June 2017

The Wild Storm #5

The Wild Storm #5 comic reviewWith The Wild Storm #5, writer Warren Ellis continues to build out the new universe by re-introducing old characters. The fifth issue gives us Zealot, who like everyone else is searching for Angela Spica but instead runs into an old enemy, a disconnected cameo by Voodoo, and the IO’s premier assassin Michael Cray whose employers want him to do one more job before he succumbs to what is slowly killing him – find Angela. However, even after a brief examination of the facts he can already tell the woman is far more interesting, and far less of a threat, than she seems.

Behind both storylines are larger ideas just barely touched on here. Given the amount of characters Ellis apparently wants to bring back in the new series I’m beginning to wonder how long before things get a bit unwieldy?

The Wild Storm #5 Read More »

Danger Man – View from the Villa

  • Title: Danger Man – View from the Villa
  • wiki: link

Danger Man - View from the Villa TV review

Our Throwback Tuesday post takes us back to the good old days of black-and-white Cold War spycraft. Secret agent John Drake (Patrick McGoohan) was introduced to television audiences for the first time in “View from the Villa,” in which our protagonist investigates the murder of a banker in Rome who, prior to his death, embezzled $5 million in gold bullion (which is still missing). As we’ll see throughout the series run, Drake differs from the most notable spy of the time in several key aspects. Unlike James Bond, Drake doesn’t carry a gun, doesn’t woo the ladies, has no use for special gadgets, and most of the time will make through a mission without the need to kill.

Danger Man – View from the Villa Read More »

Dark Matter – All the Time in the World

  • Title: Dark Matter – All the Time in the World
  • wiki: link

Dark Matter - All the Time in the World TV review

Owing more than a little inspiration from Groundhog Day, the first-half of “All the Time in the World” is perfect. Trapped in a time-loop forcing him to relive the same day over and over again, a frustrated Three (Anthony Lemke) struggles to convince the crew of the Raza what is happening and find a way to break the loop. There are several smart choice here, including starting with Three already stuck in the loop after several days and the use of the “Butterfly Effect” to explain the differences caused by his choices every time through the loop. Then there’s the incredulity of his crewmates and the various ways he attempts, and fails, to convince them of the truth (including learning French). It’s the best use of the concept I’ve seen on television since Star Trek: The Next Generation‘s “Cause and Effect.”

Dark Matter – All the Time in the World Read More »