where Team Arrow will be needed.  Prison action scenes were good, and we'll probably see one or two more before Ollie's set free.  

That wraps it up for this week.  As always, thanks for checking me out.  Pass along the love, and leave a comment---would LOVE to hear from you guys!

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

STAN LEE (1922-2018)

Normally, I'd be getting prepared to take notes and write my reviews of tonight's installments of Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow, but I had to take time to use this space to pay my respects to a man who was just as much an inspiration to me as anyone.  So I sit here on my laptop, trying to collect together my thoughts to pay homage to a man who's passing today leaves all of us sad, but wanting to pay tribute to a life well led...Stanley Martin Lieber.  Or...as we know him the world over:  Stan Lee.  So, I hope, Stan, that you don't mind if I borrow your Soapbox for a little while, and talk about what it was that you meant to me---and the world at large.

What can be said---or rather---what hasn't been said about Stan Lee?  Icon, An American Institution, writer/director Kevin Smith has referred to him as the modern day Mark Twain, and--of course---the name we ALL associated with him:  The Man.  His imagination and fantastic stories have entertained us for generations.  What would this world be without our favorite webhead, shellhead, patriotic hero, green skinned monster, tribal hero from a foreign land, super spies, and cosmic beings?  Wouldn't be as much fun.  THAT is what made Stan Lee stand out above the rest:  his ability to weave the seemingly impossible into a realistic trip through different realms, universes, and mostly New York City.  He made you become what he'd always say during some of the cartoons produced by Marvel Productions...and that was a True Believer.

I'd like to say I had a pretty active imagination as a kid.  I've often joked that once I opened the door to my imagination....it ran off and never came back.  It has allowed me, over the years, to see things from different perspectives, and make my own conclusions about the world around me.  I had a dream of being a comic book artist or writer when I was a kid---and actually drew my own comics, created my own characters (no, you can't have them!), and let my own imagination run wild.  A lot of that was due to Stan.  The the plethora of comics I got to read as a kid---first my brother's---then my own when I started collecting.  Over the years, I found out I wasn't the world's greatest artist...but I LOVED to write.  So, I'm just following Stan's inspiration, and doing something I love, and hoping I can pay the rent with it like he did when he got into this crazy business back in the late 30's.

Stan worked for the company called Timely/Atlas Comics.  They really didn't do superhero titles, DC had the corner market on that gig---with Superman, Batman, and eventually Wonder Woman in 1940.  Sure, Timely had a few....the Sub Mariner, the original Human Torch, and a character who was perfect for his time:  Captain America.  Now, Stan had written his share of comics, but they were fairly formulaic to the time.  Then World War II came, and Stan did his duty, serving our nation through the war, and coming home with our boys in 1945.  Stan went right back to work at the typewriter, but something was missing.  This was a man who aspired to be the Great American Novelist...like Mark Twain, like Jack London.  And by the time the 1950's came into swing, and McCarthyism was in full effect, the comics industry took a hit.  And comics, who'd primarily had been geared towards children, were now being censored because some crazy psychologist wrote a book saying that comics were one of the leading causes of youthful deviant behavior.  Superheroes were no longer needed (although, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman found ways to beat those odds for about another few years).  

Then...things changed (as they say in the comics).  DC Editor Julius Schwartz wanted to revamp the books by ushering in new versions of characters such as Green Lantern, The Flash, and giving a shot in the arm to their established 3.  With that, DC began to usher in what is known as the Silver Age of Comics.  Now...don't think this didn't get by Stan.  Nope, Stan saw what they were doing, and thought that that was something Timely should be doing.  Stan was frustrated at this time---didn't have that novel, just trying to support him and his wife Joan...and make ends meet.  Stan had been ready to call it quits, when he sat down and had a chat with his editor, Martin Goodman.  Goodman wanted to have Stan create more characters like they were doing at DC.  Stan, at the behest of his wife, wrote stories the way HE wanted, since he'd thought of quitting anyway. Timely underwent a makeover, and in late 1961...Marvel Comics was born with the first issue of Fantastic Four, which had been inspired by DC's very own Justice League of America.

From there, Stan went to work.  Along with artists such as Jacky Kirby, Steve Ditko, and many other legendary artists, inkers, letterers, and editors, the Marvel brand ushered in a new type of hero:  the flawed one.  The one we could ALL relate to...who had to not only fight the bad guys, but deal with making their own ends meet, being a part of THEIR emotional drama, seeing how they balanced real life problems with being the hero of the piece.  It became known as the "Marvel Way". Stan drew from many archetypes to create rich and powerful new characters such as the Hulk, Iron Man, The X-Men, and his greatest creation of all:  The Amazing Spider-Man.  A character who, in editor Martin Goodman's mind, would NEVER work.  Stan gave us the story of teenager Peter Parker, and with one radioactive bug bite, became, perhaps, THE most popular hero of all time.  

Stan was relentless---always working, always writing.  And Stan had a ringside seat to watching the world change around him...and not only observe it, but write about it in his own unique way.  Stan took on not only the little everyday problems that we all have, but showed us the world we lived in---and all the hardships, prejudices, and harm the real world possessed---through our heroes having to experience them first hand.  Stan didn't shy away from tackling a subject.  Especially if it got the reader to think, and see things from a different perspective.  He was, in many way, our eyes and ears---through the awesome universe to which he created.  He always felt happy when he was working...never stopped creating...not even to the end.  He inspired multiple generations with his stories, and every writer, artist, inker, editor, letterer, and so on...all owe a debt to Stan Lee.  And the man never took himself too seriously.  If anyone had an incredible sense of humor---especially about themselves---it was Stan.  He said countless times, that he was just happy that people have enjoyed what he wrote.  And he was always positive.  He had boundless energy, and always had a smile on his face.  It was part of his charm.  That's why we loved him...because, regardless of all the fame and status he achieved, he was still just one of us---trying to pay the rent and keep food on the table.

So...to close, as saddened as I am that he is no longer here....I know that he is reunited with Joan...and plotting the next adventures of Spidey, the FF, the Avengers, and more with Jack and Steve...and everyone else from the Merry Marvel Family in the stars.  Man, what fun THAT creative session is going to be.  I'd love to the the spider on the wall for that!

So Stan---thank you, truly from the bottom of my heart---for all the inspiration and characters you have given me---and this world---many times over.  For all the journeys into mystery, the tales of suspense, the tales that astonished, and the amazing fantasies...we love you, and we miss you, my friend.  I will continue to use you as inspiration as I continue my own quest to be a writer.  And with that, I will happily get off your Soapbox, and allow you to take it with you to the starts, awaiting another edition, from the Merry Marvel Bullpen above.  

To you, Stan Lee...I have one more thing to say:  Excelsior!!