DC WEEK - LEGENDS OF TOMORROW!

Today is the final day of the epic 4 (but technically only 3) day crossover of the CW's DC superhero shows. This one features the so called Legends of Tomorrow. This is pretty exciting considering that the Legends will be standing up next to Green Arrow, the Flash, Supergirl, Spartan, and other heroes that they don't normally get to fight with.

Squeal!

Like Supergirl, Arrow, and The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow has done a fantastic job of introducing heroes and characters from the DC Comics that otherwise probably wouldn't have shown up on TV or Film like Hourman, Obsidian, Citizen Steel, and even Rip Hunter himself. This got me thinking though, there are two characters that I would absolutely love to see and they would fit in perfectly with the Legends crew. It's actually kind of surprising that they haven't shown up yet despite being, somewhat, teased throughout the other Arrowverse shows.

That's right kids! Booster Gold and Blue Beetle, specifically Ted Kord. In the comics, they were essentially a bumbling pair of superheroes that probably screwed up more than they actually saved the day. They were regular fixtures during the Justice League International comic along with Batman and Green Lantern Guy Gardner.

Nowadays, Ted Kord has taken on a mentor type role to Jaime Reyes, the current Blue Beetle. While that's all well and good but I think that there is something to be gained from having Ted and Booster Gold team up with the Legends. True, the Legends already have a billionaire adventurer on their team with Ray Palmer, but I think Ted Kord is due for a proper live action debut. He had a small part in the Booster Gold episode of Smallville but that was to establish his connection to the Scarab. I'd love to see Blue Beetle/Ted Kord in full gear ready to kick some ass. This would be my suggestion:

ARROW PARODY

I think it would be great to start Beetle's introduction as a parody of Arrow, in a sense. Have him act like he went through a major tragedy and decides to fight crime as a result. But instead of being bad ass like Oliver, he's actually quite bad at it. His gadgets don't work, the bad guys get away a lot, overall I'd want his introduction to be like the Arrow pilot, except the bad guys win because Ted has no idea what he's doing. Enter Booster Gold:

FLASH PARODY

Essentially, Booster comes in like the Flash. He's powerful, a little cocky, and is eager to make a difference in the world. He asks to team up with Ted and even offers to help him save the world and expand his technology. Unfortunately, Booster is just as inept as Ted and they make things worse. Granted they get along just fine and become really good friends, but they can't help but just screw everything up. Now this is where the Legends come in . . . 

TIME ABERRATION

At this point, the Legends have to step in because Booster Gold is a Time Aberration and he needs to be stopped. Ted doesn't understand why his new friend is being attacked and tries to save him. The Legends force Booster to reveal the truth, that he's a time traveler from the future trying to come back to the 21st Century to make a lot of money as a superhero. Ted is furious and the Legends attempt to take Booster back to the 25th century where he, hopefully, can't hurt anyone else. Then of course, Booster reveals some crazy thing that states why he belongs with the Legends and wants to bring Ted along. Ray and Nate would feel sorry for Ted and want to encourage anyone that wants to be a hero to be a hero - with the proper training of course. 

Those are my loose ideas on how to introduce these characters. It would be a very different type of Legends episode but let's face it - every show needs some crazy shake up every now and again. Plus this would open up possibilities to introduce the Legion of Superheroes, Jaime Reyes, Skeets, and other characters from Booster Gold and Blue Beetle's mythology. It's also a great way to have a sort of "meta" commentary on the superhero origin and, for the producers, poke fun at their own shows, which is always fun in my opinion. 

In my mind, it's only a matter of time (pun not intended) before we see Booster Gold on Legends of Tomorrow and in my opinion, Kord would fit in perfectly, and imperfectly, on Arrow. I'd love to see those characters show up on any of the Arrowverse shows or maybe even start their own series next year that bleeds into next year's gigantic crossover. Cuz . . . they're gonna do it again and it's gonna be bigger next year! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!

DC WEEK - ARROW!

Day 3 of the massive CW Crossover Invasion! It's exciting for two reasons tonight, we're seeing more super team ups AND it's the 100th episode of my favorite TV show - Arrow!! I had previously discussed why Arrow was so important to me in my personal life. If you don't mind I'd like to elaborate on that a little bit.

During New York Comic Con 2012, Arrow premiered on the CW. My sister and I had missed it due to our vacation plans in NYC. While we were making our plans for the week at Comic Con we came across an interesting thing - There was going to be a signing with the Arrow cast on Sunday as well as a panel previewing the new series. We decided to download the pilot and watch it before making a decision if we wanted to go to these events. We watched it. We fell IN LOVE with it. It's very rare for a pilot episode to be so gripping and exciting. I felt like I was watching a new DC movie series come to life. The Dark Knight parallels were obvious but didn't overpower the show. While this was clearly inspired by Christopher Nolan's trilogy, it was a different beast.

That Sunday we got in line to get bracelets for the signing. Then we jumped in line for the panel. The whole room was full! If you've never been to the Javits Center in New York, I'll tell you it was their biggest screening room and it was filled with people excited to see more of Arrow. Geoff Johns (my man) moderated the panel which featured Katie Cassidy, Willa Holland, Stephen Amell, and producer Marc Guggenheim. I was lucky enough to be in line to ask a question during the panel. Actually I was the last one allowed to ask a question. THAT was a big deal to me. I've never been in that position. They showed us footage of the upcoming season. If the pilot blew me away, then I'm not sure how to describe that footage. It was amazing. Deathstroke? The Royal Flush Gang? Deadshot? Arrow kicking ass?? Hells yes!

As a side note - my question was "Will writers of the comics ever guest write? Like Kevin Smith or Judd Winick?" The answer was that some Green Arrow people were scheduled to help out like Geoff Johns writing an episode or two and Mike Grell submitting the famous "Hood Guy Sketch" from the pilot.

I thanked them and told them that the footage was incredible. "I felt like I was watching The Dark Knight," I told them. Guggenheim said, "That's the best compliment I've ever gotten!" That made me very happy.

Next, we went upstairs for the signing. In line, a woman was selling 8x10 prints from the pilot. Granted, they were signing a free poster at the table, but we couldn't resist the image she was offering.

It was so cool looking and we felt like it was a little bit better looking than the poster they had so we each bought one. We got up to see them and we both gushed and geeked out at the actors and producer. I told Amell, "Dude this show blew me away! I can't wait for more!" He thanked me and I asked if he could sign the 8x10 as well as the poster. One of the DC volunteers tried to stop us and said, "Um he's only signing the poster!" But Amell and I disagreed. I said, "Well, he said yes and he's signing it!" Amell laughed and said, "I mean you're already in line! What are they gonna do?" At that moment I knew this guy was awesome not just on screen but in real life. I met Holland and told her she was adorable. She blushed and thanked me. I told Cassidy that I think she looked better as a brunette. She also blushed and thanked me. When I got to Guggenheim I told him that I was the one that said the show looked like The Dark Knight. He said, "Ah yes! You were my favorite question at the panel!" We talked a little bit about the Green Lantern film and he agreed to sign not just the Arrow poster but the free Arrow comic DC had produced over the summer to promote the series. My sister and I walked away feeling like we had had a great experience that day.

Ever since that day, Arrow has been a regular fixture in my life. When my ex-fiancee left me, Arrow was a constant comfort during a very difficult time. When I moved away from my home in North Carolina, Arrow season 3 was there. I could watch it in real life with my sister, as opposed to just texting about it later. I could watch the Flash v Arrow episode with my nephew and he was excited to see the two heroes on screen together. Granted, he wasn't as excited as me but he was close ;)

When I left Pittsburgh and came back to my home of Erie, Arrow was still there. Now season four may not have had the best episodes that seasons 1 and 2 had, but it still got me excited every week. And now we're in season 5. So far this season has been superb and the crossover looks to be the type of episodes I was secretly hoping for back during season 1 when it was a "grounded, vigilante, street justice show."

I don't know if Stephen Amell, Greg Berlanti, Marc Guggenheim, Katie Cassidy, or whoever else will ever read this but I just wanted to offer a very sincere thank you. Arrow is one of my all time favorite TV shows and one that I will defend to the death every day of my life. I've met Stephen Amell twice at different Comic Cons and I'm hoping to see more of the cast during other Comic Cons. I'm confident that we'll see more Arrow during the next few years whether it's during guest spots on The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, or heck even Supergirl. And I can't freaking wait!

What a terrible picture of me . . . But Amell and my sister look great!


Till Next Time!


JJ - the Comic Junkie!

DC WEEK - THE FLASH!

Tonight . . . They arrive! Officially, the massive DC CW Crossover Invasion! begins with The Flash. In this episode we'll see the Flash recruit not only Team Arrow and the Legends of Tomorrow in the fight against the Dominators, but Supergirl as well! Basically, this is going to be the best thing since sliced bread!

Holy Product Placement, Batman!

This opens up a whole new era of storytelling for The Flash. Previously, we've seen metahuman fights, time travel, humans with some kind of super powered weapon, and of course the usual family and romantic drama that the CW does so well. Well now we can see aliens on The Flash. It's one thing to team up with Supergirl, it's quite another to have a full on alien invasion that the heroes have to team up to stop. So this got me thinking . . . if we get to see the Dominators come and try to take over our world, shouldn't there be some sort of police force out there that can stop them? 

Oh that's right . . . There IS an intergalactic police force! So where the hell are they at? I've previously said why I think Green Lantern and the Corps should be the CW's next superhero show. I gave ten reasons for it actually! So I'm not going to repeat myself. I am, however, going to give a couple more reasons why the Green Lanterns should appear specifically relating to the Flash . . . 

GREEN LANTERN AND THE FLASH ARE BEST FRIENDS

In the comic books, specifically Flash: Rebirth and Blackest Night, it was well established that Hal Jordan and Barry Allen were best friends. They may not have gotten along at first but they worked well together and liked pairing up. They were both cops (of sorts) and could agree that justice needed to be preserved whether it was on Earth or across the galaxy. Hal might be more a "hit first, ask questions later" kind of cop, but the Flash was always there to back him up. Plus it would probably do Team Flash some good to have a more brash and impulsive character on deck to make Barry's terrible decisions look good in comparison. Cuz let's face it, Barry's kind of fucked up big time this year. Like seriously . . . it's bad. 

APPARENTLY WE ARE ALLOWED TO SHARE

So . . . seriously . . . what's the hold up? The Flash, specifically Barry Allen, and Superman, specifically Clark Kent, are all on TV and starring in major motion pictures all at the same time and no one seems confused. So let's get Green Lantern into the show! Hal Jordan has specifically been hinted at during season one of The Flash and the emotional spectrum was also teased. Also, Jordan kind of made a cameo in the season four premiere of Arrow (although that could have been his father). So why not bring him along? Just last year it would have been unheard of to actually show Superman during an episode, let alone two, of Supergirl and have him played by a different actor other than Henry Cavill. Then Tyler Hoechlin came along and gave a great performance. And, although so far his appearances have been brief, Ezra Miller has been regarded as a really great choice as the Flash. 

Plus, the rumors are fairly inconsistent as to whether or not one or more Green Lanterns will appear in Justice League next fall. So let's pick and choose because there are a ton of Green Lanterns to pick! The current Green Lanterns comic has Simon Baz and Jessica Cruz kicking ass on Earth while Hal Jordan and the rest of the Corps are in outer space doing God knows what! (I'm not reading that one as of right now.) So there's really no excuse. Supergirl has proven on a weekly basis that a flying hero and her mostly CGI enemies can appear and look pretty damn good for a cable TV show. No excuse! 

NO BREACH, NO HOPE

Let's think about this for a second. As of right now, Barry and Cisco's relationship is strained due to Barry being a colossal fuck up and creating Flashpoint and accidentally killing Cisco's brother. So what happens if things become so bad for Barry and Cisco that he can't reach him the next time a bunch of aliens decide to invade Earth? What if Barry can't get a hold of the Legends or Team Arrow? He's going to need quick back up and there's no better authority on alien menaces than Green Lantern!

Plus, it's probably not a good idea for Barry and his team to keep opening up space/time continuums. I mean, who knows what else could go wrong! And haven't you done enough, Barry? Haven't you?? 

Seriously though, it would be beneficial to all the heroes in the Arrowverse to have their own superpowered force of good on Earth in the event that Supergirl and her team can't be reached. The Flash would be the perfect place to introduce these characters as well because their stories are very comic booky to begin with. 

I've said it many times and frankly, I don't think I'll stop saying it but to me it's very important that Green Lantern become a regular fixture on the CWverse. This is now 13 legitimate reasons I've given as to why the GLC practically belongs on television. If this massive crossover works, then let's just say the sky is the limit . . . 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!  

DC WEEK - SUPERGIRL!

Well it's finally here! After months of speculation and anticipation the CW's big ass Invasion crossover officially (ish) begins tonight with Supergirl. Although, if reports are to be believed, the crossover starts at the tail end of the episode as Barry and Cisco recruit Kara in their efforts to fight off the Dominators. Either way, it's pretty exciting that we're getting such a massive crossover to include all the heroes of the CWverse.

Well . . . not all of them . . . Who's missing? Quite a few as it turns out. But that's ok! Maybe we'll see them in a future crossover? Cuz that needs to happen!

SUPERMAN

Unfortunately, we will not be seeing Kara's slightly more famous cousin make the giant leap to the Arrowverse. While this is understandable, it's kind of a damn shame because Grant Gustin (the Flash) is a self professed huge Superman fan and I think that enthusiasm would carry over to seeing a real life Superman. 

Tyler Hoechlin's performance has been praised as the best Superman/Clark Kent seen on film in many years. I personally thought he was brilliant and brought a different touch to the table in comparison to Henry Cavill, who in my opinion has been great so far. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more of him on Supergirl and I hope that the next time we see him Barry and/or Oliver will come to their Earth and meet him. If for no other reason than I think Oliver meeting another super-powered alien would be a hilarious scene. Plus it would make way for another great Batman reference. Clark could say something as simple as, "You remind me of a friend in Gotham." I mean right???

MARTIAN MANHUNTER

While Hank/J'Onn did make a brief, and awesome, appearance in the "Fight Club" video that the CW released a few months ago, that appears to be all we're gonna get in terms of Martian Manhunter crossing over with the other DC heroes. Which is a shame because J'Onn, in the comics, is a great friend and ally to Green Arrow and the Flash. Granted with the already huge budget these few episodes are getting it would be tough to justify one more CGI heavy character in the mix but come on! How great would it be to see J'Onn flying next to Firestorm, the Atom, and Supergirl (again)? Plus with his powerset the fight would be over in like 10 seconds. He's supposed to be just as powerful, if not moreso, than Superman and Supergirl, so not recruit him too? Oh well . . . maybe he'll pop in next time . . . 

MISS MARTIAN

Ok so technically, she hasn't really done anything yet. And the M'Gann that we met on Supergirl isn't quite the "adorkable" girl we all knew and loved on Young Justice (yet). But she's still a heavy hitter and would be a great asset in the fight against the Dominators. But since Barry hasn't met her yet and J'Onn kind of hates her, for being a white Martian, it makes sense she would be excluded from the crossover. Hopefully, she, J'Onn, and Supergirl will become allies and team up and meet up with the other heroes soon enough. 

Then again, there's always the hope that the CW will make their own Young Justice show with Kid Flash, Miss Martian, and Arsenal or Speedy. Hey! Ya never know . . . 

GUARDIAN

Again, he's another long shot considering that Kara, as of this writing, does not know that James is the Guardian but let's say she did for argument's sake. Wouldn't it be beneficial in the fight against aliens to bring someone that has had a lot of experience fighting aliens? Granted, Guardian is new to the scene, but one can assume the years as Superman's pal taught James a thing or two about fighting bad aliens and trusting the good ones. Now that he's got his own costume and code name, he's a perfect fit to bring along in the fight. Plus he would have a lot in common with Diggle. They both started off as the sidekick then graduated up to full fledged hero. Cisco is kind of there . . . I mean he's working on it. He's just gotta stop wearing those pop culture T-shirts when he wears his Vibe gauntlets and goggles!

As a side note, I'm personally loving James' story arc this year. Having him be a hero trying to help National City is so much better than the "will they, won't they" from last year. Although to be honest I think that was handled well. I do hope that he and Kara work things out because I think they would make a great couple, but for now I'm excited to see what he does as Guardian.

BATMAN

Ok of all the characters on this list this is obviously the longest of long shots I could ever hope for. HOWEVER, Batman has been hinted at TWICE this season on Supergirl. The first time was when a man claimed, "That's it! I'm moving back to Gotham!" and the second was when Guardian debuted and Kara talked about her cousin working with a vigilante that had a lot of gadgets and demons. While we may not ever see Batman or any of his allies on Supergirl, which would be a shame, it's fun to speculate on the fact that this particular version of Superman has met Batman. Therefore, who would be better to bring in a huge team up fight? Odds are Batman and Superman clashed at one point during their team ups and Batman has a way to fight off alien invaders. Sooo . . . why not bring him along, Barry? Huh? Is Oliver the only one allowed to be a brooding vigilante on your team? HUH? HUH? 

Ahem . . . in any event, I suppose it would be better to bring Batman onto one of the many shows before we throw him into a team up. And they should . . . 

\

Now just to be clear, I know why all of these characters are not in the crossover but it does bum me out that we won't get a few more Justice League members joining the Invasion fun. However, since all (except one) of these characters have been introduced, it's definitely possible that we'll see them pop up in each of their shows eventually. I mean, who doesn't wanna see Superman race the Flash or J'Onn freak out Diggle with his alien side or M'Gann and Jax make out? . . . What? . . . Was that weird? 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie 

FUTURE BATMEN WAITING IN THE WINGS . . . ?

I love Batman. Specifically I love Bruce Wayne as Batman. He's the OG as the kids like to say. However, over the character's 77 year history there have been quite a few other men (and some women) to proclaim themselves as Batman. I had a post before about who I felt were the best alternate versions of Batman (and we're gonna get a little into it here) but it occurs to me that there is always the possibility that we could see these guys on the big screen! The best part about it is that WB and Zack Snyder have done some of the work for me! They've already cast two of these alternate Batmen. I just had to put the pieces together and let my imagination run wild as to what their films could look like! Now granted this is pure speculation on my part, but I love sitting and thinking about what could be, and probably should happen with these films.

JK SIMMONS AS JIM GORDON

Whatever direction they decide to go with for Jim Gordon in the new Batman/Justice League films I think we can all agree that Simmons was brilliant casting! In just about everything he's done he has proven to be an exceptional actor. I have no doubt in my mind that he will be a great Jim Gordon. I can just see him now staring up at the Justice League members in total awe and saying some funny line about how much the world has changed. It's definitely going to be a memorable performance. 

But is that all? Simmons will be a great Jim Gordon and that's it?

So what's this all about, huh? What are you doing there, JK? You planning on taking Affleck's place in a future Bat-film? Well . . . probably not because he confirmed that this picture was taken in preparation for another movie. BUT . . . Let's have some fun with this idea!

In the comics, Batman was presumed dead after a long battle with the Joker. Gotham was trying to move on without Batman but his absence was noticeable as crime was on the rise. Powers Industries recruits former police commissioner Jim Gordon to be the new Batman to protect the streets of Gotham. It isn't long before Gordon is facing a crazy and dangerous new threat in the form of Mr. Bloom! It's definitely one of the craziest but best Batman stories that's been done in recent years. I would love to see a Batman film that adapts this in some way, now the story does feature Bruce Wayne having lost all his memories as Batman and trying to rebuild his life in a community center helping people the way he thinks his parents would have. I highly recommend this one to Bat-fans. 

I think it could be a really different take on a Batman film. We've had so many films featuring Bruce Wayne as Batman and so few of them have featured Jim Gordon as an important character. In the 90s films, Gordon was sort of the way he was in the 60s TV series meaning he sort of just relied on Batman to do all the crime fighting in Gotham. In the Nolan films, Gordon was a much more interesting character and helped Batman in his crime fighting as opposed to just letting Batman do all the dirty work. I'm hoping that trend will continue with Simmons and Affleck's new the Batman film. But also, seeing Jim have to BECOME Batman would be really exciting too. It's a chance for Hollywood to do something different with the films but still have Bruce Wayne an important figure in the film. Also, it will give Affleck some time out of the Batsuit and that can't be a bad thing ;) Plus Simmons could totally be Batman! Albeit, a very different Batman then we are used to but that would be the point! It would be hilarious to see him try to be how Bruce was as Batman but also try to do his own thing. Simmons would nail it for sure and it would be fantastic. 

JEFFREY DEAN MORGAN AS THOMAS WAYNE

Now this . . . This is the guy! When Morgan was announced as Thomas Wayne for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice fans went crazy! It seemed like maybe they were setting something up for a Flashpoint film or maybe he'll guest star on The Flash as Thomas Wayne's Batman. While either of those situations would be absolutely incredible, it's probably just fans' imaginations running wild. However . . . let's not shoot it down just yet! Let's play around with this thought.

Now there are two options here. The first is an adaptation of Flashpoint where Bruce Wayne was murdered and it drove Thomas and Martha Wayne crazy. Thomas became a ruthless vigilante and Martha became a psychotic murderer. In case you never read it - Thomas is Batman and Martha is the Joker. It was a twist in the story that not only made a lot of sense but was captivating on every level. I'd love to see that adapted in some way. 

The other option is Thomas Wayne as the Earth 2 Batman. He's a much more ruthless, unforgiving Batman and he's addicted to Miraclo, a drug that gives you super strength for one hour at a time. He took up the mantle of Batman after Bruce died saving the world. He helped rally the other superheroes together during the second attack from Apokalips. That was one of my all time favorite comics. So if you're looking for a different take on Batman but it's not too terribly far off from your classic Batman then look no further than Flashpoint or Earth 2. 

Some have called it a waste that Morgan was just a cameo in BvS. Ok . . . I said that. I did. Because I love the Earth 2 stuff so much and he would be amazing as a darker, harder, meaner Batman. Given his body of work, especially Watchmen, it's not hard for me to imagine him donning the red and black Batsuit. Morgan is a brilliant actor with a lot of range. Thomas Wayne is a character we haven't gotten to see much of in the films or any TV series. Essentially, this character would be a brand new concept for movie audiences. While it's not likely that WB/DC will want to have a new Batman so soon after Ben Affleck's wonderful performance there is this idea out there. And like I said, it's pretty much on every fan's wish list to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Thomas Wayne Batman. It's definitely on mine!

SAM CLAFLIN AS DICK GRAYSON

Ok so this is just fan casting. But you cannot deny . . . It would be awesome to see. All we know, as of right now, is that at some point during Batman's career there was at least one Robin that was killed. There were rumors of it being Dick Grayson but it was confirmed to be Jason Todd. I think it's safe to say that Dick Grayson does exist in the DCEU (it would be a mistake for the filmmakers not to use him) and at this point in his life is probably Nightwing. But what if during the Justice League films or even in The Batman Bruce is killed off? Who would stand up and become Batman then? In the comics Bruce was presumed dead at the hands of Darkseid during Final Crisis and Dick Grayson took up the mantle of Batman in his place.

He even had a flying Batmobile!

Dick's career as Batman actually lasted a few years in the comics. After Bruce came back, he started up Batman, Inc and began recruiting Batmen from all over the world to protect their various cities while Dick remained in Gotham protecting it as Batman. This led to some wonderful Batman stories including Grant Morrison's Batman and Robin run and Scott Snyder's The Black Mirror. When the New 52 was launched, Dick took up the role of Nightwing again but remained a member of Batman, Inc. However, I think his career as Batman was a highlight for the character. He was a much different Batman than Bruce. He was wittier, lighter on his feet, and showed more compassion than Bruce ever did. It was one of my favorite Batman runs in recent years. I sometimes wish that they would go back to it because I love Dick as Batman so much. But then again . . . Nightwing is cool too (I guess).

Not long ago, just based on promotional material for The Hunger Games, I would have thought of Claflin as a good choice for Aquaman. I mean gosh darn it! Look at that picture! He looks just like Arthur Curry from the comics. However, after seeing the films I started thinking he would actually be a lot better as Dick Grayson. He pulled off the confident, bordering on arrogant personality but when it came down to it, he could kick major ass. That's who Grayson needs to be. There's a reason that everyone in the superhero community felt that he should take up the mantle of the Bat while Bruce was gone. I think that Claflin would make a great Dick Grayson even if he never gets the chance to be Batman. However, I do think that would make an amazing film story to see Bruce gone and Dick have to take his place. Like I said with the previous suggestions it would make for a different type of Batman film and I think that's what audiences are craving these days. I mean after Affleck kills it with his film first of course ;)

I hope it doesn't sound like I'm trying to run Ben Affleck out of the picture. I loved his performance in Batman v Superman and I can't wait to see the Batman and Justice League. I've just given it a lot of thought and it seems crazy that these two wonderful actors were cast, Simmons and Morgan, and they would make great Batmen on screen! Then of course there's my own suggestion of Claflin as Dick Grayson because, as of this writing, Dick has not been cast yet. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing a new wave of Bat-films. Here's hoping that Geoff Johns will be able to convince WB to take a chance and maybe some day give us a totally different Batman to root for on film. 

Hey a man can dream right? :)

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

JJ'S REACTION TO THE POWER RANGERS TEASER

After a long while, Lionsgate/Saban has finally released a teaser trailer for the new Power Rangers film coming out in March 2017. I was one of the lucky ones to see it firsthand during New York Comic Con (which was then released online like a minute later) during the Power Rangers panel. As I've said before, I'm a sucker for a good teaser. In my mind, Power Rangers had one of the best teaser trailers I've seen in a long time. It was well crafted with a mysterious tone and just enough footage to get us excited without giving anything away, which is all too rare these days with trailers. While not a lot of footage was shown, I was very excited by the implications the teaser gave us. I'd like to share with you my thoughts on it and what I think we can expect from the movie next March.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

A good chunk of the trailer does have a certain Breakfast Club feel to it. Truthfully, I was hoping for something like that. You get the sense in the trailer that each of these kids has their own unique quirks, problems, and struggles. Obviously that's very important when making a movie about teenagers. That's the time of your life when you start to discover who you are and what makes you special. The challenge with doing that is that everyone around you is also figuring out who they are and they may not like what you are becoming for whatever reason. That was definitely something I struggled with as a kid. One of the best examples of this particular struggle was shown in The Breakfast Club. Those were five teenagers that never would have ever gotten together under any circumstance but that day they became lifelong friends. I think that Power Rangers is going to give us a similar story - 5 teenagers from different walks of life, rebelling against the system, their parents, their friends, etc and then they find each other. Then of course they become super heroes . . . Just like in The Breakfast Club. 

WAS IT FATE? WAS IT AN ACCIDENT?

The official synopsis for the film states that the teenagers are chosen by fate to become Earth's protectors. However, in the teaser it looks like the kids accidentally stumble upon the power coins and then gain their powers. So . . . which is it? Most likely, it's some sort of combination of the two. Perhaps Zordon is a bit more of a puppet master and leads the kids to the Command Center and they discover the power themselves. I'd like to think of it like a Green Lantern / Thor's hammer combo meaning that the power chooses them (and is never wrong) but they also have to be worthy of its power. I'm pretty sure the film will go in that direction. We won't know for sure until the next trailer or possibly even the film itself. It would be kind of a let down if they just stumbled on the power rather than earned it or were chosen. To me, that's much more interesting. They have to be worthy of the power. After all, the teaser shows them as good kids, even if they have rough pasts, so it should be interesting no matter what happens. 

POWERS OUTSIDE OF THE COSTUMES

This is something that I've always wanted from Power Rangers but never got - they have superpowers outside of their costumes. It's probably somewhat implied in the show since there are quite a few times they fight the Putties without their costumes on. I always kind of suspected they were given powers and the suits just enhanced them. However, it was never directly stated. It's unclear from the trailer if they are all given different powers or if they might have individualized powers. After all we see that Jason has super strength, Billy is invulnerable, and they all seem to be able to leap a great distance and survive underwater. That's pretty damn awesome if you ask me. Hopefully the film will elaborate on just how powerful they are. In the series, it seemed like they had powers but it was never really said how much. Then again, for the purposes of a 30 minute action series, I suppose they didn't really need to get into it. 

SOMEWHERE REAL

Clearly the Batman Begins era of inspired reboots is still going strong. What I mean is that the world of Power Rangers seems placed in reality just like Christopher Nolan placed his version of Batman in reality. There seems to be a grounded nature to the film. Angel Grove feels like a real small town, as opposed to the city from the series. This type of trick can help the audience relate a little better to the story and to the characters, "Hey I grew up in a town like that!" or something like that. Again, because of the low budget nature of the show and the fact that it was spliced with Japanese footage, Angel Grove never really felt like a real place to me. I enjoyed the show, but I didn't care about Angel Grove. However, in Batman Begins or Man of Steel despite the fact that Gotham City and Metropolis are not real cities, I still worried for them when the villains were trying to destroy them. It looked and felt real to me in the theater and made the suspense that much more exciting. I'm hoping for something similar in Power Rangers. 

RITA IS TERRIFYING

This is something I spoke about in a previous blog post - I never felt afraid of Rita Repulsa. I always thought Zedd was cool and Goldar was scary but I was never afraid of Rita. I just didn't get how the Power Rangers acted like she was so tough. She was kind of embarrassing as a character. It's most likely due to the Japanese footage and the quick cuts of it, but I never liked her. I don't know. However, that's all gone out the window now. I'm a huge fan of Elizabeth Banks and I can't wait to see what she does with the character, which to me, is kind of a blank slate. Although her appearance in the teaser is very brief, it's pretty memorable. I think, unlike previous adaptations, we'll see Rita as a genuine threat to the Rangers. I also like that she is taking an active interest on Earth and is willing to get hands on and dirty with the Power Rangers. In the teaser, we see her attacking Trini in her bedroom. That makes for a truly scary villain. She knows where you live and can come for you whenever she feels like it. It has been confirmed that Goldar and the Putties will be in the film, but it's still cool to see Rita be an up close and personal threat to the Power Rangers.

SUCH A TEASE

Like I said, this was definitely a teaser to remember. We only get the briefest of glimpses at the Power Coins, Rita, The Command Center, and then the Rangers' morphing. It's exactly the kind of teaser trailer I wanted. Just when it's getting good it cuts off. So far of what I've seen has gotten me really excited for the new film. There's so much that we haven't even seen yet! Where are the Zords? Alpha 5? Zordon? Goldar? The Green Ranger? While the Green Ranger has not been confirmed for the film he has also not been denied so it's possible that the Green Ranger may show up in some form or another. But at this point it doesn't matter. This teaser gave us just enough information to get us all excited and held back a lot. That alone wins it points in my book. But then again, I'm biased. So far, this looks like the Power Rangers story I always wanted to see. 

I'm definitely looking forward to the new film. From every little announcement, image released,  seeing the action figures on display at New York Comic Con and now the teaser has just got me super amped up! I can't wait for next March!

I have very high hopes for this movie. Hopefully it will be successful and we'll see a brand new take on one of my favorite shows from my childhood. 

Till Next Time!

JJ - The Comic Junkie!

8 TIPS FOR A FUN, SAFE, SUCCESSFUL COMIC CON EXPERIENCE

As of this writing, next week begins one of my favorite events of the whole year - NEW YORK COMIC CON! While a lot of people might prefer a small Con like Steel City Con in Pittsburgh or the BIG one in San Diego (maybe you've heard of it), I've been to a few in my life and New York is always my favorite. It started relatively small and now it's become a gigantic thing! In fact, it's the largest Comic Con on the East Coast. My first time going was in 2007 and I've gone almost every year since. While going to this one and various different Comic Cons over the years I've learned something - they're all very different but very similar in some regards.

The trouble with going to a big Con like NYCC is that there is SO MUCH TO DO! There are dozens of panels a day, tons of celebrity guests, tons of comic book creators, not to mention the hundreds of vendors littering the place with all kinds of cool stuff! If you have a four day pass you'll think "Oh this is plenty of time to do what I want to do!" Actually . . . it may not be. You'll definitely get your money's worth, but you got to make sure that you make your trip fun, safe, and successful. I'd like to think that over the past 9 years at Comic Con I've become an expert. I'd like to share my advice and dare I say it, have a CONversation with you . . . HA!

Anyway . . .

IF YOU WANT TO COSPLAY - GO FOR IT!

The thing about cosplay, that I never realized, is that it's incredibly liberating. It's one thing to wear a Batman t-shirt or carry a Spider-Man backpack. It's quite another to dress up as Batman, Spider-Man or any of their allies or villains. If you love Batman but you're an African American man still do it! If you're Asian and you're favorite character is Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then do it! Fans come in all shapes and sizes and I encourage you if you have the time and money to put into a costume then go for it! Cosplay is a great way to get noticed at Comic Con. My friends and I attended Steel City Con in Pittsburgh a few months ago and we dressed as the Batman villains. We were immediately recognized and everyone wanted our picture. It was a huge compliment that our hard work had payed off. I love seeing people dress up as their favorite characters, even ones that aren't comic book characters like Effie Trinket, Jack Skellington, Quailman! Oh man, it's so much fun to see! And in my opinion,the more unique the better. You love Cheshire Cat? What about Steampunk Cheshire Cat? Go for it, dude! 

BRING SNACKS

Are you the type of person that gets grumpy when you get hungry? I sure as hell am. I always make sure to pack some snack with me. When you're standing in a line for 2 hours, it can get boring and of course you don't want to lose your spot just because you got hungry and wanted to find a vending machine! The other thing is that the machines and food vendors at Cons, because they are in a convention center, don't mind a little bit of price gauging. I don't know about you but a small bag of Doritos isn't really worth $4 to me. However, when you're in a jam or just that hungry you might be willing to put up with it. My advice is to bring a cereal bar, bag of chips, whatever your preference might be. Something to tide you over until dinner time after the Con. My sister and I figured out early on to bring sandwiches with us so we could have lunch in line.

STAY HYDRATED!

Ok so I'm going to be your mom here! But this is great advice for anyone at a Comic Con - stay hydrated! There is a lot of walking, a lot of standing around, a lot of sweating, and, if you have a big day planned, not a lot of time to stop and grab something to drink (again, lots of lines). The best thing you can do is bring a water bottle from home or your hotel and fill it every chance you get. True, this is a good tip for your daily life, but at a Con, especially if you're stuck in line, it will prevent you from getting dehydrated. This is especially important if you are cosplaying. If you have a complicated costume, you'll want to make sure you drink plenty of water to stay healthy and happy during the day.

CHOOSE YOUR EVENTS CAREFULLY

The really awesome thing about going to a big convention like NYCC is that there are literally hundreds of events throughout the weekend that you can do. The really frustrating thing about going to a big convention like NYCC is that you can't do all of them. I've gone with my sister and we've had to split up in order to do all the things we wanted to do. Even worse, there were several times when we had to choose which events we were going to do and which ones we were going to skip. That's a tough decision but we both could leave Sunday evening feeling like we had made the right choices. It's a tough call! Again, it all boils down to how long the lines are. You'll want to get into a line at least an hour early, for example if Stan Lee is signing at 12:30PM, you'll want to jump in the line between 11-11:30AM. Unfortunately, you'll still find that not only are you not the first person in line but there are hundreds of people already there. So that's an hour to wait, assuming he's on time (they rarely are) and then maybe another hour to wait for your autograph. Granted, it usually ends up being worth it because he's a cool guy and it's fun to see him and have the bragging right of "I met Stan Lee!" But you have to be sure that's what you want to do! I've waited in lines for several hours before. Honestly, I've never regretted it. I chose to do it and I was happy with my choice. You might think differently. But the same thing goes for the panels. There are only so many seats in the rooms and the main stage. You want to be sure that you get in line and get to your panel in enough time. And trust me when I tell you there are no good seats, unless you get there like 3 hours early. 

MAKE NEW FRIENDS!

Again, I'm gonna sound like your mom here but hear me out! A few years ago I went to Comic Con by myself. I stayed with a friend of mine in the city. I went to the show for two days and had a good time and met up with my friend after the show on Saturday night, we had planned on seeing a play together. We met up for dinner and she said, "so did you have fun?" I went on and on about the fun things I did and how excited I was. She added, "You must have met a lot of cool people." I scoffed, "Well no. I didn't really talk to many people." She laughed at me, "Well that's ridiculous! You're surrounded by people that like all the things you like! Why wouldn't you want to meet new people and make new friends?" She was absolutely right. The next day when I went I started talking to people in the lines I was waiting in. I ended up making a few new friends! It was fun to go and be able to meet new people and it's something I've strived to do every year since then. I've made some great friends and we still talk on facebook, twitter, instagram, all that social media junk. It's something I encourage everyone to do while at a Con. It's true isn't it? You're there to geek out and really express yourself. So is everyone around you! Enjoy their company!

TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES

The best thing you can do at a convention is take lots and lots of pictures. If you see someone cosplaying as your favorite character and their costume looks awesome, ask if you can take their picture! Like I said before, they've put a lot of time and money into their costumes. They want to be recognized for it. I know I did when I cosplayed. It's a huge compliment that someone will want to take their picture and then show it off to their friends. Also, that fits in with the making new friends. If you see someone cosplaying as Captain America and you're a huge Marvel fan, well then you've got something in common! Now of course there is the off chance that they are just cosplaying for fun and don't care about comics, but hey! You can still be friendly.

But not just the costumes! Take pictures of the different vendors, stages (if they allow it), and all the crazy props that are hanging around the main floor. A few years ago it was Superman's 75th anniversary so there were lots of costumes and props that DC Comics had out to take pictures with. The following year it was Batman's 75th anniversary. Oh man . . . I could have stayed at that section all day. I just stared at the different Batman costumes and gadgets. Of course, I got my picture with each one of them. I was in nerd heaven! So yes! Bring a camera and take all the pictures you want!

I would advise you to take pictures responsibly. This has never happened to me, but I have seen people's cameras or phones taken away because they were trying to get pictures of something they shouldn't have like exclusive footage or a celebrity when they've asked not to. It's all about respect! And please . . . please do not take pictures of women in their costumes without their permission. Comic Con is supposed to be a safe place for all of us to hang out! Don't ruin someone's day by taking their picture without their permission.

GET A GOOD NIGHT'S REST

This is another example of something you should be doing on a daily basis, but trust me when I tell you Con Exhaustion is a real thing and it's a bitch! The first time I went by myself to a convention I started to get a headache, felt dizzy, and could barely stand up. I stumbled into a K-Mart to buy some ibuprofen and then finally collapsed when I reached my friend's apartment. Don't worry! I was at the couch! Basically, I had not slept well the night before, wasn't eating much during the Convention, and of course being on my feet all day with no break didn't help. It's really easy to get Con Exhaustion. I was so excited to be there that I didn't realize I wasn't fully prepared for how tough the day was going to be. The same thing actually happened to my sister when she went. Luckily, it's something that goes away pretty quickly but it's also totally preventable. Make sure you get a good night's sleep the night before and take breaks during the Con as much as possible. The worst thing you can do is party all night and then think you're ready to go the next day. Trust me when I tell you . . . It ain't that easy.

DRESS COMFORTABLY

This kind of only applies to you if you are not cosplaying. But if you are then please figure out a way to make your costume as comfortable as possible. This goes back to the Con Exhaustion thing. You want to have comfortable clothes so you can get around the convention center with ease. If your costume is complicated it might prevent a necessary bathroom break and no one wants that! So be comfortable and it will make your experience so much better. 

Really the most important thing to do is have fun! Cons can be incredibly stressful but it's important to be prepared. The better prepared you are the more fun you can have. I know that might sound crazy but trust me it's worth the time to be ready. There is so much to do it won't be hard to pick what you want. Have fun! 

Till next time! 

JJ - the Comic Junkie!