HEROES ARE ALWAYS NEEDED

It's been reported that Zack Snyder has stepped down as director of the upcoming Justice League film following a family tragedy. His daughter, Autumn, committed suicide and Snyder is taking much needed time with his family away from work to heal. My heart goes out to Mr. Snyder. I'm lucky enough to admit that I've never lost a parent, sibling, or child in my lifetime. I can't imagine the pain that comes with that. It's tragic and heart breaking. My thoughts and prayers are with the Snyders at this difficult time. I'm not sure what happened to Autumn, and maybe I don't want to know, but I'd like to share something here that maybe could help someone in the future.

I'm someone that has suffered from Depression my whole life. Some days it's as mild as just being kind of bummed out for no reason. Other days, it's as severe as not wanting to get out of bed. I know lots of people that suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses. Sometimes it's utterly terrifying. Truthfully, the best medicine is laughter. Learning to laugh and make yourself happy. It's exhausting but usually worth it to get through a tough day.

My depression was at it's worst several years ago when I first moved to North Carolina. I was in a brand new city, a brand new state, a job I had no previous experience with, and worst of all I lived all by myself. At first I was excited to start my new life. Little did I know that a new life is super challenging and more often than not I was completely alone. I had very little money despite working two jobs, all my friends lived 600 miles away, and I was single. My parents lived in the same town and my dad worked in the same office, but it wasn't the same as having peers my age to hang out with, drink with, laugh with, etc. It was a scary time for me.

Since I didn't have much money, I couldn't afford to get my comics every week. I was upset till I realized I could ask for subscriptions for Christmas! I didn't want to be greedy so I only asked for three (one from each family member) - Batman, Green Lantern, and Justice League. When I had more cash living at home I was getting 10-15 comics a month. I was bummed that I was missing out on other comics but I was happy to get these. Batman was just starting the R.I.P. storyline and Green Lantern was leading up to Blackest Night. I don't remember what happened in Justice League because the quality of that comic kind of went down with changing writers and artists and it wasn't as good. That was a bummer. Nevertheless, I was still happy.

It was so good!

Don't worry he didn't really die! 

After about a year, when I was finally making a little more money at my office job and paid off some of my debts, I decided to go back to buying comics on a weekly basis. I was able to get more than just the three in the mail. I was able to catch up on what the other DC heroes were doing as well as the Marvel ones. I was getting New Avengers, Dark Avengers (which I really miss by the way), Ultimate Spider-Man, Action Comics, The Flash, and a few others that I would pick up randomly. As much as I liked comics when I lived in Erie, I think I fell even more in love with them while I lived in North Carolina. The comics made me feel less lonely and gave me something to look forward to every week. Every Wednesday on my lunch break I would drive to my local store, get my books, and read as many as I could before I had to go back to work. It became a weekly ritual for me. Something to keep me happy and excited.

It was during this time I started to kind of get to know (so to speak) the different writers and artists on my favorite comics. It was how I figured out that Geoff Johns was my favorite DC writer and Brian Michael Bendis was my favorite Marvel writer. I grew to appreciate their different styles and the different artists that they worked with. I was able to attend Comic Cons in New York City as more than just a passing fan. I could bring books for them to sign, sit through their panels, and even talk to them and gush over their work. As I said, my oldest sister was able to join me at other Cons and we could enjoy the experience even though most of it is just standing in lines for like a year! But I digress . . .

So what am I trying to say here? What is this about? Well, at a time in my life when I was all alone, scared, depressed, and homesick while trying to make this new place my home, I found hope in comic books. Every week I could dive into new adventures of Batman, Superman, the Avengers, or whoever. Every week I had something to look forward to and be excited about. Every week seemed less sad and more optimistic. Over time, I was making more money at work, went on several dates, made lots of friends, and my outlook on life was better. What helped get me to that better place was my favorite superheroes. I can honestly tell you that those comic books saved my life. Granted, they may not be anything special but having something to look forward to every week was a big step in getting better.

Maybe I sound like a crazy person with all of that, but it's the truth. It's something I've never really shared with anyone before to be perfectly honest. I know what it's like to feel like there's no reason to live. I know what it's like to feel like no one cares for you and it would be easier just to fade away. It's an awful, all consuming feeling and sometimes it feels like it will never end. But you know what? It does end. It's never too late to make a change, find a new hobby, make new friends, find a new lover, find a new religion or whatever may help you. For me, comic books were companions I had every week to keep me happy when I was sad.

I hope this post finds someone that needs it. This was my story how I overcame a difficult time in my life with comic books and superheroes. I don't know what your story is but I hope you find it. Because when you look back, you'll be so grateful to whoever or whatever helped pull you out of that funk.

To anyone that may need it here are a couple of websites dedicated to helping people thinking about suicide and suffering from depression:    afsp.org       JEDfoundation.org

Please get help if you need it. Those comics not only helped save me but they inspired me to be a better person. To be a hero just like Batman, Spider-Man, Superman, etc.

Now you know a little bit more about me! It's hard to talk about this stuff sometimes but I like to share it here because this blog means a lot to me and I like putting my thoughts and feelings out there for the world to see! I hope this helps someone who may need it!

Till Next Time!



JJ - The Comic Junkie!

THE FLASH - MORE SPEEDSTERS!

One thing about The Flash that's undeniable is that, for a TV budget, the special effects are outstanding. Between Barry, Kid Flash, Gorilla Grodd, King Shark, and the other various speedsters, villains, etc the show proves that no villain is too big or too small. One area of expertise that the VFX guys have nailed is the speedsters. It started with Barry then we got the Reverse Flash, Zoom, Jay Garrick, Trajectory, Kid Flash, Rival, Jesse Quick, Savitar and others I'm probably forgetting. I probably named them all . . .

Anyway! DC Comics is not short of any speedsters. There's ones from the future, the past, alternate Earths, I mean it's crazy! The Flash hasn't been shy about using these characters and tweaking their stories as they see fit.

 Case in point . . . 

As I've mentioned before, I rarely stop thinking about these shows on the CW. Mainly because I think they're wonderful and it's the type of stuff I wish I had had as a kid. There are still tons of stories that can be told and many more speedsters that can be introduced on the show. I'd like to run through (pun intended) a list of my favorite speedsters that have not yet made an appearance. 

REVERSE-FLASH aka DANIEL WEST

He's one of the more recent additions to the canon, and might actually be retconned with Rebirth now that I think about it, but he was a great character. Daniel West was the son of William West, brother to Iris and uncle to Wally.  His mother died during childbirth and his father never let him forget it. He grew up under the abusive nature of his father. While Iris grew up and rose above that trauma, Daniel did not. He grew up angry and spent most of his adult life in prison. After an accident gave him super speed, he decided to go back in time and kill his father to prevent the trauma that turned him into a criminal. 

While Daniel is a great character, there's no denying that he has a great visual. His costume seems to be morphing around him and can even come off as projectiles to hurt the Flash. Granted, it's too late to tell a "long lost brother" story with Daniel, since that arc was given to Wally, but there's still room for this particular West family member. He could be Wally's doppelganger from another Earth, perhaps Earth 2? He could be Joe's brother which could work because we don't know much about Joe's parents or family. Or maybe if the writers are lazy enough he could just be another long lost brother, but I wouldn't bet on that considering the writers are better than that on The Flash. Either way, this version of the Reverse Flash offers a much different visual style than we've seen before. He's got the tragic backstory, now we just need him to come wreak havoc on Central City! 

GODSPEED aka AUGUST HEART

The most recent addition to Barry's Rogues Gallery, even though he's not a Rogue . . . It's complicated, Godspeed is really August Heart, a detective with the Central City Police. He has one of the most interesting backstories of any of the Barry's villains. He was the only witness to the accident that made Barry into the Flash. He was in Barry's lab trying to obtain evidence of his brother's murder. Unfortunately, the lightning strike destroyed all of the evidence and the suspected killer was set free. Years later, a Speed Force storm hit Central City and August was one of the people affected by it. At first, he posed himself as an ally to the Flash but was secretly the dark vigilante known as Godspeed. He got revenge on his brother's killer but it did little to satiate his new bloodlust. He ended up killing several other people affected by the Speed Force. 

Godspeed was the first new Rogue Barry fought during DC's Rebirth launch last summer. Again, he's another character with a great visual that would look really cool racing next to the Flash on TV. Plus, assuming the producers and writers don't change his story too much, he has the added benefit of being connected to Barry right from the beginning. Although sometimes this type of story is hard to swallow, if done right it could be interesting. They could easily make August a part of Barry's past. Let's say he was in a coma but instead of just nine months like Barry, he's actually been in the coma for years. He comes out of it, realizes his brother's murderer has gotten away with it, and snaps. That's definitely within the realm of possible storylines we could see on the show. In fact, I'm hoping it's what they go with for season 4! 

IMPULSE aka BART ALLEN

Bart Allen is Barry Allen's grandson from the future. There's no real back story other than that! He came back from the future to fight alongside his grandpa in the present. He started off as Impulse but later became Kid Flash when Wally became the Flash and then eventually the Flash, then he died, then he came back to life as Kid Flash again. COMIC BOOKS!

My fondest memories of Bart Allen were from Geoff Johns's run on Teen Titans. By then he had graduated to Kid Flash. He was a great character and a lot of fun to read. When he was killed off I was very upset. Luckily, Johns must have felt the same way and brought him back. His origin seems to have been changed somewhat since the New 52 which bugs me. However, that may get rectified soon enough with Rebirth making changes like bringing back characters and, at least somewhat, retconning their origins.

I'm hoping he'll come into the Flash in the near future. I have a sneaking suspicion that due to Barry seeing his own future, albeit only six months from now, that we're on the way to him seeing much further on and possibly even encountering Bart. I think that would be a great story and hilarious to see a young Bart calling 26-27 year old Barry "grandpa." With season 4 officially announced I'm sure we'll see Bart sometime in the future (pun intended).

JOHNNY QUICK aka BARRY ALLEN (from Earth 3)

I've been banging this particular drum for quite a while now so I won't get super into all the details but I will say it again - THIS NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

Johnny Quick is an evil Barry Allen from an alternate Earth. He's just as fast as the Flash but for as good as the Flash is Johnny is bad. I truly think that this character needs to end up on the show and I can't stress enough that Grant Gustin should play him. With the characters travelling through the multiverse like all the fuckin time, this story is not out of the realm of possibilities. Maybe the next crossover could include the Crime Syndicate with evil versions of each of our heroes. Or Johnny could find his way to Earth 1 and mess up Barry's reputation. A similar story was done on Smallville with Clark switching places with Ultraman. It was one of my favorite stories from Smallville and I'm a little surprised it hasn't happened yet on any of the Arrowverse shows. However . . . I'm sure it will . . . Maybe . . . Hopefully. 

By the way, in the Smallville version Tom Welling played the evil Clark and was believably a very different version of the character. I have no doubt Grant Gustin is capable of doing the same thing :) 

THE FLASH aka WALLY WEST 

But JJ, you may be thinking, the Flash already has a Wally West! What on Earth would they need another one for? I hear you but I have a pitch here:

During last summer's DC Universe Rebirth story, it was revealed that the original Wally West was trapped in the Speed Force and was desperate to escape and warn the heroes of Earth that a great threat was coming. We assume this great threat is Dr. Manhattan and/or the other characters from the Watchmen universe. Barry was able to pull Wally out of the Speed Force and Wally was finally able to warn someone and reveal that time had been taken away from them. Basically, after Flashpoint, some unknown force (again probably Dr. Manhattan) had meddled with time in an attempt to weaken the heroes of Earth. Wally is one of the few characters that actually remembers the DC Universe pre-new 52. 

OK, here's the pitch:

As was revealed during the season finale of The Flash in season 1, the characters were all living in an alternate reality due to the Reverse Flash killing Barry's mom. We've never heard of that story ever again. The only glimpses of it were from the holographic future newspaper the fake Wells (real Eobard Thawne) used to look at in his Time Vault.

That paper was from April 2024, ten years after the season started. Let's say something similar happened where everything is now changed in the Arrowverse and there's another Wally West lost to the Speed Force. He finally finds a way to communicate with Barry and Barry starts to remember his life where his father was never sent to prison and his mother wasn't murdered. With hints like "Red skies vanish" and talk of a "Queen Consolidated-Wayne Tech" merger in the paper, there's clearly some story opportunities there. I would love to see this revisited as opposed to just referred to as a future event. Because let's face it, it comes from a future where Barry as the Flash vanished chasing Eobard Thawne. I know that technically that Barry was erased from the timeline, per the aforementioned season 1 finale, but so was Eobard and look at him! He's causing trouble for the Legends on their show! It might sound like a long shot but I truly think that this particular story and that timeline should be revisited. 

These are my suggestions for my favorite speedsters making their way to The Flash. The show so far has done an excellent job of telling great stories with these characters. I have no doubt that most, if not all, of the characters I mentioned here will be included at some point during the show's run (pun intended). Hopefully they'll take my suggestions and let me write an episode or two! Ya never know . . . 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

SUPERGIRL - INFINITE CRISIS!

On the CW, four DC superhero shows are out there telling really cool stories. On Arrow, there is the gritty crime drama, The Flash deals with metahumans and meta-threats, Legends of Tomorrow is the wacky time travel show, and Supergirl deals with aliens and strange visitors from other planets. Basically, we get the best of all these different comic book stories on a weekly basis. It's pretty exciting! The best part, at least to me, is that for as much as these shows have done, there is still a lot more that they can cover. We've seen the Multiverse, the future, the past, alternate timelines, and even the big man himself:

So dreamy . . . 

These are all things I thought I'd never get to see during a live action TV series. All of these shows, while crafting their own stories, have remained true to the spirit of the DC Comics that inspired them. Since this has been going on, it's made me wonder - what's next? There are unconfirmed, but probably true, reports of Booster Gold being the next DC hero on TV along with the usual crop of lesser known heroes and villains popping up across all the shows on right now. 

Recently, I reread one of my favorite comics written by my main man Geoff Johns, Infinite Crisis. When the story opens, the Trinity of Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman are barely speaking to each other, the Justice League and Society have disbanded, Superboy unwillingly turned against the Teen Titans, Magic is in disarray, there's an intergalactic war, and the villains seem more unified than the heroes! It's total chaos man! 

There were five characters that were at the center of this event - Superman and Lois Lane from Earth 2, Alexander Luthor from Earth 3, Superboy from Earth Prime, and Power Girl from our Earth, later revealed to be the Supergirl from Earth 2. They were all survivors from Crisis on Infinite Earths. They lived in a safe space created by Alexander to protect them from being erased from existence. After seeing how disparate the world has become, Superman decides to break them out and try to bring his Earth back. It's later revealed that Alex and Superboy have been secretly sneaking out of their sanctuary to rearrange the universe so that they create their own perfect Earth. It's a pretty wacky, out there type of story but it's also super awesome and a little trippy. I highly recommend it to anyone that loves to read stories where the heroes are forced to rise above tragedy.

While I was reading the comic I couldn't help but think about Supergirl. It occurred to me that she has traveled through different dimensions like the Phantom Zone and to Earth 1 during the last crossover.

It was awesome!

While it may be a bit of a stretch, I think it would be really cool to incorporate elements of Infinite Crisis on Supergirl. We've had their version of Superman, but it would be really cool to see what would happen with different versions of each character. An older, wiser Superman, a seemingly friendly but still manipulative Alex Luthor, a rash, impulsive, and dangerous Superboy, and Power Girl, Kara's doppelganger from another Earth. I'd love to see these characters make their way to Supergirl season 3 or maybe even the next crossover. Let's examine each character and what they could bring to Supergirl and the DC-CWverse in general.

SUPERMAN OF EARTH 2 - KAL L 

On Earth 2, Superman was the first and best of all the heroes. His story is just like the Superman story we know - hailed from Krypton, raised by the Kents, fights for Truth, Justice, yadda yadda yadda. At the beginning of Infinite Crisis, Kal believes that during the last Crisis they rescued the wrong Earth and wants to work to save his Earth, He also believes that if he saves his Earth that Lois's health will be restored. He's later convinced by Earth 1's Trinity that there is no such thing as a perfect Earth because a perfect Earth wouldn't need a Superman. He decides to fight with the Justice League against a rogue Superboy-Prime. He dies stopping Superboy and is able to rest in peace with his beloved Lois. 

I think an older Superman with a mysterious agenda would be the perfect way to surprise the characters and the audience. Earth 2 Superman was my favorite character during Infinite Crisis because he represented the old DC Comics but he didn't feel outdated. His arc was really well done in the story. As with most portrayals of Superman, he wants nothing more than to save the world and bring the light to those in darkness. He learns that darkness is a part of life and that sometimes the darkness wins. However, it's never too late to find the light again. That's what Superman is all about.

Plus, it's hard to see in the image I shared, but his costume is hilarious. The sleeves look like my grandpa's sweater. Ha ha . . . I love it.

POWER GIRL - KAREN STARR (KARA ZOR L)

For many years, DC didn't know how to explain Power Girl's presence in the comics. She seemed to have all of Superman's powers but Kryptonite didn't really affect her. She was given a few different origin stories but none of them seemed to stick. It wasn't until Infinite Crisis that she was finally given a backstory. She was actually one of the few survivors of the original Crisis on Infinite Earths. She had literally fallen through the cracks in reality and therefore her memories were wiped. Kal comes to her and shows her the truth - she's Kara Zor L, his cousin from their version of Krypton. He and Lois had raised her like a daughter and she became a hero on Earth 2. She finally figured out where she belonged and wanted to work with Superman to save his Earth and hers. However, she was betrayed by Alex and Superboy-Prime and used to bring back the multiverse for Alex's weird experiments. I mean it's cool, it's comic book stuff, but it was weird. Alex is weird.

Power Girl is a character that I was always hoping to see on the CW at some point. The producers said that they had thought of introducing her, played by Melissa Benoist, during one of the shows while Supergirl was on CBS. I think now that Supergirl is on the CW where she belongs, there is still room for his idea. It's not out of the realm of story ideas that Power Girl is the Supergirl of a different Earth that either Kara or even the Flash could travel to. Heck, the Justice Society was in Legends of Tomorrow! What's to say she wasn't a member on our Earth back in the 40s? Either way, I think she's a great character that should make an appearance and meet her doppelganger.  

ALEXANDER LUTHOR

Alexander Luthor, Jr. is the son of Alexander Luthor, the only hero on Earth 3. Earth 3 is run by the Crime Syndicate of America, evil versions of the Justice League. When the original Crisis on Infinite Earths happened, Earth 3 was destroyed but Alexander was saved by his parents to help fight the Anti Monitor. He was the one that created the safe "heaven" (pocket dimension) that Kal, Lois, Superboy-Prime, and himself lived in before the events of Infinite Crisis. He seemed to be a friend to Kal and Power Girl but later revealed that his plan was not to bring back Earth 2, but to create his own perfect world. He says that while Lois and Kal were very kind to him he felt that when a Luthor stands next to a Superman they would "always be at odds." 

Alexander didn't survive the events of Infinite Crisis, which was a real shame because he was actually one of the best characters in it. True he shared a lot of similarities with our version of Lex but he was far more powerful and arguably, much smarter. I think if Supergirl were to introduce this version of Lex they could have their cake and eat it too. They could have an actual Lex Luthor on the series but it wouldn't necessarily be the "real" Lex Luthor. In the same way that Tyler Hoechlin's Superman could give fans the Superman they knew and loved if they were disappointed with the film version, Alex Luthor could do that for those fans as well. That gold armor might be tough to replicate on their budget, but then again it could be really awesome! Either way, I'd love to see Alexander cross over to the real world instead of just the comics. 

SUPERBOY-PRIME - CLARK KENT

Ah, Superboy-Prime . . . one of DC's best characters if for no other reason than he's a parody of angry fans and 90s themed over the top villains. He's originally Clark Kent from Earth-Prime where there are no superheroes. All the superheroes we know exist in comic books but there are no real life heroes. He grows up as Clark Kent, a normal boy that grew up reading those comics. One day, his powers are activated and he becomes Superboy, the only hero on Earth-Prime. After the Anti-Monitor's attack he's the only survivor of Earth-Prime. He also grows increasingly frustrated and restless at the state of the world he and the other heroes decided to save. He decides to confront Earth's new Superboy, Conner Kent, and ends up attacking him and killing a few Teen Titans. He's then trapped in the Speed Force by Wally West, Bart Allen, Jay Garrick, and even a few speedsters from the past. Eventually, he escapes and tries to set off a new Big Bang by blowing a hole through the planet Oa. He's stopped by Kal and Superman and the Green Lantern Corps. Before the New 52, Superboy-Prime came back a few times, usually under Geoff Johns pen like in Sinestro Corps War and Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds. 

While the character isn't exactly my favorite, I would love to see him on Supergirl. We've seen rogue Kryptonians but we've never see an out of control Superboy with all the powers of Superman and Supergirl but none of their morals. It's a life lesson we all know well, "With great power comes great responsibility." I'd love to see that type of story unfold on Supergirl. It would give the writers an excuse to troll their fans a little bit by poking fun at them but also it would be a fun character to see brought to life in all his obnoxious glory. 

Infinite Crisis was the first DC event book I ever read. I learned so much about the history of the characters and the multiverse in general. The story blew my mind and rereading it so many years later as made me excited to know that DC is attempting to bring back that sense of legacy that was lost during the New 52. These four characters were so important to the story and I think they definitely have a place on the CW with Supergirl. 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

SUPERGIRL - THE COMIC BOOK SHOW AMERICA NEEDS TO SEE RIGHT NOW

You know what's great about Supergirl? It's not afraid to be progressive in a time when the world seems to hate progress. I don't like discussing politics on this forum because it's not my area of expertise but also because I prefer to keep this blog positive and fun.

In my opinion, it certainly feels like America might be taking a few backwards steps in terms of progress. When I think about what we're going through as a country I think about Supergirl. Supergirl is able to hide touchy topics under the banner of outer space aliens and fun adventures, but it's tackling them nonetheless.

Just cuz it looks like a monster doesn't mean it IS a monster

(Although this one actually is)

One of the things that Supergirl does so well is tell the story of being a hero in difficult times. It's one of the things that Superman has always stood for. It's encouraging to see that the Supergirl TV series is equally as interested in building up a quality hero in trying times rather than deconstructing the hero. The hero is challenged each and every week, but a lot of the stories that have been done this year have felt much more topical than ever before. I'd like to throw out some specific examples I noticed that struck a chord with me.

A PRESIDENT WILLING TO ACCEPT ALIENS

America has always been a country of immigrants. People from all over the world have come to our country hoping to start a new life or build a better life than where they came from. That's how America was founded in the first place. It's a wonderful dream and America has always been synonymous with immigration. Supergirl took that real world notion just a step further and included immigrants from other planets and other galaxies. Most of these immigrants want nothing more than to just live on Earth peacefully and go about their business unnoticed, such as the case with M'Gann M'Orzz (Miss Martian). 

However, just like in real life, there are people that come to this country that want to start trouble. They either want to spread fear and hate or prove that they are the superior race. Their logic is flawed and dangerous, but it's loud. Unfortunately, what one group of radicals does tends to override the quiet or otherwise good that the other immigrants are doing. Like I said, they're loud and therefore get more attention. Fear spreads fast and then it turns into hate. We see it every day on the news and social media. These are hot button topics in today's world. There's talk of a ban, a wall, and general hate crimes just because a handful of a certain people are causing trouble. 

In Supergirl, the President, played by Lynda Carter, understands that a few radicals does not mean an entire race is bad. She recognizes that there are more good aliens than there are bad ones. There's a great conversation where J'Onn talks about understanding fear and hate not only as a Martian but as an African American. It was a line that might get over looked but truthfully it struck a chord with me. I liked that the show was willing to discuss real life racism. These characters are not immune to real life problems outside of fighting alien threats and crossing different dimensions. It shows that the producers and writers, just like the comic books have always done, are willing to tackle real life issues thinly disguised as fantastic adventures. 

In the show, the President is going to sign a bill allowing for alien immigrants to come to Earth peacefully, but she's opposed by a radical group of humans, Cadmus, that believe all aliens are dangerous and shouldn't be allowed on Earth. It's similar to what's happening in America right now, except it's our real life President that is less accepting and wants to close off borders. One could argue that he's just looking out for American safety and security, a noble notion, another could argue he's going about it the wrong way. Either way, it's interesting to me that Supergirl is willing to have a similar discussion in a very positive, respectful way. 

COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET 

Homosexuality has always been a hot button topic. Truthfully, I don't know why. I've met many gay, lesbian, bisexual people in my life, some in my family, and it's never impacted how I thought of them as a person. I've met nice, mean, annoying, friendly, quiet, angry, happy, etc gay people just like I've known straight people that were nice, mean, annoying, friendly, quiet, angry, happy, etc. The simple truth of the matter is that their lifestyle is not much different from anyone else's. The difference is that they are a minority and therefore suffer unwarranted hate and discrimination. As I said, I don't understand the hate/discrimination, I'm not offended by their lifestyle, but people like to make other people's choices and lives their business (especially when it has no effect on them). 

Supergirl has been praised for its depiction of a woman coming out of the closet in a very realistic, respectful way. Kara's adopted sister Alex, met a NCPD detective named Maggie Sawyer, an out of the closet lesbian, and started to develop feelings for her. This led Alex down an emotional and painful journey inside herself where she started to come to terms with the fact that she wasn't "weird" or "wrong" for never focusing on a relationship, but on work instead, she just wasn't being honest with herself about who she really was. I was very impressed by the decision to have Alex come out of the closet. While it's not a new concept to have a main character have a major revelation like this (think Willow from Buffy the Vampire Slayer), it is still a hot button topic and a brave decision from the producers and the actor, Chyler Leigh, to go through with it. 

To me, the important part of the revelation was Kara's reaction. For a moment, she saw her sister as a totally different person and that scared her. Kara had to come to terms with Alex's struggle and learn to accept that her sister was the same person she's always been, gay or straight. Alex has accepted who she is now and is a much happier person. Kara sees that and it's made their relationship stronger.  This particular story has given the characters a stronger arc and more to do rather than discuss Kara's love life, the alien of the week, or how much their mother bugs Alex sometimes. Alex has much more dimension to her now and it's strengthened the overall show.

RACISM - GREEN VS WHITE

I mentioned before about how easily hate and fear can be spread by a few radicals. In the case of J'Onn J'Onnz and the other Green Martians, the radicals are the majority and have all but wiped out the Green Martians. J'Onn finds a young woman claiming to be a Green Martian named M'Gann M'Orrz. It's not until a few episodes later he discovers the truth that she is actually a White Martian that has defected from her people. She's come to Earth to start over and repent for her crimes. J'Onn is furious when he discovers who she really is, claiming that all White Martians are monsters and killers. He locks her up in the DEO simply because she's a White Martian and refuses to acknowledge her as anything but a monster. In the most recent episodes, M'Gann was under psychic attack and fell into a coma. Alex was able to convince J'Onn to enter her mind and rescue her. Once he saw her for who she really was, he began to accept her and even love her like he loved his family back on Mars. She helped him realize that not all the White Martians were evil. This past episode, The Martian Chronicles, she decided to leave Earth and find other White Martians that were compassionate to the Green like herself. 

Comic books have always tackled social commentary in the most colorful way possible. Luckily the TV shows and films lately have followed that trend. Whether it's a corrupt, deranged man running for political office like in Gotham or the racial tension shown in Supergirl, these shows aren't afraid to hold up a mirror to real life. J'Onn is quick to dismiss M'Gann simply because she's a different Martian from himself and his experience with White Martians was never pleasant. He's never known a White Martian to be kind and compassionate. He assumes they are all evil and will always be his enemy. It's not until he literally steps inside her mind that he realizes she's a good person. If only we could all be so lucky to have that experience in real life. 

I found J'Onn and M'Gann's story very touching. In fact, it was my favorite subplot from this season so far. Although it's being told with alien characters, you can't deny that there is truth to the story. How many Muslims, African Americans, Latinos are the victims of hate crimes and wrongful persecutions simply because they are not white? It's a sad fact. And yes, there is racism toward white people as well, but it's nothing compared to what other ethnicities suffer on a regular basis. In J'Onn's case he believes his racism is justified, after all he literally watched his family die at the hands of White Martians. There are similar stories in our real world. Look at 9/11! A radical group of terrorists were responsible for death and destruction. However, those men do not represent all of Islam. Just like in the show where J'Onn learns to accept a White Martian as his friend, there were reports of New Yorkers rallying against President Trump's ban at JFK international airport. These were the people most affected by 9/11 and those Islamic radicals but they know the difference between the radicals and the men and women that only want to spread peace. That's heartwarming to me because it shows that there are good people in our world that understand the difference between labeling an entire religion and race as dangerous and the good people that are negatively affected by the racism. 

Politics is not my strong suit. I admitted that up front. However, I do see America in a decline due to hate and fear. My goal here is to spread positivity, excitement, and fun to my readers. I do believe that love trumps hate, but it's a lot harder to love. Don't get me wrong, I get where the fear comes from but it doesn't excuse violence and hate being spread across the world. That's one of the reasons I love Supergirl so much. The show is all about hope and courage in the face of trying times. Kara Zor El is an excellent role model for all of us to look up to. She's brave, kind, compassionate, but most of all she's a woman that is tested time and time again. She could easily turn to hate but she chooses to love and protect everyone that needs her. She's the hero that we all need right now and I can't wait to see where the show goes next! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie! 

FAN CASTING THE DC EXTENDED UNIVERSE (AGAIN)

Whether we like it or not, Warner Bros and DC Entertainment plan to make a boatload more films. While we've had some surprises like Gotham City Sirens, a Deadshot spin off, and most recently a Black Adam solo film there have been the usual suspects like Aquaman, the Batman, and of course Justice League 2 to keep fans excited.

Everyone has their opinion on who would make a great Batman or Superman or Joker or whatever. I've written a couple of articles giving my two cents on who would be great in a Batman film and a Justice League Dark film. Today, I'm going to throw out just some random thoughts on different characters that could appear throughout the DCEU. Let's dive right in, shall we?

EMMA ROBERTS as POISON IVY

There are a lot of beautiful young women out there in Hollywood and let's face it, that's sort of the number one quality one would be looking for with Poison Ivy. Ivy has to be the most beautiful, sexiest, deadliest woman in the room. Her whole reputation is built around trying to defeat men and allow plants to rule the world. While it would be easy to cast a Megan Fox, who is very attractive, but I think Ivy demands a certain gravitas that Fox couldn't provide. Ivy's not only beautiful, she's a genius. She doesn't even need to use her pheromones to trick men to do her bidding. She can manipulate them herself. 

I think Roberts is an actor that could easily own any room she's in. Yes, Roberts is very beautiful but she's also very smart and has the ride shade of darkness in her that could make her a formidable opponent to Ben Affleck's Dark Knight. From Scream 4 to American Horror Story I have no doubt she would be an amazing Poison Ivy. 

DIEGO LUNA as BANE

Bane is not only one of Batman's toughest opponents, he's also been a member of the Secret Six and the Suicide Squad. His intellect is rivaled only by Batman. He's a master strategist as well as fierce fighter. He came to Gotham with the sole purpose of wearing Batman down and beating him and he did exactly that. I'd love to see more of the classic Bane in an upcoming DCEU film and I think Luna would be a good fit. 

Luna impressed the hell out of me during Rogue One. He had to play leader, follower, rebel, as well as a man willing to do anything to get the job done. I think Bane could showcase a little more than what we were given in Rogue One. Luna would have to be a leader and a rebel but also, if he were to be cast in a Suicide Squad sequel, he'd have to be a follower and a team player. He played that role well in Star Wars but with Bane he'd be able to have more of a reluctant antihero. I think he could definitely pull it off. 

ANNA KENDRICK as BARBARA GORDON / BATGIRL

Here's a fact that will blow your mind - there hasn't been a live action Barbara Gordon/Batgirl since the 1960s Adam West Batman series. Think about it! There's been cartoons but the last time we got Batgirl in a live action Batman film was Batman and Robin and that was Barbara Wilson (for some reason). 

The less said about it the better . . . 

Barbara is one of the absolute best superheroes in all of comics. She was never Batman's sidekick. She started out a crimefighter in her own way, not trying to impress Batman or anyone else. She's a great fighter, brilliant detective, and believes in making Gotham City safe for everyone. When she was unable to be Batgirl, she became Oracle and became an invaluable member to the Justice League and heroes around the world. Once she was able to be Batgirl, she immediately took back to the streets of Gotham to keep her neighborhood safe. She's an inspiration to many young women and one of my personal favorite heroes. 

Kendrick joked not too long ago about wanting to play Robin in the upcoming solo Batman film. While she would be a great Carrie Kelly, I personally think she'd be a much better Barbara Gordon. Kendrick has the right amount of spunk, attitude, and wit to stand up to not only Ben Affleck's Batman but JK Simmons' Jim Gordon. I think Batgirl is a strong enough character to anchor her own film, otherwise I'd love to see her debut in the Gotham City Sirens film fighting Poison Ivy, Catwoman, and Harley Quinn. Kendrick definitely has my vote for Barbara Gordon. 

Ok that's enough Bat-characters! Moving on!

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY as GREEN ARROW

At this point, it's sort of sacrilegious to think of any actor other than Stephen Amell playing the Green Arrow. However, since Ezra Miller was cast as the movie Flash, I think we've all been wondering when and if WB would cast someone as Green Arrow. 

Truth be told, the Oliver Queen in the comics is a lot different than the one in Arrow. In the comics, Queen's mission is to sort of "stick it to the man." He embraces the Robin Hood role of stealing from the rich to give to the poor. In the comics, he's a loud mouth, right wing conservative, often butting heads with the other DC heroes. He tries to be the voice for the disenfranchised and needy. He works to make sure "the man" doesn't step on the "little guy." Truthfully, he's probably the hero we need to see most.

I think McConaughey would be a great fit for the character. True, he's a bit older, but it's hard to think of another actor that could give Queen the range he needs to embody on film. McConaughey has given some powerhouse performances lately from Interstellar to Dallas Buyers Club. He's not just a pretty face, he's got plenty to offer as an actor. Plus, McConaughey is still in fantastic shape. And not that this is a requirement or anything but damn it if he doesn't LOOK just like that Green Arrow pic above! 

 C THOMAS HOWELL as EOBARD THAWNE / THE REVERSE FLASH

Eobard Thawne is one of DC's absolute best villains. A scientist from the future, he became obsessed with the Flash and wanted desperately to recreate the event that created the Flash. Once he accomplished that, he set out to travel through time and meet his hero. Upon learning that his hero was just an ordinary man named Barry Allen, Thawne kind of lost his mind. He became the Flash's greatest enemy. He went through time torturing Barry and eventually ended up killing Barry's mother! He's one sick mofo! 

On TV, Tom Cavanagh and Matthew Letscher have played Thawne and in my opinion did the character justice. Letscher is currently on Legends of Tomorrow as part of the Legion of Doom. There's been no word yet if the Reverse Flash is going to make an appearance in the Flash movie or a Justice League film, but if he were I would cast Howell in a heartbeat. If you're wondering why, look no further than his guest appearances on Criminal Minds as The Reaper. The Reaper was a serial killer that loved to torture police. His last victim was Hotchner's wife before being beaten to death by Hotch himself. It was one of the best arcs Criminal Minds has ever done. I was hoping that when the Flash series was announced that Howell would be cast. After all, he does have some experience having played the Reverse Flash in the animated Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox. Obviously, he was not cast but he still has my vote for a live action interpretation of the character. 

JOHN BOYEGA as JOHN HENRY IRONS / STEEL

If there was ever an underrated, criminally underused character in DC's lineup it would definitely be Steel. Now that I think about it, he's a little bit like Luke Cage. He's a hard working, honest man that's looking to make his neighborhood safer. He was rescued by Superman once and decided to dedicate his life to being just like him. He took up the mantle of Steel after Superman's death at the hands of Doomsday. He was one of four men claiming to be the Man of Steel. However, after Superman returned, Irons decided to stick around and inspire his neighborhood just like Superman inspires the world. 

Unfortunately, Steel hasn't been around in the comics much these days. There was an attempt to bring him back after the New 52 started but he didn't stick around. However, I think he's the right character to bring back and shake up the DCEU in a huge way. Like I said, I think he could be DC's answer to Luke Cage. A strong, hard working African American man that takes up the mantle of hero to protect his friends and family. 

Now, I know what you're thinking. No one could ever possibly be better in the role than Shaq.

It's hard to believe he was not nominated for an Oscar . . . 

In all seriousness, I think John Boyega is a hell of an actor and would be a great John Henry Irons. As Finn in The Force Awakens, Boyega made the choice to defect from the First Order and join with the Resistance. While he was clumsy at first, he quickly proved himself to be a hero by standing up to his former Stormtrooper friends and facing Kylo Ren on his own. Now that he's a little older, I'd love to see him in a future DCEU film inspired by Superman's death to defend Metropolis in his honor. That would be a great way to do a Man of Steel sequel now that I think about it . . . Hmmm . . . 

OLIVIA WILDE as BARBARA MINERVA / THE CHEETAH

The Cheetah is one of Wonder Woman's enemies. However, she has something of a tragic past (as most comic book villains do). She started off as a friend to Wonder Woman. She was the first non-Amazon to learn their language to try and communicate with Diana. She also helped teach her English so that she could communicate better with her new allies. She became obsessed with mythology and adventure. On one of her expeditions, she discovers the Cult of Urzkartaga and is transformed into the Cheetah. Granted that's from the recent Wonder Woman Rebirth comics. However, her origin is always tied to Wonder Woman and gaining powers from some crazy Indiana Jones-esque adventure. 

Olivia Wilde is not only one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, she's also one of the most talented. During her run on House, M.D., she proved capable of handling comedy, drama, and everything in between. She was tough enough to stand up to House and his craziness but also dealt with her own personal demons. I have no doubt that she could easily slip into the complicated role of the Cheetah. Friend turned to enemy is one of the best arcs that a character can go through and I'd love to see her in a future Wonder Woman or Justice League film. Speaking of actors from House . . . 

HUGH LAURIE as SINESTRO

Sinestro is definitely one of the absolute best characters in all of DC Comics. He started off as a Green Lantern. Soon, he was called the greatest Green Lantern given that his sector was considered the safest in the universe. However, after Hal Jordan became a Green Lantern, he discovered that Sinestro was actually imposing his will on his homeworld of Korugar. He was discharged from the Green Lantern Corps. It didn't take long for Sinestro to find a new source of power - the Yellow power of Fear. Eventually, he created the Sinestro Corps and went to war with the Green Lanterns. He believes his way is the right way and will stop at nothing until the universe kneels to him. 

Say what you will about the Green Lantern film, but it's undeniable that Mark Strong was the best part about it with his pitch perfect take on Sinestro. While it's unlikely that he'll reprise his role in the upcoming Green Lantern Corps film, I think the character of Sinestro should still be included and Hugh Laurie would be perfect in the role. Throughout his run on House, Laurie demonstrated great comedic timing, powerful dramatic acting, and best of all his range as a tortured, lonely man. Granted, Sinestro is not at all like House, but I still think that with Laurie's talents, he could bring a lot to Sinestro. He'd have to be a leader, charming, malevolent, and most of all, committed. As wonderful a character as Sinestro is, he demands an actor that will bring him to life in a spectacular way. I think Laurie is more than qualified. 

JOHN CENA as SHAZAM!

Shazam is one of DC's oldest and best characters. He's actually Billy Batson, an orphan boy granted the power of the gods by the Wizard. By yelling out Shazam, Billy is turned into an adult superhero capable of incredible feats such as super strength, flight, invulnerability, magic, and control over lightning. He's one of DC's best characters. He's true wish fulfillment for a kid. He's a little boy that can become an adult. But with that power is also the responsibility to protect the world from dark forces. 

Ok so . . . JOHN CENA! Sorry, had to get that out of the way first. I actually saw this on a facebook post that my friend shared with me. At first we laughed at the idea of Cena as Shazam. But the more I thought about it, and after seeing his performance on Saturday Night Live, I started to think he'd actually be a good choice. First of all, the dude is BIG. His biceps are twice as big as my head. If he's going to go up against Dwayne Johnson as Black Adam, then he's gonna have to bring the goods! Secondly, after seeing him on SNL and Trainwreck, I realized that he's actually got some talent as an actor. He's been in a few action films, but nothing that's really challenged him yet. There were scenes in Trainwreck that I found myself impressed with his acting. I think he would make a great Shazam, boy trapped in a man's body. Plus - who wouldn't want to see Cena and Johnson go head to head as Shazam vs Black Adam? Shut up and take my money! 

BRYAN CRANSTON AS DARKSEID

Darkseid is one of DC Comics' most powerful villains. He's the ruler of Apokalips and has made it his mission to conquer the rest of the universe with the Anti Life Equation. In the New 52, his arrival was what brought the Justice League together. They were barely able to fight him off. In the last big Justice League story before Rebirth, Darkseid was killed by the Anti-Monitor only to be brought back to life as a baby. Presumably, he'll be an adult again soon and will start causing more trouble for the Justice League. 

Of all the names I mentioned, I think this is my favorite suggestion. Who wouldn't want to see Walter White as a 10 foot tall alien god with the power to kill the Justice League? Granted, most of the work would be done in post production with CGI, but that didn't stop Joss Whedon from casting James Spader as Ultron! In that same vein, I think Cranston would be absolutely perfect as Darkseid. During Breaking Bad it was clear that his transition from Walter White to Heisenberg was careful and meticulous. In this case, he could start right away as the ultimate DC villain. His voice alone has enough gravitas and menace that he could make Batman and Superman shake in their boots. And that's what's needed from Darkseid. He's not afraid to take on the most powerful heroes on Earth. The odds are against them even when it's just Darkseid standing in front of them. I'd love to see Cranston staring down Superman and trading verbal blows with Batman. Just imagine that Heisenbergian perfomance! Oh my goodness! Someone call Cranston's agent!! 

These are just a few suggestions I had thought of. I'm a pretty big fan of all these actors and even bigger fan of the characters I picked for them. I know the DCEU has had some rough patches so far, but I have high hopes for the future. With any luck, Warner Bros will continue to pick out some great talents. So far, the actors have not disappointed me and I don't expect that to change. Here's hoping to a bright and amazing DC future!

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie

5 SUGGESTIONS FOR THE FLASH MOVIE

On TV, DC seems to dominate in terms of network shows. Arrow, the Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Gotham, and even somehow Lucifer have all gotten great reviews and have attracted many loyal fans that come back week after week. For some reason, they can't seem to strike the same chord with the films as of yet. Although I personally loved Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and Suicide Squad I can see where they would have their critics. I have a strong feeling that is all going to change this year with Wonder Woman and Justice League.

Aquaman was recently given a release date, which tells us that the movie is moving forward with little to no speed bumps. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the upcoming Flash film. In the not too distant past the film has lost two directors, both fan favorite choices, Seth Grahame-Smith and Rick Famuyiwa. While the star, Ezra Miller, has obviously stayed put, it does cause worry among the fan community. Many fans think, much like myself, why bother with a solo Flash film when the TV series is on the air and extremely successful?

He's no Stephen Amell, but he's still a good lookin dude . . . 

Regardless of what we may say, Warner Bros is still gung ho about making a Flash film starring Ezra Miller. While I get it, he's a young talent and this film will definitely showcase that, the film will have some heavy competition with its TV counterpart. So if the film is going to go full steam ahead, I think there needs to be some rules in place to really set it apart from the show. It might look the same, but it will feel different. Here's how some suggestions from an ordinary Comic Junkie . . . 

THE ROGUES

While the TV show has been giving us really cool twists on the Flash's rogues, part of me misses the classic Rogues from the comics. For example, Heatwave and Captain Cold are/were the heroes on Legends of Tomorrow. While I liked their transition and I love Legends a lot, part of me wishes that they would just be the bad guys again. Plus one thing the series never did was have a crap ton of the Rogues team up and fight the Flash. Sure we got Cold, Heatwave, and Golden Glider, and a few variations on that, it wasn't quite the same. The Rogues are a twisted group of dudes that think they're living the American Dream. Their job is to rob banks and get away with it and damn anyone that gets in the way. They might be the bad guys but they're not evil. I think seeing a proper Rogue treatment on film would be a good way to separate it from the series. I expected Cold and the Rogues to be mainstays on the show but instead they were put aside in favor of the Multiverse and Time Travel stories. Don't get me wrong, I love those stories and they've been great to see, there's still that side of me that wants Cold leading the Rogues into battle.

BARRY'S DAY JOB

One thing that the show is sort of lacking on is Barry's day job as a Forensic Analyst for the Central City Police Department. Every now and then they touch on it, but for the most part the show deals with how the team at STAR Labs is going to fight the Rogue of the Week as opposed to the police doing it. That works well for the TV show but I'm hoping we get to see more of Barry's quirky side doing CSI work for the police. It would also be fun to see him solve a crime involving metahumans with his CSI partners and fellow detectives. The CSI component is often overlooked in the comic books but to me, it should be an essential part of the The Flash's story. I mean, being a pilot is always talked about in Green Lantern and there's never a Batman story without Wayne Enterprises in some capacity. Except for Batman and Batman Returns . . . Seriously . . . But you get the idea! I think having Barry be a brilliant but awkward CSI detective will help make his film different not only from the TV show but from other superhero films as well. 

BIG BUDGET SUPER SPEED!

Here's a few things that we can all agree on:

• The Flash, while having a TV budget, has done incredible things with the Flash's powers. Almost every episode features some sort of jaw dropping imagery.
• X-Men: Days of Future Past and Apocalypse have shown us really spectacular super speed sequences. They're visually exciting and very entertaining. 
• The Flash's cameo in Suicide Squad was one of the best moments in the entire film.

Now . . . with those thoughts in mind let's think about how much fun a Flash live action movie could be! With a much larger budget, and keeping that brief Suicide Squad moment in mind, a super speed fight between Flash and Reverse Flash or Zoom or Black Flash or whatever could be extremely exciting! Like I said, X-Men made great use of Quicksilver in those films and I'd love to see something like that in a Flash movie. Except more than just one or two scenes. Like giant action set pieces that take place in the blink of an eye but we get to see it from the Flash's perspective. That would be amazing!

FLASHPOINT

I don't have many complaints about the Flash series but I truly think that their adaptation of Flashpoint was not handled well. I mean it was fine for what it was but considering that in the comic book Barry changed the lives of everyone around him and not just in Central City, it was kind of weak. I know they don't have characters like Batman, Aquaman, Cyborg, and Wonder Woman to play with but it still could have been much more exciting than it was. It was all over and the ramifications of it are the driving force behind Season 3 as opposed to the actual event itself which could have been much more exciting.

In any event, since the TV show couldn't utilize all the other Justice League members, I'd love to see it tackled in the films at some point. Maybe it won't be the first Flash film but a sequel or later would be awesome. I mean, Jeffrey Dean Morgan has been cast as Thomas Wayne already! It would be a no brainer to include him as a rough around the edges Batman! Even if that was the only thing that made it to the Flashpoint film I would be happy. 

FLASH OF TWO WORLDS

I've said it before and I'll say it again - how great would it be if Grant Gustin got to cameo as an alternate Barry Allen in The Flash film? In the Flash season two, Barry traveled through the multiverse and saw a glimpse of John Wesley Shipp's original Flash TV series. That was a really cool moment for fans. It was a way to tie the two shows together without actually having to tie them together. I think the same thing should happen in the films. They should show alternate speedsters throughout the multiverse and one of them is Grant Gustin. It would be a great nod to the fans of the show and a way to kind of open the doors for a crossover at some point. Of course a crossover between the movies and TV shows is unlikely but it doesn't have to be impossible. I'd be willing to sit through that! That would be TV history just like they made TV history last month by having the mega crossover episodes! Come on! Let's do it! 

These are just my ideas here. I don't know what's going to happen with the Flash movie. I am curious to see if Warner Bros decides to go ahead with the movie or not. If done right, it could be really exciting and very different from the TV show. I'm hoping that will be the case. Warner Bros doesn't have much good will left with fans. They better play their cards right! 

Till Next Time!

JJ - the Comic Junkie!