Posts Tagged ‘Flash’

Coverage of the 2017 JLMay podcast crossover event continues RIGHT HERE with our review of ‘Justice’ #6! How is Atom recovering? Did Superman survive the spectacular Shazam sun speedball? Where in the hell is Hal Jordan anyways? For the answers to all these questions and more, hit play! Throw in some Alex Ross discussion, some GL centric breakdowns, series speculation, and a bit of shameless self promotion and you have yourself an episode! Be sure to email us your thoughts or chime in on our voice-mail at 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

Follow the JLMay crossover to each one of these phenomenal podcasts below! Each show will cover another issue of Justice this May! Please don’t forget to use the hashtag #JLMay when discussing the crossover on social media! PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ON THIS EPISODE DOWN BELOW!

• Aquaman and Firestorm: The Fire and Water Podcast:http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-fire-and-water-podcast/
• The Super-Mates Podcast: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/show/the-super-mates-podcast/
• Idol Head of Diabolu: http://shoutengine.com/TheIdolHeadofDiaboluPodcast
• Views from the Longbox: http://www.viewsfromthelongbox.com
• Pulp 2 Pixel: http://pulp2pixel.blogspot.com
• LanternCast: https://lanterncast.com
• Shazamcast: http://www.shazamcast.com
• Comic Reflections: http://www.podcastgarden.com/podcast/comicreflections
• Silver N Gold Podcast: https://sngpod.wordpress.com
• Power of Fishnets: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/power-of-fishnets
• Waiting for Doom: http://waitingfordoom.podbean.com
• Justice’s First Dawn: https://classicjla.podbean.com

 

In participation with EIGHT other comics podcasts across the internet during the month of May, Mark and Chad jump in on the JLMay fun! Join the guys as they talk about issues 7 & 8 of the ‘JLA: Year One’ arc from the late 90’s! Find out HOW the original JLA formed post Crisis if the trinity were no longer involved! Don’t forget to leave us a voicemail by calling 708-LANTERN!

Download the episode HERE!

 

CHECK HERE FOR A LIST OF PARTICIPATING SHOWS!

• Fire & Water Podcast: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/fire-water-163/
• Power Fishnets: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/podcast/power-of-fishnets-6-jlmay-crossover-part-2/
• Waiting for Doom: http://waitingfordoom.podbean.com
• LanternCast: https://lanterncast.com
• Super Mates: http://fireandwaterpodcast.com/supermates
• Idol Head of Diabolu: http://shoutengine.com/TheIdolHeadofDiaboluPodcast
• Comic Reflections:http://www.podcastgarden.com/podcast/comicreflections
• Views from the Longbox: http://www.viewsfromthelongbox.com

 

Ever since the CW has been airing ‘Arrow’ and ‘The Flash’ on it’s network, DC comics fans have been impressed with the number of cameos and references to existing characters and concepts. One of the repeating references is to a certain Emerald Crusader, the Green Lantern of Sector 2814, Hal Jordan. Be it Ferris Air, Coast City, or references to Hal himself (all pictured above) the CW has made it very clear, Hal Jordan exists in this universe and is (most likely) Green Lantern already.

 

Since dropping Emerald tinted hints, there’s been an uptick in fan theories and “it should happen because it’d just be COOL” articles. But the fervent desire to see Hal on the small screen has been backed up more with “cause it’s cool” and “the GL movie sucked so we’re owed a good representation” as opposed to “here’s how it would WORK and here’s WHY it’ll be cool”.

 

And thus, here I am.

 

Yeah, yeah. Boiled down to it’s bare essence, I’m just another Green Lantern fan. But, to be fair, the LanternCast has been on their air for SEVEN YEARS. Mark and I have been at it together for TWO of those seven. I’d say that earns us the right to throw our weight around from time to time when it comes to GL fan theory and speculation. So let me break it down for you.

 

1)  BARRY ALLEN AND OLIVER QUEEN ARE HAL JORDAN’S BEST FRIENDS.

 

In the comics, the three are friends. Well, more Hal is a mutual friend between the two rather than a Barry/Ollie bromance. It’s mildly upsetting as a comics/Green Lantern fan to see his two friends have shows of their own without the Hal Jordan linchpin to keep their volatile friendship intact. But outside of the sheer disappointment of just not seeing it, the friendship is a key element that could offer up fantastic character moments for EITHER Ollie or Barry.

 

GL fans have argued since the Silver/Bronze Age about who is the better “Brave and the Bold” style team. Barry and Hal? Or Hal and Ollie? While die hard ‘Green Lantern/Green Arrow’ fans (of which I am one!) will say Ollie and Hal are the better team, I actually side with the Barry/Hal faction. When it comes to action, Ollie and Hal often argue so relentlessly that it takes them too long to get anything done. Whereas Barry and Hal get into the action, then disagree after the fact. But here’s how I PERSONALLY see the three characters.

 

Barry is a forensic scientist working for the police department. Sure, he’s essentially a vigilante, but he’s on the side of LAW. Ollie is the polar opposite. In the GL/GA series, he’s the one convincing Hal that sure, there may be rules, but the CONTEXT of those rules, and when it’s better to break them rather than follow them, is just as important. Hal is often the dead center of the two ideals. He’s the cocksure and action first/thought later guy, but he’s also following a code of intergalactic rules. Now these aren’t NECESSARILY the Barry and Ollie from the CW, but they COULD be.

 

With Hal in the mix, Barry could get a dose of someone a little TOO rash and impulsive. And, through whatever mishap, we could come out the other side with a great friendship, but a Barry Allen that’s more sure of the law, his own scientific knowledge, and more methodical.

 

With Hal in the mix, Oliver could get a dose of someone whose set of rules and laws MAKE SENSE but don’t fit the situation. That won’t sit well with Oliver at HEART. And, through whatever mishap, we could come out the other side with a great friendship, but a Oliver Queen that’s more like the comics. More of a crusader for social justice, the downtrodden, and not afraid of treading the grey areas between the Law and Morality. As opposed to someone who more fights black and white crime (people who kill, rape, steal, deal drugs, etc.).

 

 

2)  HAL JORDAN IS A LOVABLE WOMANIZER.

 

Yeah I know. It’s a played out trope. But hear me out. What is the CW formula? Attractive young actors and actresses and any excuse for shirtless dudes or heated, sexual exchanges between characters. Now, concession, ‘Arrow’ and ‘The Flash’ have been pretty damn good about not bowing to that sort of network model (though there have been instances one COULD point to). But Hal’s brand of womanizing would help fit the CW model, potentially bring in new attractive women (and CHARACTERS from the DCU!) to the show, and also could cause love-triangle-like drama between characters. IE: Hal hitting on Felicity, Laurel, Thea, Sara, Kendra, Patty, Iris, Caitlin…I made my point.

 

3)  HAL JORDAN IS A DAREDEVIL TEST PILOT.

 

Now if you weren’t already interested, here’s where it gets FUN. Hal Jordan is a test pilot. He’s not a tech genius, but he drives fast cars for fun and flies experimental aircraft for a living (and also fun). I’m seeing a Hal in the DCCW-verse as a man with a instinctual genius for mechanics. Yeah, I would LOVE any excuse to bring in more people from the GL universe but as bad as I’d want to see Tom Kalmaku, this is where it makes more sense to just have Hal have that mechanical inclination. BECAUSE, he can be a MUCH needed tech buddy to Cisco. Yeah, Cisco is more of an engineer with a wide berth of tech and scientific knowledge, but having Hal there could help coax out the mechanical engineer side of Cisco. Plus, as we’ll get to later, a concern with Hal/GL is the MONEY it would take to realize the effects on screen on a TV budget. Well, with the test pilot angle, you get the action without the major cost. Planes sequences may also cost money to render, but I bet they’re MUCH easier and cheaper than Green Lantern effects and development.

 

4)  CAROL FERRIS IS ALSO A TEST PILOT. (MINUS THE DAREDEVIL)

 

The great thing about ‘The Flash’ and ‘Arrow’ shows? BADASS WOMEN. Imagine Carol Ferris on one (or both) of these shows! How amazingly complete the young business woman with a heart of gold, in love with her employee, and a fondness and aptitude for flying jets…could be realized using the Arrow/Flash CW format for kick ass chicks! Plus? She runs (or will run depending on how you write it) Ferris Air. So I ALSO see her as having a mechanical expertise. Which means? FEMALE CISCO! THAT could be fun as well. And I’d say we let the two date for awhile. Let Cisco actually establish a relationship. I mean, yeah, Hal eventually is the one for her. But seeing Carol and Cisco together could be just as endearing as seeing the Patty/Barry stuff is now (which I LOVE).

 

 

5)  THE GREEN LANTERN WORLD IS A WORLD OF ALIENS AND OF COSMIC SCOPE.

 

Lastly, this. ‘Arrow’ went street level at first. Then Deathsroke brought in the world of scientifically augmented power. The Barry brought in the world of super powers. Now ‘Arrow’ is tackling the mystical side of the DC universe. It’s clear Superman (and his family) is being used elsewhere for the nonce. So how else do we bring the unlimited scope that is the universal side of the DCU? Green Lantern. Establish Hal, establish his ring and the terrestrial explanation Caitlin/Felicity/Cisco come up with for his ring. Then Hal disappears for a bit for training. Then comes back and BAM. The REAL explanation. And boom, DC cosmic. Aliens. Immortal beings. Anti-Matter universes. Go a far as you want with it!

 

And there you have it.

 

Sure, Hal having his OWN show is great. But without a massive budget, it’s completely unfeasible. However…so was the Flash. The budget for that show is pressed nearly episode to episode (if the special features on the season one blu-ray can be believed). But they maintain their audience and ratings continuously, so the CW/WB justifies that budget. If the end goal is a Green Lantern SHOW? It’s possible if the showrunners show it to be a well realized fan hit. But if not? There’s STILL a nearly unlimited amount of ways you could logically use Hal/Green Lantern in these shows.

 

Yes. I’m focused on HAL specifically. John, Kyle, Guy (even Simon) all have ways they could be introduced and WORK. But Hal is the focus because that’s where the hints lie. Ferris Air? Hal’s employer. “Test pilot went missing”? Hal. Jordan name tag on a bomber jacket? Hal Jordan. He’s the clear front runner. I HOPE it happens. SO many of the things I want to see on the Flash and Arrow could become reality with one simple character introduction: Hal Jordan.

 

 

By Chad Bokelman:

“To understand what I’m about to tell you, you need to do something first. You need to believe in the impossible. Can you do that? Good.”

These are the opening lines relayed to us by Barry Allen. In a small handful of sentences, the writers of this fantastic show have issued viewers and critics alike a challenge, “Just BELIEVE”. In a world where most modern popular DC adaptations are set in “real world” scenarios, fans weren’t sure the general public would buy into a guy who could run REALLY fast.

And then Barry spoke. And you’re invited into this world on “just shut up and enjoy it” terms.

There are several things about this pilot I enjoy. Unfortunately most of them are HUGE spoilers and this episode doesn’t premier until October 8th. But now that audiences are getting a chance to view this episode out in San Diego Comic Con 2014, I figured it was time to post MY review.

I saw this weeks ago when it leaked online. I’ve watched it over a dozen times since then. It’s amazing. It’s fantastic. But I don’t want to spoil things, so I’ll just hit some bullet points…

• It’s no secret that the explosion at the Central City Particle Accelerator(CCPA) plays into Barry’s origin as the fastest man alive. When Barry is explaining the importance of the CCPA to Iris, he pulls up a dry erase board. IMMEDIATELY I was washed over with a time I’ve seen a similar dynamic. In ‘Fringe’ when explaining the “science” behind many of Walters theories, the writers would use the board as a way to dumb down high concepts so the audience could understand the premise upon which that episode would be based around. With Barry as a forensic scientist AND a metahuman, it’s no surprise that we will most likely be dealing with several high concept scientific theories and such. The use of the “board” idea is a proven method that I’m THRILLED to see incorporated in this series.
• When Barry is struck by lightning, the entire origin sequence is amazing. Mostly the score. It adds mystery to the whole process AND somehow adds gravitas. Not just that something important is happening to the character, but…ok look, Barry’s origin is CLASSIC Silver Age. I mean, CLASSIC. When you watch this, you get that sense. It’s the perfect TV origin scene.
• The explanation of introducing other metahumans to this universe (including Weather Wizard seen in this episode) is short, simple and concise. It seeds so many future characters (including Grodd) that it’s a heckuva teaser sequence.
• When Barry visits Ollie in Starling City, the scene is incredible. Mostly because you see TWO classic DC characters standing together having a heart to heart, not a BS versus sequence. There’s even clear admiration as the two characters watch one another depart.
• Cisco Ramon and Caitlin Snow (eventually Vibe and Killer Frost respectively) are a great “support” team for Barry. There are kinks in their system but, admittedly, this is the first time you see them working in this capacity. I assume it’ll get more streamlined.
• The Barry/Iris tension is there from the get go, but we won’t see it delivered on immediately. I like that. Barry should end up with Iris, but not RIGHT out of the gate.
• Barry attempting to unravel a tornado by running around it in the opposite direction…so…freakin…cool. Such a classic Flash move to see interpreted to the screen and it WORKS.
• One criticism, Barry and his father. Not sure if that’s a dynamic I want to see in EVERY episode. Sure, visit your dad, but we don’t need that every episode or every other episode. Keep the strong connection, but don’t overdo it.
• The ‘end credits’ type scene at the end of the episode is a TOTAL geekgasm moment. Seriously, fans of historic DC comics…don’t be in the process of eating or drinking anything at the end of the episode. You’ll choke and die in your excitement.

Overall, this episode is one of the best TV pilots for a show I’ve ever seen. It’s made very well and although I think, ironically, there are some slight issues with pacing, it will really impress fans. It’s thrilling to have been able to watch this show and KNOW that, come fall, I’ll have TWO incredible DC shows to watch AND they take place in the same universe at the same time. I can’t wait for more cross overs!

P.S. The recent news that Robbie Amell will be joining the cast as Caitlin’s fiance Ronnie Raymond (aka FIRESTORM) make me even MORE excited for this TV show!