Archive for September, 2016

Our coverage of Green Lantern Corps Quarterly CONTINUES with the SEVENTH of EIGHT episodes! Mark and Chad delve into the world of Magic in the DCU and that usually means one thing: The Starheart! Besides our requisite Alan Scott story, we are introduced to Ash & Barin, and even some zombie Green Lanterns!  Throw in some bonus material dating back to the Jim & Dan days, and this one’s a winner, folks!  Be sure to chime in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

 

 

 

“Fall From Grace!” was cover dated April, 1993 and released March 2, 1993 (Mike’s Amazing World of DC Comics).  The issue was written by Michael Jan Friedman.  Travis Charest pencilled pages 1-20 while Jim Balent did breakdowns for pages 21-24, and those pages were finished by Scott Hanna.  The Inkers were Scott Hanna and John Lowe.  The letterer was Bob Pinaha and the colorist was Tom McCraw.  Ruben Diaz was the assistant editor and the editor was Brian Augustyn.

 

We open on an alien planet.  The ruler and his underling, Skamich are discussing the security systems.  The systems are set up to prevent anyone from entering the palace after all the ruler’s life is at stake.  The ruler laments that he treated Torquin no differently from his other conquered people’s.  Apparently he created resentment by destroying some relics and staged some public executions.  Nothing to get overly excited about.  Skamich believes that the destruction of the procreation facility turned the public opinion in the quadrant against the leader.  An assassin now has been hired to kill the ruler. 

 

Back over Earth.  The slave ship is making a return landing.  Colos is at the controls with a wounded Douglas, Hawkman and Carla all on the bridge.  The alien pilot is being held captive as he tried to set the self destruct sequence and Colos would rather he a novice pilot bring the ship in instead of a suicidal pilot.  They successfully land after a sizable jolt and Hawkman and Colos shake hands and maybe they may cross paths again.  I personally hope so.

 

Back in the alien palace, the assassin has gained access by breaching the shields.  The intruder is able to elude the sensors as well as the defensive measures set up and crashes into the throne room.  The guards rush in.

 

On Earth, Colos and Douglas marvel at Hawkman.  They see him find Hawkgirl and embrace.  It seems that the two are more than partners.  Colos turns his attention to Flint.  Flint disobeyed Colos’s orders twice.  Carla interrupts Colos.  She wants to thank Colos and then offers her help.  Colos starts to decline then asks if she has any space she is not using.  Carla thinks that he is referring to outer space but Douglas clarifies that Colos is looking for office space since their “headquarters” is “out of town”.  She gives the Darkstars a card and asks them to call her later, she may have the space they need.

 

In Flint’s apartment, Flint is grumbling.  He feels he blew the mission and he does not know that the others are back on the planet.  Unfortunately he has started drinking again.  His self pity party is interrupted by an angry Colos on Flint’s communicator.  Colos tells Flint to stay put and he will find him as they need to talk.  Flint throws the can and we see that it is a soda can not a beer can.

 

The guards open fire on the assassin.  It appears that he was vaporized but Skamich is not so sure.  It is strange that he escaped all the defense systems but was destroyed by a simple pulse barrage.  The assassin is not dead after all.  He takes out the guards leaving only Skamich and his King.

 

On Earth, Carla and Douglas are in the new Darkstar planet side office.  The guy who developed the place owes Carla a favor so it is rent free to the Darkstars.  There is not a high demand for office space in Dallas as the supply is too high.  Carla told the developer that the group is a not-for-profit operation that could not afford a place.  Douglas says that the back story is perfect.  The place is large enough for all of their equipment and a couple of cots.  Douglas and Colos, both homeless can sleep there.  Douglas is musing that he is going up in the world. 

 

The assassin continues his assault.  The only thing standing between him and the despot is Skamich.  Skamich is willing to try but he is killed for his bravery.  The assassin grabs the liege-lord.  The assassin identifies himself as K’lassh.  This is the last time we see this liege.

 

Colos meets Flint who has changed out of his Darkstar uniform.  He figures that Colos is there to fire him, which he is.  Colos does admit that this is not easy.  Flint does say that he is a maverick like Colos and he thinks that he might have made a better Darkstar than a deputy.  Colos thinks that Flint is right and takes off with the uniform.  While he leaves he thinks that he has not seen the last of John Flint.

 

Elsewhere the remaining alien drug cartel assemble with their human allies.  They are discussing what to do about Darkstar.  Twice he had interfered with their profitable operations and that has to stop.  How are they going to stand up to a being they believe is as powerful as Superman.  Mister Daniiki, the green alien with stringy black hair speaks up.  He is surprised that the Darkstars are now patrolling Earth But he has an idea.  In the past he has found one counter measure effective.  Daniiki pushes a teleported and we see K’lassh appear.

 

This issue was basically an epilogue issue.  The heroes all return to earth safely and the Hawks are briefly reunited before they fly off.  Colos fires Flint.  Douglas and Colos with Carla’s help start to set up a planet side base of operations.  The villains lick their wounds and bring in a new weapon, the assassin K’lassh.

 

The side plot of the liege was effective here as it’s showed the power of K’lassh which is what you want to see in comics, not just telling how good he is in exposition.  As a matter of fact, we do not get any exposition here, we only see how good this assassin is and it makes me want to see him go up against Colos. 

 

I like that we continue to see Carla White.  I expect that since Flint was fired, she may become the new second deputy.

 

I give this issue a 4.5 out of 5 power rings.  We do get a brief mention of the Green Lanterns when Hawkman says that Earth is protected by them and they say that they are the only intergalactic police force.  Colos says that they think so and that is all we get about a rivalry of the Darkstars to the Green Lantern Corp in this issue.

 

In the FIRST of the re-presented Classic LanternCast episodes, the guys re-air one of the most popular LanternCast episodes TO DATE! Corwin Crowl joins Jim Ford to talk about the Dark Things crossover featuring Alan Scott and Jim has to get rip roaring drunk just to stomach a conversation on it! LISTEN IN!

Download the episode HERE!

 

 

 

Part of what made 1999’s “The Blair Witch Project” so effective was that despite not seeing much of anything during the film, you suspected or knew what was going on based on the intelligent way the mythology had been laid out.  Not seeing anything actually made it creepier or spookier.  

“Blair Witch” tries to walk that fine line between doing what the original did so well, along with giving modern audiences more concrete or visual things to scare them.  Unfortunately, that approach is not very effective.

 

This third entry in the Blair Witch franchise focuses on James, who is the little brother of Heather from the original film.  He essentially has been obsessed with trying to find any clues to what actually happened to his sister (despite the fact he was only four at the time she disappeared).

 

A new piece of footage convinces James that Heather might actually be alive, so before you know it, James and friends go into the woods looking for clues and the mysterious house where Heather was last seen.

 

The early time spent in the woods is actually pretty good, but as things go south, the film surprisingly becomes less interesting.  We are given more sights and sounds to ponder than we had in the original, but it doesn’t make it scarier.  And despite having watched Heather’s original footage countless times, James seems way too willing to make the same mistakes his sister, Mike and Josh did.

 

One thing that is done well in “Blair Witch” is the use of time, or specifically, how time does or does not pass once you are in the Black Hills.  This concept was hinted at both in the original and even in the sequel, “Book of Shadows,” but it is really a major player this time around.

 

Most of the mythology remains the same, although one new piece is added, mostly for self-serving reasons, as it allows director Adam Wingard to finally put a face (and body) of sorts on the Blair Witch herself.

 

As a huge fan of the first film and even a fan of the much-maligned second, I was very excited when I heard the franchise was being revisited.  Sadly, this was not the trip back to Burkittsville that I had hoped for.  

 

I would give “Blair Witch” 2/5 stars.

 

Mark J. Marble

 

 

UPDATED:  So, now, according to the writer, Simon Barrett, despite changing the mythology for the sole reason to make us think the creature we see at the end was the Blair Witch… it really wasn’t.  It was someone else.  And maybe Elly Kedward wasn’t really the true source of the evil to begin with.  This makes me want to make the review one star now. Just a horrible way to trick viewers and also to crap on the mythology that had come before.

 

Chad and Mark continue the August book reviews as they tackle Hal Jordan & the Green Lantern Corps 2-3!  What will Sinestro do with his arch-enemy now that Hal’s a Green Lantern once more?  And how can Hal stand up to an entire Corps by himself?  Take a listen and find out!  Be sure to email us your thoughts or share them on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

 

Chad and Mark begin the August book reviews as they explore Green Lanterns #4-5!  The boys share their thoughts on Suicide Squad and the Zendaya/Mary Jane casting controversy! Be sure to email us or chime in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!