THE FLASH - Season 5.14

THE FLASH – SEASON 5, EP. 14: “Cause and XS”

Things are getting intense for Team Flash, as Iris’ investigating lands her in a bit of trouble, causing Nora to come to the rescue.  Barry and Caitlin put the finishing touches on the metahuman cure, and Cisco decides to take the night off and have a date with the bartender he met a couple of episodes back, Kamilla.

Cisco is at the lab, looking at the photos that Kamilla took---apparently, she’s a photographer.  He then gets and alert, and realizes that his analysis is done.  He’s got the cure….but there’s ONE minor setback.  He talks to the team, and it will take 29 days to synthesize the compound in it.  They then realize the one way to speed it up is by having Barry take it into the Speed Force to get it to synthesize faster, which will take an hour.  So, that becomes the plan.  Nora is a little worried about her dad being gone, and leaving the city without a Flash.  But he says he believes in her, and he’ll be back in an hour.  Just as Barry goes, Ralph shows up with his “Book of Ralph” to help Cisco on his first date.  Everyone takes off to avoid the whole situation, leaving Cisco alone with Ralph and Nora.  Cisco tries to get help from Nora get him out of this scenario, but she can’t.  Ralph tries to convince him his way will work.  Cisco goes to get ready for his date.  Nora sits in the lab alone.

Iris is working on an article when she hears a noise.  It’s Cicada and she gets captured. 

Cisco arrives for his date all dressed up, but it goes south quickly when he can’t be honest with Kamilla, and starts making up things out of awkwardness.  Just then, and alert comes up, with Iris in danger, so he’s off to the lab.     

Cicada talks to Iris, and says that he does his research too, and knows who she is, and that he will destroy all the heroes tonight.  Back at the lab, Nora gets the alert, and she’s off to battle rescue Iris with Frost.  Before XS arrives, Cicada throws his dagger, and it travels out.  Frost and XS arrive and demand Cicada to let Iris go, she’s not the one he wants.  He says they’re right, and he’s going to kill them all.  Just as Killer Frost goes to begin to fight him, his knife arrives, and XS ducks as it impales Frost…killing her.  Nora freaks out and takes off….running as fast as she can, she slips back in time to before her Mom takes off.  She sees the last moments play back, and tries to fix it, by convincing her Mom to stay at the lab and finish her article there.  Once Iris agrees, Nora feels she has averted the situation.  

We see Ralph in his office looking over a file, when he tries to stretch for his bottle of liquor, when he finds out his powers don’t work.  Cicada arrives, and kidnaps Ralph.  The first scenario plays over again, only THIS time, Cisco’s date STILL goes bad, and now Nora has to rescue Ralph.  However, instead of Frost dying in this scenario, it’s Ralph.  Once again, Nora races back in time to the exact same time as all of this began.  Ralph again asks Nora where Cisco is, and if he’s left for his date.  Nora says no, and Ralph says it’s good, because he has time to talk to him before he leaves.  Nora mutters that they’re right…they have more time. 

Nora is panicking, and Sherloque notices what’s going on.  Nora, once again, convinces her mother to stay, and gives Ralph’s file on Kamilla to Cisco, while she drags Ralph away.  Cisco has a vibe, and it’s of his date with Kamilla.  He feels a sense of déjà vu.  Sherloque takes note, and eventually begins searching through Nora’s things, and finds out she has time travelled.  Just then, he’s captured by Cicada. 

Cisco is out on his date, when he vibes again, seeing that he’s had this date with Kamilla before, and knowing that a warning is coming, so he heads out, leaving Kamilla again.  The warning pops up on the computer, and Nora can’t deal with it.  Turns out, it’s Sherloque who’s in danger.  She races yet again to the same location as before---on the roof of a building---and just before Nora arrives, Cisco breaches in, but in vain, as Cicada’s knife, that comes back and kills Cisco.  Nora…frustrated yet again for failing, races one more time back in time to set things right. 

Once more, she’s back at the lab, and she tries to huddle everyone into one place, to protect them.  But, Cicada is in the West home, and sees a picture of the family.  Turns out, this time, he captures Cecile.  Nora tells everyone to stay put, and she races out, but to no avail.  Once more, Cicada has killed, only this time, it’s Cecile.  She races back in time---again---and she arrives at the lab.  She is freaking out that she can’t stop Cicada, but feels her dad can, and tries to race into the Speed Force to get him, but she can’t.  She walks into the main lab to find out that they know she’s reversing time. 

They have a talk with Nora about her reversing time, but she’s upset that she can’t keep fixing it.  No matter what she does, someone dies.  She heads off, upset.  Cisco then goes and talks to her, and tells her about when he was killed by Eobard Thawne.  He says that the reason they’re failing, is because they fear failure.  Nora then realizes that she wrote everything down, and since she has a record of it, they know what she did wrong, so that they can fix it, and defeat Cicada.  They work on the plan of attack, and tell Nora at one point to slow down time, and get the knife. 

Cicada is once again looking for Cecile, but Iris stops him and tells him that they plan on stopping him.  The team then appears to do battle, and as they do, time slows down before the knife gets to Cisco.  She manages to push through the attack and move Cicada into the path of the dagger.  Time then speeds up to normal, and he’s struck with his own dagger.  Before he’s captured, he flies off.

The team can find no trace of Cicada, and they all thank Nora for saving them.  She’s glad she’s gotten better control of her powers.  Just then, Barry returns, with the cure all set to go.  They all stare at him, and he realizes something happened.

Cisco arrives for his date, and it actually goes better for a change.  He’s himself, and Kamilla appreciates that. 

Barry and Nora talk about how many times she tried to save everyone---52 times---and Barry tells her the consequences of trying to change time.  He uses the coffee cup example that Jay used on him a few years ago, to each Nora about the problems of changing time.  He reminds her that they’re not gods, just people with extraordinary gifts. 

We see Sherloque at his desk, having finally cracked Nora’s code, and it starts deciphering her notes.  Meanwhile, back in 2049, she goes to see Eobard again, and asks him if this plan is going to work.  Eobard gets upset with her and tells her he’s the only speedster that knows what he’s doing.  He tells her to stick with the plan, and they’ll be able to capture Cicada, and save her dad.      

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This was another really good episode of our Scarlet Speedster.  For the most part, Barry took a backseat this episode to put the focus on Nora yet again, and how she uses her powers, and the consequences of doing such when she has no complete control of them.  It was also a chance to see Cisco finally get back on the horse and start living again after his near death experience with Cicada, his time trying to find the metahuman cure, and trying to sort his personal life out.  Everyone else was used in the capacity that they were featured---as pawns in this game of "let's reverse time to save the day".  

Nora is a bright girl...VERY bright---from a scientific standpoint for the most part.  But Nora is still naive and awkward in the use of her powers, and problem solving, resulting in her having to reverse time to try and save the day, having taken a whopping 52 chances to get it right.  52...convenient number...right?  How many times has THAT been used in this show before?  And, I've a feeling, it won't be the last.  Of course, we ALSO have to take into account it WILL come up when CRISIS happens next year.  But each time Nora fails, she panics, and no matter what choice she makes, it's the wrong one.  It finally takes Cisco, of all people, to make her realize what she was doing wrong.  That, and remembering that she wrote down EVERY failure in her notebook, which ended up being the key to save the day...that, and the one thing her dad told her:  learn to slow down and think it through.  When she finally applies her dad's lesson, the day is saved.  Cicada once again takes another stabbing blow, and at some point, he's GOT to be weakening.

Kudos to Barry for setting Nora straight on time travel...and for using the coffee cup example to explain how going back in time can shatter it---evoking the same lesson that Jay Garrick had given him back after he created Flashpoint.  He was also good in reminding her that though they have special powers, they are NOT gods.  Now, Eobard is still trying to assure her to stick with the plan, but I still believe that no matter what he says, there's an ulterior agenda---a GOOD villain ALWAYS has one.  

Was great to see Cisco get back on the horse, and had to laugh when Ralph brought in his "Book of Ralph" to try and get Cisco ready for his date.  This was a great plot device for this episode, as it allowed Cisco to try various things to impress Kamilla on his date.  When it turns out that Ralph eventually said that he had it, and shouldn't worry.  Kamilla turns out to be a sweet gal, and I wonder how long her role will be on this show?  I've heard rumors that Carlos Valdes, who plays Cisco, is probably leaving the show after this season, so maybe him having a normal relationship with Kamilla, and getting away from Central City might be the way he bows out.  We'll see how this progresses.

Cicada's plan was pretty foolproof through most of the episode, until Nora and the team found out a way to beat him yet again.  Not sure how many losses the guy's gonna take until he goes off on a massive killing spree, not even worrying about police or anything.  I feel that epic battle will be the finale, or close to.  But, they've put him on the defensive, and it won't be long before he comes back on the attack.  We've got about 9 or 10 episodes left this season, so the steam is going to have to pick up from here.

Sherloque...whom Nora thought she had distracted enough last week with a new love interest, had his attention right back on her again, as her time travelling scenario piqued his interest once again.  Now, he's got the answers he's looking for, and I wonder how long it's going to be before he exposes Nora's secret not only to herself, but to her parents and the team.  Nora can't hide much longer.  She's exposed now.  

Once again, another solid episode, and we're on a two week hiatus, and will be back March 5th for a new episode.  So, subscirbe, pass the good word, and please leave a comment...I'd be eternally grateful.  

Until March 5th...keep on running!                                                                               

ARROW - Season 7.13

ARROW – SEASON 7, EP. 13:  “Star City Slayer”

The 151^st edition of the Emerald Archer features a VERY in trouble William, who now has to answer to both Ollie and Felicity for being expelled from school.  This forces Ollie to have to step back from his duties as Green Arrow, allowing the team to take over and handle taking down a serial killer, who’s popped into town, looking for trouble.

Tonight’s show opens in a darkroom where someone is developing pictures they took.  Pictures of Team Arrow.  They post the pictures up on their wall.  Dinah’s at the station ready to leave for the night, when she gets another mysterious note from our stalker.  Seems like ALL of Team Arrow is getting one.  Whomever this is, they have a little mural of our intrepid heroes.

Ollie is making breakfast, and Felicity tells him that he needs to ask William about why he got expelled.  When Ollie confronts his son, William told him he got into a fight.  They bicker, and William takes off

We jump to the future, when the team is looking at Felicity’s algorithm for the Arrow Program, but it’s not working.  William surmises that the Program was only good for The Glades, but not Star City.  William concludes that maybe the bombs weren’t planted yet.  Roy has an idea of where they might be.  They head to the Arrow Lair, and try to find the bombs, but are ambushed and drugged by Connor and Mia.  Fade to black.

Diggle and Curtis are at ARGUS, talking about the program Curtis developed for the Suicide Squad Program (sorry, THAT is what I’m calling it from now on…screw you WB and the CW).  Curtis says that he’s going to take a job offer in DC, where his tech will help people out.  Diggle tries to convince Curtis that what he’s doing is good work there at ARGUS, but Curtis says that he doesn’t feel that way.

Dinah is training Zoey when Rene shows up.  They chat a little, and talk about the notes that they got sent by their mysterious stalker.  They wonder whom else has gotten them, when we soon see said stalker going after Collins, the man who worked with Diaz.  He apparently got out.  But this assailant kills Collins.

The team converges at the station, trying to figure out about the notes.  Ollie and Curtis are the only ones that did NOT get notes.  They try to figure out who’s committing the crimes, Dinah suggests someone who was committing the same type of crimes in Central City, so she goes to give Captain Singh a call. 

Back on future time, William wakes up to see Mia in his face, who pops him one.  She wants the Archer codes, and he refuses.  She threatens to kill Zoey, but he says, that it doesn’t matter.  He believes that Mia killed Felicity, and will destroy the city.  When Mia says she didn’t, he asks who did, then?

Returning to ARGUS, we see Diggle and Curtis talking some more, and Diggle offers Curtis the head of the entire science and tech department.  Curtis has much to think about.

Dinah’s on the phone with Captain Singh in Central City, talking about The Flash’s recent battle with Cicada.  Dinah’s okay about that, talks about the case she’s working on.  Sing mentions Blockbuster when he was trying to expand his criminal organization from Bludhaven to Central.  Dinah asks for the files on this case.

At home, Ollie and Felicity try to smooth things over, and Ollie wants William to come home.  However, there’s a knock at the door, and it’s William’s grandparents.  Apparently, he doesn’t want to live with dear old Dad.

Ollie has a chat with William’s grandparents.  He assures them that things will be better.  William’s grandparents say they’re filing for custody.  They say it’s what Amanda wanted.  They say that Ollie may be his father by blood, but was never there for him. 

Future time, Connor tells Dinah and Roy that Blackstar is having a talk with Zoey and William…and Dinah recognizes him as Connor Hawke---Diggle’s son.

Ollie and William finally hash it out, and all Ollie wants to do is give William a normal life, but William refuses, and wants to live with his grandparents.

Team Arrow gets a lead on their would be assailant, and find a house registered to a John Doe.  They enter the spooky home, and look for clues as to where to find this person.  Curtis and Rene see something in a closet that looks like it was from Slabside.  They continue looking through the house for clues.  Dinah comes upon the wall where this assailant has pictures of them, tying them together.  She spots a scrapbook of newspaper clippings.  She turns around and sees her assailant….and he slits her throat.  It’s Stanley!

The team finds Dinah, and with the help of an experimental lazer, Curtis cauterizes the wound.  She’s alive, but what are the chances of her being able to speak again, much less have her powers. 

Ollie and Felicity realizes that William probably needs to go be with his grandparents. 

Future time yet again, Mia questions William about the Archer codes once again, and he says that he’s looking for who killed Felicity.  Mia says that Felicity is alive, and he wonders WHY she sent for him.  Mia wonders why he’s slumming it with the others, when he’s looking for Felicity, are they dating or something, to which William replies that he’s gay, and that she’s his step mother.  Mia realizes that he’s Oliver Queen’s son.  Connor comes around, asking if she got anything out of them, and Mia says he’s supposed to keep tabs on Roy and Dinah, but they escape and a fight breaks out.  Roy and Dinah get the upper hand until Mia holds a knife to Dinah, only to have William point a gun at hers.

Back with Dinah, she’s gasping to the guys about Ollie being in danger.  They realize that their assailant is from Slabside, and hunting Ollie.

Ollie, Felicity, and William are at home, when all of the sudden, they find out they’re paralyzed.  Stanley comes in to confront them.

Stanley talks about warning all his friends, and wants Ollie to hear him.  He tells Ollie that his friends are bad for him…that there are people who want to hurt him.  He wants them to go away, so they can start over and be a new team.  Stanley talks about his life, and how his brother would take his punishments for him, and how abusive his parents were. He decided to “correct” them. When Stanley’s brother found out what he did, he was going to commit him to Arkham Asylum, but he had to “correct” him too.  He feels that Ollie is not listening to him.  Felicity goads Stanley more…calling him the Star City Slayer.  Stanley goes off, and Ollie motions to William to push over the bottle to him, which Ollie uses to smash Stanley in the head, knocking him out.  The crisis is over.

At the hospital, they talk about Stanley, as well as Dinah’s condition.  ARGUS rings, and Dig says it’s time to go.  Curtis says that he’s taking the job in DC.  Diggle says that Curtis needs to do what’s best for him, and wishes him luck.  Curtis and Felicity have a somber goodbye, where he tells her that hopefully she’ll find her purpose is.  Ollie talks with William, and asks him if he wants to live with his grandparents or with him.  William wants a normal life.  So, they agree that William will go and be with his grandparents in Central City…for now.  As Ollie tells William about contacting him and whatnot, Felicity takes a call getting an update from the doctor about the toxins in her system.  She figured everything’s okay, but soon receives some news that shocks her, and she turns to look at Ollie. 

Flash forward, we’re back at the Mexican standoff between Mia and William.  William wants her to drop the knife or he’ll shoot her.  Mia drops the knife but says that William won’t hurt her.  When he inquires WHY, she shows him her arm, and says her name is Mia Smoak---Felicity’s daughter!  William and her are siblings!

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WHOA!!!  That was an intense episode!  We got some pretty heavy revelations dropping in this episode, and making the 2nd half of this season even MORE exciting.  I enjoyed tonight immensely!

Okay....did I or did I NOT say that after he escaped Slabside, Stanley would turn up yet again?  I wondered WHEN that would be...but low and behold...he's the Star City Slayer!  And there isn't anything new here...we knew the man was loopy, and it was proven to be true.  Also, we find out that he killed not only his powers, but his brother too for committing him to Arkham.  Nice to know the crazies in Arkham are not just limited to Gotham.  I wonder if the loonies from Central City are sent there as well?

Nice to see the Central City & Star City PD's working together....great guest appearance from Captain Singh tonight.  I love cooperation!  Also, nice of him to name drop Blockbuster and Bludhaven on us tonight as well.  For those that DON'T know...Blockbuster is a crimelord from Bludhaven...Nightwing's stomping grounds, and arch enemy.  What I wouldn't give for a Nightwing appearance...*sigh*

And HEY!!  FINALLY!  We get to see Oliver make his infamous chili!  

Poor Dinah---talk about taking one for the team.  The slit throat from Stanley makes us wonder what the future her can do.  Is she still a meta?  I think that with her throat damage, she may be able to talk again, but it might be the end of her as Black Canary.  And it also seems that while everyone now knows Dinah is a metahuman, and was the Black Canary, it didn't seem to effect her position in the department any.

Diggle trying to sweeten the pot for Curtis in order to keep him at ARGUS fell on deaf ears.  If there is ANYONE who's been the extreme moral compass for the team---it's Curtis.  And this man refuses to get his hands dirty anymore.  So, this was probably our farewell to Curtis for now...and he might make sporadic appearances in the future, but for now...Team Arrow is down a man.

The future storyline seems to have more holes filled once we seen Mia and Connor interact with Dinah, Roy, William and Zoey.  Not sure what Mia wanted with the Archer codes at first, but with the revelation that she is Felicity's daughter (my mistake thinking it was Mia Dearden), and her and William are siblings changes the game BIG TIME...as well as finding our dear old Mom is ALIVE.  This gets more interesting by the second!  And hey...I think we ALL knew Connor would be Diggle's son, as had been mentioned a long time ago.  

Speaking of CURRENT William, we now know HIS outbursts are due to feeling abandoned by Ollie and Felicity.  And wanting a normal life---NOT something he was going to get living WITH Ollie and Felicity.  So, it's better to keep him in Central City for now with his grandparents.  And SHOULD anyone try to go after him again, at least Ollie knows he's got A LOT of friends there to help him out...quickly.

And I think it doesn't take rocket science to figure out the look on Felicity's face at the end of the episode....I wonder how she drops THIS bomb on Ollie?  

Anyway, we're on a two week hiatus, and we'll be back March 4th.  Thanks for checking out the blog.  Please subscribe and leave a comment.  And hey...spread the word...I'd appreciate it!  

Until March 4th....keep your sights on the bullseye!

IMPACT! WRESTLING - February 8, 2019

IMPACT! WRESTLING – February 8, 2019: Tag Team Title rematch, Kiera & Allie face off yet again, OVE vs. Swann/Mack, and more!

We’re back in Mexico City once again this week, as we have a pretty jam-packed two hours of IMPACT Wrestling this week as the big Main Event as The Lucha Bros and LAX hook up to see who will walk about Impact Tag Team Champions, also, OVE will meet Willie Mack & Rich Swann, Sami Callahan squares off against Lucha sensation Puma King, and finally, Dark Allie and Kiera Hogan go head to head in singles action.

Things kick off with tag team action as The Crist brothers of OVE come out to take on Rich Swann and Willie Mack.  The action starts early as all four men duke it out in the ring before it clears and everyone gets to their respective corners.  Swann and Mack take the offense early to OVE, and Mack works over one of the Crist brothers. , He gets Dave Crist out of the ring, then does a diving senton over the top rope and lands on the Crist Brothers.  Swann then lands a suicide dive over the top rope, and they’re all down.  Mack gets back into the ring, and Jake gets in the ring, and the action turns as OVE gets the dge in the battle.  Jake holds Swann back outside the ring, and then they both work him over, keeping him down and out while they work on Mack in the ring.  They get a double team on Mack to keep him down.  They head over to the corner to knock Swann down, and keep him from getting into the ring.  Another tag, and Dave runs over to hit Swann, and they work on Mack some more.  They get a lying superkick, but only get a two count.  They keep Mack isolated with a ground based attack, but also go over to try and kick or hit Swann off the ring…not sure what the hell is up with that.  Mack finally gets a tiny bit of offense in the ring, and eventually makes the hot tag to Swann who begins to work both Crist brothers over with a series of kicks and high spot moves.  He tries to go for a dive, but is stopped by Jake, and they hit their finisher, but only gets a two count.  Mack and Swann work the double team, and Mack lands a double stunner, and Swann follows up with a double cutter.  They eventually win the match with their combination cutter to score the pinfall.  Nice teamwork with these two, but the crowd was dead.  Hope this isn’t a pattern for the night.

Lucha Bros cut a promo  about tonight’s main event with LAX.  They pretty much say that Konnan wanted to keep this within the family, and Pentagon says that they WILL stay in the family…just not with LAX.  This is going to be the match of the night.

Matthews & Callis talk about next week in UNCAGED as Johnny will now defend his title against Killer Kross, Moose, AND Brian Cage in a fatal 4-way. 

Back to the action, and Dark Allie comes to the ring with Su Yung, looking under the ring for Rosemary.  She’s ready to take on former friend Kiera Hogan. Jordynne Grace comes to the ring to be Kiera’s backup and keep and eye on Su Yung.  Kiera wastes no time and lands a sitting dropkick on Allie, and lays on the pressure.  Kiera goes for a pin, and only gets a two count.  Kiera keeps working over Allie with quick moves, keeping the offense at a fast pace.  Allie finally lands a clothesline to cut Kiera off.  She gets a two count, then starts to pound on Kiera.  Allie gets Kiera in the corner and lands a low clothesline.  Goes for another pin and only gets a two.  Been  a little back and forth.  Fans are a tad more into this match.  Allie works Kiera more, and goes for the codebreaker, but Kiera blocks it and nails Allie.  Allie then drops Kiera on the top rope clotheslining her, hits a backstabber, but only gets a two.  Kiera battles back, and lands a backstabber of her own, but can’t get the two count.  Su is outside taking out the bloody glove to give to Allie, but Jordynne takes down Su, and takes the bloody glove.  Allie is looking for it and can’t find it.  She’s distracted enough that Kiera lands a shot to the back, and lands her neckbreaker to get the pin on Allie yet again.  Jordynne is paying off dividends for Kiera…Su and Allie are paranoid about Rosemary…who is absent tonight…so we think.

Menendez catches up with the World Champ outside the arena and asks him if he knows about his match next week at UNCAGED, and Johnny says no.  Once Menendez tells him that his match next week is now a fatal four-way.  Johnny is pissed, and not happy how he found out.  The Machine then comes up to him, and asks him about the announcement…and tells Johnny that it sucks to be screwed, doesn’t it?  Brain pats him on the back and says he’ll see him next week.

Allie and Su are backstage, wondering where Rosemary is, thinking she’s there.  The screen frizzes out yet again, and we get another message from Su Yung.  A final warning to them both. 

Gama Singh introduces the Desi Hit Squad, as Rohit takes on Trey Miguel from the Rascalz.  Match starts out with some chain wrestling and counters.  Both men continue counter moves and high spots.  He nails Rohit with a dropkick and Rohit rolls outside.  Trey goes for a suicide dive, but Rohit catches him and knocks him down.  Rohit then nails a face slam.  Back in the ring, Rohit slowly works on Trey.  While Trey is hanging on the ropes, Rohit distracts the ref, as Raj chokes Trey on the rope.  Both men both go into a series of exchanges, but miss until Trey misses out on a dropkick and Rhoit takes advantage.  Rohit goes for a pin and Trey kicks out at two.  Trey reverses out of a suplex, and nails Rohit with a flip and a kick on the back of Rohit’s head.  No count, and both men go toe to toe for a moment.  Trey comes off the top rope as Rohit goes after him, lands, rolls, and nails Rohit with a neckbreaker, but only scores a two.  Rohit then counters and nails a gord buster, but Trey kicks out.  This has been a good match.  Rohit nails two solid knees to the face, but can only get the two count.  Raj is called towards the ring, and he gets up on the apron, but Dez and Wentz take him out by the feet.  They then nail him with a double superkick.  Gama makes an attempt to get them, but he backs off.  Trey nails a 619 in the corner, does a flip, and wins with a pin.  Really good showing by both men, and Trey just continues to show he belongs.  Rhoit put on a good show as well. 

We get a promo for team AAA vs. Team Impact for next week’s UNCAGED.

Scarlett Bordeaux is here, and she’s letting everyone know the Smokeshow is making her IMPACT debut in Vegas.  Sweet!  I get to see her live! 

Sami Callahan is in the ring ready to take on Lucha star Puma King.  Sami’s ticked off and doesn’t even let Puma get into the ring before coming after him.  He nails Puma, but starts jabbering with the crowd, and Puma comes back with a superkick, then lands a vertical suplex.  Puma heads to the rope and climbs on them as Sami rushes him, and he gets Sami out of the ring, then lands an aero star on Sami.  The battle continues outside the ring.  Puma is in control.  Puma lands a kick, rolls into the ring rolls, out to get Sami, and Sami pulls the ref in front of him like a shield.  Just long enough to poke Puma in the eyes, then Sami lands a spinning DDT.  Back in the ring, Sami lands a sitting powerbomb, but can only get a two count.  Sami tries going for the mask of Puma, but the ref breaks it up.  But again, he’s jabbering with the fans, that allows Puma to come back with a kick, but Sami knocks him down and then pounds on him.  Sami taking his time in this match…then he gets Puma with a vicious chop, but continues to jaw jacking with the crowd, and Puma King comes back, fights off Callahan and lands a kick, and Sami is out of the ring, but he tries to move away from Puma as Puma comes off the top rope and misses Callahan completely.  Puma lands bad, and both men are down.

Puma is still down and laying in the ring, hurt as Sami is on the outside just screaming at Puma and smashing his head on the ring apron.  Sami nails him in the head with a boot.  Apparently, it looks like Puma’s knee is hurt.  Puma tries to fight back, but Sami pokes the eyes.  Puma lands a spine buster, but no count.  Sami lands a clothesline, and tosses Puma into the corner, but Puma responds with a move of his own and both men go down.  They get up before the 10 count, and Puma lands a couple of moves to get a pin on Sami, but Sami kicks out.  He gets a reversal, and nails Puma with a lariat.  But he can’t get the pin.  He jaws with the fans again, as he takes off the wrist tape.  He nails Puma with a right hand, but Puma responds, and Puma gets him in a rollup, but Sami manages to scrape the rope to escape the 3 count.  They then get each other into a series of pin attempts.  Puma goes for a sunset flip, but Sami reverses it into a piledriver for the pin and the win.

We get a promo for the Street Fight for the Knockouts Championship between Taya Valkyrie and Tessa Blanchard.

Backstage with Eli Drake and Eddie Edwards.  Eli reminds Eddie that they didn’t need “Kenny” to win the match last week (which is crap, because Eli used it), , and Eddie reminds him to do HIS thing, and Eddie will do HIS.  Eli wants him to go back to lacing up the boots, and be the wrestler he was. 

Melissa Santos is backstage with Moose and Kross, and asks them about their thoughts on next week’s Title match being a 4 way.  Kross thinks the whole thing is a joke.  Moose says that they’re partners, and they can be co-champions, and Moose thinks that since he had Tom Brady’s back, he’ll have Kross’.  Says that they can keep the title in Moose’s case regardless of who wins.  Moose gives out a Belechik analogy about winning, and then hits on Melissa, and Kross finally responds that while he thought Moose’s football analogy is good, he prefers the Frog in the rain, then walks off.

Tag Team Main Event, with the IMPACT Tag Titles on the line.  LAX & The Lucha Bros ready to square it off yet again.  The Luchas come out to this elaborate Chinese New Year style celebration.  They get the home country pop.  LAX comes out with Konnan to a good response, but we know it’s all about the Lucha’s.  Fenix doesn’t waste time, and dropkicks Santana, and the match is on.  Both teams are in the ring, but it clears.  The Luchas are on the attack with a series of high impact moves.  A couple of superkicks…one to Ortiz, and one to Fenix…and Santana and Pentagon are in the ring, and square up.  Santana with a kick heads to the other side of the ring, but Fenix catches him with a kick, but he then kicks Pentagon.  The action is nonstop as they just go at it Lucha style.  Incredible pace in this match.  A lot of double team counters leave all four men down in the ring...hot damn what a freaking start!

Back from the break, and the action is still quick paced.  Fenix nails Ortiz on the top rope to prevent of the attack on him.  Then climbs on TOP of Ortiz, and lands a big blow to the back of the head, but can only get a two count on the pin.  Back and forth Ortiz and Fenix go…Konnan watching intently.  Both men down, but make their respective tags.  Pentagon and Santana square up again, and off they go on a chop spree.  Santana lands and urinagi, but only gets a two count.  Santana tries to come off the ropes to nail Pentagon, but reverses it into the Pentagon Driver, but can only score a two count.  Pentagon can’t believe it.  

Pentagon tags Fenix, and try to go to the screwdriver, but it’s broken up.  All for men battle in the ring, and Pentagon gets thrown out.  LAX put on  a cutter, and then go for a driver to put Fenix away, but he kicks out.  Pentagon comes back in for the save, and the action comes in hot and heavy.  Pentagon and Santana in the ring, and Fenix and Pentagon nail their finisher the Fear Factor, and then Fenix suicide dives onto Ortiz outside the ring.  Pentagon goes for the cover, and Santana kicks out again.  Pentagon nails a piledriver, but Santana STILL kicks out.  They go for the Fear Factor again, and just like before, Fenix suicide dives out of the ring onto Ortiz yet again.  They land a huge kick, and Pentagon scores the pinfall, as the Lucha Bros win the Tag Team Championships in a fantastic battle.  After the match, the Luchas and LAX are in the ring, and Konnan wants them to shake hands.  There’s some tension between the two teams, but they shake it out, and LAX departs the ring disappointed as the Lucha Bros celebrate their victory in the ring.  Now the Lucha Bros will face Rob Van Dam and Sabu at United We Stand on April 4^th.

_________________________________________________________________________

This was not a bad show.  Again, the thing I like about IMPACT is that they don't waste a lot of time with two hours.  You get quite a few matches, the promos and vignettes aren't real long, so there's very little drag time.  It makes for a better flow to the show.  However, still kind of disappointed with the Mexico City crowd.  They got up for their lucha heroes when they were in the ring, which is understandable, but I was hoping for more of a reaction.  I think it got better through the night.

Rich Swann & Willie Mack make a great tag team, and they showed how well they work together tonight against OVE.  Mack is incredibly agile for a guy his size, and moves pretty well around the ring.  Swann is already a big star, and he continues to prove why.  If they got the urge, they could make a run at the tag titles.  OVE...at least the Brothers Crist in this case...are also in that mix.  Was a solid match, was just sad the crowd wasn't into it.  

Allie is struggling as of late.  Apparently, being a part of the Undead Realm has not done wonders for her.  Su Yung, for all her influence, hasn't done much to improve Allie's abilities in the ring.  Now, to be fair, she's had to deal with the haunting return of Rosemary, who once again left a calling card to the Dark Bunny.  The War is on.  As for Kiera Hogan...she's got a motor on her.  She's quick in the ring, has lots of energy, and gets better week after week.  She's young, and the sky is the limit.  Having a heavy hitter in your corner like Jordynne Grace isn't bad, either.  And I feel that, at some point, they need to get Jordynne Grace's march to the top going.  It should NOT be long before she's in the title picture.  

Rohit has some mad ring skills...he put on a really good match tonight against Trey Miguel.  Lots of back and forth, chain moves, and high spots marked an entertaining match.  Trey Miguel, though....THIS guy should be a superstar.  He is WAAAY too good in the ring to be limited or held back.  This guy is the real deal, as is the other boys in The Rascalz, who also had a strong showing tonight---proving that the tag team division in IMPACT is pretty good.  

Sami Callahan held his own against Puma King tonight.  Sami is a stellar wrestler and he plays his part well.  He knows how to incite the crowd and interact with them.  Puma King brought him to a good match and made the most out of their different styles.  Now, we'll see what happens when he drops the bomb on Rich Swann's past next week.  He is the next challenger in line for the X-Division Title...it's inevitable.

Eli Drake continues to press Eddie Edwards about going back to the old ways, and ditching "Kenny" and the hardcore style.  They do make an effective team, but there's an implosion coming after next week.  Could one or the other cost IMPACT the World Cup against AAA?  There seems to be the makings of a good feud here.

It seems that NO ONE was happy when they found out that the IMPACT World Title was going to be a fatal four-way.  Most certainly NOT the Champion.  Question is...who's walking out the champion next week?  This will be Impact's biggest test to date.  Let's see how well he can carry this company on his back.

The main event tonight....hokey smoke!  Once again, the Lucha Bros and LAX prove why they are two of THE BEST tag teams in the world of wrestling.  Another stellar match between these teams, and the Luchas finally reaching the pinnacle and becoming the new Tag Team champions.  The match was fast paced, and high energy.  You're never bored in this match, and the crowd was really into it---mostly for the Lucha Bros, but still---all star quality.  My ONLY setback was the overuse of finishers.  Wasn't helpful in this match to have each team kick out of each other's finishers repatedly.  A finsiher is just that...a FINISHER.  That means it should END the match.  Outside of that...the work that these 4 men bring to the ring everytime they step into it, is amazing.  

We got some info about the World Cup, more matches set up for UNCAGED, and a good job at balancing several stories on the show.  Inch by inch, they get better.  Just need to hopefully keep the talent they have, nurture it, and hopefully down the road, improve the production value.  But, I have been enjoying what I've been seeing, and that is the big plus.

I will BE at Sam's Town in Las Vegas next week for the TV tapings they'll have all 3 days, so there probably WON'T be a review of next week's show.  I hope that I'll be able to point myself out if I'm on TV.  

Okay, kids---I'm out for this week.  Please subscribe and leave a comment below if ya want!  

Until next time...

COMIC SCHOOL W/PROFESSOR MIKE - SESSION #4

COMIC SCHOOL W/PROFESSOR MIKE - SESSION #4


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

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


HONORABLE MENTIONS:  

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

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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

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

4.  Who were the members of the original Defenders?

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



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