Alan Rapp

Secret Six #1

/ / Comics

Secret Six #1Spring of 1980. That’s the first time I picked up a comic book, and the first Batman story I ever read was Batman #323 which featured both Batman and Catwoman being bested by lesser-known villain known as Catman. Needless to say I was an immediate fan. Sadly, the following two decades weren’t kind to the character who resurfaced in 2005 as the break-out star of DC’s Villains United giving birth to the first iteration of the Secret Six.

With the new Secret Six #1 Gail Simone returns to the comic (along with her run on the original Birds of Prey) which made me a lifelong fan of her work, albeit through the craptastic lens of DC’s New 52 filter. Playing on similar themes of the Six being brought together and controlled by an unknown master called Mockingbird, Secret Six #1 opens with Catman being kidnapped and locked-up with a group of five others and tortured by a mysterious voice who wants answers to a question that has yet to be asked.

The first issue doesn’t sell me immediately on the series, but (unlike so much of the New 52) doesn’t immediately turn me off of beloved characters, either.

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The Flash – The Man in the Yellow Suit

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: The Flash – The Man in the Yellow Suit
  • wiki: link

The Flash - The Man in the Yellow Suit

Although the introduction of Firestorm is a bit of a dud, otherwise The Flash‘s mid-season finale doesn’t disappoint as the Reverse-Flash finally makes his presence known and “The Man in the Yellow Suit” gives us Barry’s first encounter with the man responsible for his mother’s murder 14 years ago. After weeks of teasing us about the true identity of the Flash’s arch-nemesis the last few sequences of the finale seem to suggest that both Detective Eddie Thawne (Rick Cosnett) and Professor Harrison Wells (Tom Cavanagh) are connected to the villain whose power set follows the more modern take on the character in that his powers are similar, but the source of them are in sharp contrast, from those of our hero.

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #40

/ / Comics

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #40Pitting three of the four Turtles, Angel, Alopex, Slash, and Old Hob‘s new mutant band up against Rocksteady and Bebop, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #40 demonstrates just how formidable a pair the two mutants are as the group is at best only to fight Rocksteady and Bebop to a standstill (even after dropping a building on their heads).

Those waiting for a full-on action issue won’t be disappointed, although the far less action-packed subplot between Casey and April’s father grows the relationship between the two characters but mostly gets in the way of more awesome action. The extended fight sequence is great, and Donatello‘s own actions at the end of the issue foreshadow unusual days to come, but I’m most happy with the return of Alopex who has apparently found her home in the city with Angel. The panels between the arctic fox and Raphael are ridiculously cute and I’m hoping we’ll see far more of her in the future (along with a toy!). Worth a look.

[IDW, $3.99]

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Once Upon a Time – Shattered Sight

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Once Upon a Time – Shattered Sight
  • wiki: link

Once Upon a Time - Shattered Sight

Condensing the effects of the latest curse to hit Storybrooke into a single episode, “Shattered Sight” wraps up most of the Frozen storylines leaving next week’s mid-season finale to say goodbye to the various characters and set up the new villains for the second-half of the show’s Fourth Season. Offering both the audience and Emma (Jennifer Morrison) a look into her forgotten past with Ingrid (Elizabeth Mitchell) the episode continues to round out the character of the Snow Queen into more tragic figure than villain whose final sacrifice makes her return to the show (other than in flashbacks) unlikely.

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