4 Razors

Mr. Robot – eps1.0hellofriend.mov

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Mr. Robot – eps1.0hellofriend.mov
  • IMDb: link

Mr. Robot - eps1.0hellofriend.mov

There are inherent strengths and weaknesses in any story presented from the point-of-view of an unreliable narrator. In that vein, USA Network’s latest stars Rami Malek as cyber-security tech Elliot Alderson who spends his off-work hours as an expert hacker. Struggling with social anxiety disorder, a contempt for corporations, a morphine habit, and a history of mental illness that includes hallucinations, Elliot is approached by a stranger (Christian Slater) who offers to make all of Elliot’s dreams come true by inviting the hacker into a select group whose target is to bring down one of the world’s largest corporations (which Elliot’s day job just so happens to offer a way in).

…

Mr. Robot – eps1.0hellofriend.movRead More »

Mr. Robot – eps1.0hellofriend.mov Read More »

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #10

/ / Comics

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #10A museum putting on display of a cursed ruby in their Egypt exhibit brings both Mystery, Inc. and Johnny Quest‘s family to investigate. It doesn’t take long for things to pick up with the appearance of a mummy who steals the jewel.

In Scooby-Doo fashion the culprit is unmasked as a henchman of the evil Dr. Zin who has nefarious plans for the jewel which means a journey for all of the investigators to Monster Island (which thankfully is populated with man-made monsters, also keeping with Scooby tradition) in order to save the day.

To this point I’ve much preferred the issues of Scooby-Doo! Team-Up involving Scooby and the gang teaming up with various super-heroes than various Hanna-Barbara characters, but Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #10 is quite fun as the gang joins forces with the Quest family to solve a mystery. The mummy and the theft of the jewel create a natural crossover for the teams while providing some fun moments between various characters (including Scooby and Bandit discussing their crazy human counterparts). Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Scooby-Doo! Team-Up #10 Read More »

Community – Basic Email Security

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Community – Basic Email Security
  • wiki: link

Community - Basic Email Security

Taking questionable action in the name of an equally questionable cause the Save Greendale Committee refuses to bow to pressure to remove a controversial comic from performing at the school under the threat that their email will be released to the entire student body if they fail to comply. The thin plot allows for the show’s remaining core group to learn just how their friends truly see them as the inevitable flare up explodes.

…

Community – Basic Email SecurityRead More »

Community – Basic Email Security Read More »

Pretty Little Liars – Don’t Look Now

/ / Television Reviews
  • Title: Pretty Little Liars – Don’t Look Now
  • wiki: link

“All roads lead back to Radley.”

Pretty Little Liars - Don't Look Now

As Alison (Sasha Pieterse) and Jason (Drew Van Acker) struggle processing the news they had a mentally-deranged older brother who was institutionalized at Radley up until his death, the Liars search for proof that Charles DiLaurentis is indeed still alive. Their search is emboldened after a memory from Jason’s past suggests where Charles may have been staying, although the discovery of his brother’s grave gives the Liars pause as to the true story surrounding the forgotten member of the DiLaurentis family.

…

Pretty Little Liars – Don’t Look NowRead More »

Pretty Little Liars – Don’t Look Now Read More »

Starfire #1

/ / Comics

Starfire #1Starfire is a difficult character to get right (you need look no further than the backlash Red Hood and the Outlaws created). The new series by Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti seeks to strike a difficult balance of the sweet yet still highly-sexualized Tamaran princess turned slave turned hero. Going back to basics, the writers embrace Starfire’s fish-out-of-water tendencies used so well on Teen Titans Go! by transporting Starfire to Key West to begin a new life post-Outlaws.

Starfire #1 is quite a fun read. Although there’s nothing all that special about the story of Starfire meeting the local sheriff and a few of the townsfolk, there’s a twinkle in the character’s eye that has been missing in comics for some time. Emanuela Lupacchino’s art certainly helps sell the vivacious character who is equal parts innocent girl and strong woman.

I enjoyed Palmiotti’s work on Ame-Comi Girls (a female-character-driven title I was sad to see disappear for DC’s digital line-up) and the team-up with Conner seems to be a good match. I’m curious to see where the pair and Lupacchino choose to take the character from here. Worth a look.

[DC, $2.99]

Starfire #1 Read More »