3 Razors

newuniversal: Conqueror

  • Title: newuniversal: Conqueror (One-shot)
  • Comic Vine: link

“The year is 2689 B.C., Slayer King Starr strides along a corridor within Zardath, the shining city.”

The newuniversal historical one-shots continue with this look back at the first heroes adapted by the newuniversal structure thousands of years ago including Starr the Slayer, ruler of the prehistoric city of Zardath.

The shining city of Zardath was a beacon of light in the darkness of prehistoric times.  Here Starr the Slayer ruled, the first Starbrand of the planet Earth, changed by the newuniversal structure to be its first hero.  But something is wrong.

The world’s Nightmask, Trull, has gone insane with a greed for power.  He has destroyed the mind of Zardath’s Justice, Ukru, and killed any other superhumans who have arrived in the city without the king’s knowledge.  An arrival of a mute witch begins to make Starr question the status quo, and wonder aloud what hidden darkness the city of light might be hiding.

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In Plain Sight

  • Title: In Plain Sight
  • tv.com: link

I was a little unsure of In Plain Sight when it began at the beginning of the summer.  The hard-edged main character, US Marshall Mary Shannon (Mary McCormack) straddles the line between a hard-ass and unlikeable character, and in the first couple issues she leans more to the later.

I stayed around to see if the show would come together, and it did, at least for me, in its forth episode “Trojan Horst.”  Dave Foley guest-starred as the only witness who could identify a high-priced contract killer.  The episode brought other sides to Mary’s personality with the wounding of her partner Marshall (Fred Weller) and show the practicality of her no nonsense take charge attitude on the job.  The show not only helped fill-out the main character but also better define the business relationships of Mary’s life.

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Rock Me Sexy Jesus

  • Title: Hamlet 2
  • IMDB: link

“It was stupid, but it was also theater.”

A rather strange high school teacher puts together a musical sequel to Shaekespeare’s play which involves sex, profanity, a time machine, and Jesus Christ.  Say what you want about the film, and there are many valid criticisms you can make, but this original little gem, even when it goes off-course, is rather enjoyable.

Dana Marschz (Steve Coogan) is a former actor turned high school drama teacher in Tuscon, Arizona (which the movie reminds repeatedly is the worst place on Earth).

Dana’s simple life is complicated when his class of two (Phoebe Strole, Skylar Astin) is increased by other art and computer classes being shutdown, followed by the news that the Drama department is the next to get the axe, leaving Dana unemployed.

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Spike: After the Fall

  • Title: Spike: After the Fall #1 & #2
  • Comic Vine: link

The first issue of the Angel: After the Fall spin-off begins with Spike and Illyria/Fred taking out some demons and protecting a homeless and frightened group of Californians who have found themselves inexplicably sent to Hell.

Spike’s job is that much harder given Illyria’s penchant for turning into a helpless Fred whenever her human emotions are tapped into, often at some very inconvenient times.  That plus a group of unruly kids and adults which Spike has to lead (not exactly his strong suit) and you could say William the Bloody is in his own personal kind of Hell… while in Hell.  Okay, maybe you don’t want to say that.

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The Clone Wars

  • Title: Star Wars: The Clone Wars
  • IMDB: link

“You’ve got spunk… I hate spunk!”
—Lou Grant, The Mary Tyler Moore Show

Taking place between Episode II: Attack of the Clones (read the review) and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (read the review) this new animated film follows Generals Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter) in their continuing battle to put down the resistance of the Separatists and their near-endless supply of droid armies.

When Jabba the Hutt’s (Kevin Michael Richardson) son is taken hostage Anakin, along with his spunky new tweenage padawan Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), is sent to retrieve the young Huttling from Count Dooku’s Dark Jedi assassin Asaji Ventress (Nika Futterman).  Control of Hutt space in the Outer Rim could be a deciding factor in the war and the Republic can not afford the Jedi to fail.

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