Superman

Superman #700

/ / Comics

superman-700-coverTo be honest I haven’t been a regular reader of Superman for a very long time. Much like Batman #700 this issue gives us three tales, though here they are unrelated.

The first guest-stars the Parasite in the long awaited reunion of the Man of Steel and Lois Lane. The last is a grief stricken woman laying a planet-sized guilt trip on our hero causing him a level of introspection that seems odd given the length in his history (you’d think he’d have come to grips with such circumstances decades ago).

But it’s the middle story, guest-starring a young Dick Grayson as Robin, that works best. There are some fun moments including Superman trying to save Dick from Bruce’s wrath by quickly doing his homework and the Batman’s message to Clark in the epilogue. Worth a look.

[DC $4.99]

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DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures

/ / Home Video
  • Title: DC Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures
  • IMDB: link

This two-disc set collects 18 cartoons made by Filmation during the late 1960’s and features some of the heroes of DC Comics.  Those familiar with the heroes, and with some affection to them already, should have a good time here as the cartoons give them the respect they deserve.  Though they could have used some better (and more varied) stories – and villains.  Not one of the classic DC baddies, from any of the characters’ rogues galleries, makes an appearance!

These short episodes were mainly used as filler between the big episodes on The Superman Aquaman Hour of Adventure.  There’s only so much you can accomplish in eight minutes, so don’t expect much character development.

Each of the heroes’ episodes have their own intros which, like the show, are narrated by Ted Knight.  More than the actual stories themselves these intros are what really stick out on the collection.

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Soaring Through the New Frontier

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Justice League: The New Frontier
  • IMDB: link

“We need our heroes to stand up and show us what this country is supposed to mean.”

Although I’m a huge fan of the Justice League animated series I wasn’t too thrilled with their first big feature film Superman: Doomsday (read that review).  On hearing their next project would be an adaptation of Darwyn Cooke’s DC: The New Frontier, I was a tad skeptical about what the finished project might look like.  I shouldn’t have worried; this time they get it just right.

Set i the 1950’s, an age of distrust and the height of McCarthyism, the film opens with the end of the Korean War and test pilot Hal Jordan (David Boreanaz) ill-fated final mission.  It’s appropriate the film (not counting the pre-credit sequence) opens with Jordan, because he more than any other character is asked to carry the film.

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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Murder!?

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Hollywoodland
  • IMDb: link

Hollywoodland

Hollywoodland isn’t quite what you’d expect.  Much more an art house character study than a Hollywood thriller, it provides some genuinely funny and dramatic moments.  Although Hollywood does raise its ugly head in places, for the the most part it’s a well acted and well financed small film that finds most of the right touches to provide an intriguing look at the life, and death, of the man who many saw only as Superman.

George Reeves (Ben Affleck) is dead, and private investigator Louis Simo (Adrien Brody) wants to know why.  Sure he’s in it for the money and fame, but the more he becomes entangled in the web of lies and mysterious secrets, the more he needs to know the truth.  Was it a suicide like the local police want everyone to think?  Or was it murder?

The film follows two lives over the course of its two-hour running time.  The first is the life and career of George Reeves.  The second is the life of Simo which, in many ways, mirrors Reeves own in how it falls apart over the length of the film.

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It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Murder!? Read More »