A-Next #3

Down 'n' Dirty With the Defenders

Doctor Strange has found out information that shows the fate of the world is at stake due to the research of Doctor Jennifer Bissette. The new mystic supreme, Doc Magus, astral projects into Strange's workshop and tells him to watch his business. Strange banishes him from the room. Magus confers with his friend Deacon, who suggests that if Strange is organizing a group then Magus should get the new Avengers. Strange is then shown tracking down the Sub-Mariner, Namor, who has secluded due to the destruction of his kingdom by Doctor Doom. At the Avengers mansion, Edwin Jarvis is showing around a new technician, Shannon Carter, when Magus pops in and requests the assistance of the Avengers. Strange is then shown finding Bruce Banner in Colorado where he has kept the Hulk at bay and has started a new life, including having a son. Strange uses a spell to bring out the Hulk and put him under Strange's control.

The Avengers all are assembled at the mansion when Jarvis makes a startling revelation that Scott Lang, Cassandra's father, would be joining the group as head technician. Before Cassandra can protest too much, Mainframe draws everyones attention to Doc Magus' problem. Magus and Strange both tell there respective teams that Dr. Bissette's research deals with harnessing the power of the Earth's core. This would eventually lead to catastrophic shifting of the Earth's mantle. The Avengers vow to stop the senseless death and try to find another way to stop her. They show up at the lab in Arizona just as Strange, Hulk, and Namor are about to lay siege. The two groups fight. J2 thinks he was able to take the Hulk down too easily after Stinger disoriented him, but the Hulk comes back and humbles J2. As Thunderstrike is about to confront Strange, Magus steps in and transports Strange with him to a temporary zone. Magus is able to subdue him there and uses the Eye of Agamotto to find out Strange's true intentions.

Back at the fight, Namor and Hulk tear Mainframe in two. Scared, J2 runs away while Thunderstrike assaults Namor, asking him is this the type person he wants to be. As J2 is running away, he is confronted by Mainframe, who reveals the other Mainframe was a robot. With renewed vigor, J2 takes on the Hulk again to get him away from Stinger. Namor stops the two from fighting then because he has seen his errors, saying he will be giving money to Bissette to safeguard the planet if Strange's prediction does come true. Back in the magic zone, Magus finds out Strange had orchestrated this to give the Avengers something to test on, to snap Namor out of his self-deprecating stupor, and Strange says that the Hulk has a destiny to fulfill. The issue ends with the Avengers congratulating themselves while their new assistant Shannon leaves to meet a mysterious group of people in her apartment.

This was a pretty good issue with an interesting story line. I know little about Strange, but what I did see of Doc Magus, I enjoyed and hope he will pop in again. We see a little bit about J2 still being young, since he becomes easily frightened when they think Mainframe is dead. The addition of Scott is interesting, as is Shannon, since she is trying to do something sneaky.

Score: 3 / 5

Doktor Sleepless 2

Tesla Boy Gangsta
Written by Warren Ellis

The first page of the comic seems to be a satirical look at possible future medical advancements ... or a way to keep check on people. At the Heavenside Police Department, Commissioner Stoker is worried about the new character Doktor Sleepless broadcasting on the airwaves, saying he is John Reinhardt. The reason he is worried is because Reinhardt is suppose to be locked up. We are next shown Sleepless dictating on the air waves about his trip to the Amazon. He was lead to believe he would be communing with a shaman, but actually the shaman is as well off technologically then just about anyone else. Even though he berates Reinhardt, he agrees to hear him out when Reinhardt says he wants to change his mind, since it isn't big enough. Sing is at the bookstore with her boyfriend talking about how she fears it might be Reinhardt. She is worried he is still as crazy as he was when he left ten years previously. Sleepless is then shown talking to Nurse Igor about her agenda, which is still kept a secret. He then describes how he made the Shrieker Girls, a hivemind-like group of women who feel everything every other Shrieker Girl feels. He also reveals to Nurse Igor that he created Clatter, the IM eye communication enhancement, before being secretive about various H signs around Heavenside. At Saint Thomas, Commissioner Stroker and Mayor Mingozzi arrive to see for themselves that Reinhardt is indeed still in his cell, where he has been for the past three years. At a local club, Sleepless has a conversation with himself about his various "Reinhardts", including the one in the mental institution. He starts to remember something about his parents and what he saw one night. He commences to go ballistic and smashes the mirror. Nurse Igor comes in and hurries him out of the club, wanting no one to see him in a panicked state. Before he gets in his car, though, he and Sing make eye contact.

I am now starting to get the comic a bit more and I am certainly intrigued by what may or may not be going on. Reinhardt/Sleepless is a very mysterious character and I find very interesting, especially since I want to see what he is planning. How will Sing be connected? He has now seen her, so it will be interesting to see his reaction in the next issue, if he has one. The multiple Reinhardt angle is something else ... perhaps he is doing something like astral projection. Perhaps the man in cell 23 is a stand-in. Looking forward to where this may be going.

Score: 3 / 5

Smallville - S6E10

Hydro
First Aired: Thursday January 11, 2007

A reporter with an interesting ability catches find first about Lana's reservations about Lex's proposal and then about Clark's identity. Also, Lois believes she has found out who the Green Arrow is: Oliver.

Chloe is working at the Daily Planet when a higher-up reporter requests her to do copying. Chloe refuses, though, since she is a reporter and not an intern. As the reporter, Linda, is leaving the planet, the subject of her latest story shows up and threatens her life. Using water-based powers, Linda is able to kill the man. The following day, Lana visits Chloe and tells her about her issues with Lex's proposal. Unbeknownst to either of them, Linda is spying on them from the water cooler and writes a story the next day about how Clark is the reason Lana hasn't answered yet. Elsewhere, Lois buys some Green Arrow pictures from Jimmy. At the coffee house, Chloe has to let Clark know what is on the front page of the paper, as does Lex to Lana at the mansion. Clark shows up at the mansion shortly after, finding out about the pregnancy from a vindictive Lex. Lana visits Chloe and at first believes Chloe was the source of the story. She allows her doubt while they try to figure out how Linda got the story. Lois sees an injury on Oliver that is similar to one on Jimmy's pictures, so she goes to Clark and tells him she is going to out Oliver. Clark goes to Chloe and Lois' apartment to get the picture, confronting Chloe in the process. While first made at Chloe, he relents when Chloe rants about how it is hard to keep his secret. From the bathtube, Linda is listening, since Lex had paid her to find out more about Clark. Clark consults Oliver and they come up with a plan within Lois' plan. Lois wants to stage an attack, but when the Green Arrow shows up, it is Clark in the costume. When Olive shows up, Lois is stunned that the Green Arrow is also there, especially after she kissed the Arrow. Lana and Chloe set up a web camera to get a video confession from Linda, which they do, but Chloe destroys the computer just as Linda is about to reveal Clark as an alien (since Lana was listening). Linda chases Chloe into the street, where Lana inadvertently hits her, though she turns to water. The next day, Chloe has Clark listen to Lois' gushing of the Arrow, especially his kissing. Lana finally comes and talks to Clark in the loft. She tries to extract the secret he has with Chloe, but Clark shrugs it off because the baby has changed everything. She returns to the mansion and tells Lex the answer is yes.

This was a half and half episode; I enjoyed the Green Arrow side of the story, but not so much the Linda Lake side. While it was something to show Lana that Chloe is in on the secret, it really wasn't anything great. She died from geting hit by a car? But she turned to water, how could she die? Unless she comes back ... As for the Oliver/Arrow story, I liked it but I think Lois should be let in on it soon. I understand that by possibly finding out about Olvier would lead to the revealtion of Clark, especially now that Clark used his powers to protect Oliver. The only thing I can see happening now is that he dies just as she finds out. Dark Lana ... all I gotta say is "Boooo!"

Score: 3 / 5 (The Arrow storyline saved this from a 2)

Smallville - S6E7

Rage

Oliver is wounded badly during a night as the Green Arrow, but he is miraculously fine the next day. Clark finds out that he is using a new synthetic drug that heals tissue, but it has severe side effects.

During an intimate evening with Lois, Oliver slips out to foil some criminals. Though at first successful, he is shot in the chest by someone he left get the jump on him. The next morning, Clark and Martha are talking about the Thanksgiving dinner when Lois shows up talking about how Oliver mysteriously skipped out on here the previous night. Hearing also that the Green Arrow was severely injured, Clark goes to check on Oliver. He is in surprisingly good health, though, and when Clark leaves he uses his X-Ray vision to see Oliver use a drug after breaking a glass in frustration. Talking to Chloe, she agrees to take a sample to one of her biology professors. She tries to hurry Clark out because Lana shows up. When Lana and Chloe are alone together, Lana askes her to look into a half-way home and why Lex might want to keep Lana away from it. Lana, however, passes out briefly and asks Chloe to keep it to herself. Oliver is shown conversing with a doctor who created the drug. She tells him that the side effects are starting to show in the lab rats and that he shouldn't take the serum anymore. He defies her and takes a handful more of the serum. At the Kent residence, Martha and Lionel share a moment where they nearly kiss before Lionel excuses himself. Using video he took of the guy who shot him, Oliver prepares to go after him when Lois shows up and hits him, thinking the Green Arrow is robbing Oliver. He knocks her away, injuring her, and leaves. Clark goes to the hospital, finds out from Lois what happened, and then finds out about the drug from Chloe. They go to check on the doctors lab, but it has been ransacked. It turns out Lex had paid the doctor more to work with him and he had been giving the serum to people at the half-way house Lana was interested in. Oliver goes to Lex's office and they have a Mexican standoff. Both ultimately shoot, with Oliver using the serum to survive. Clark shows up and chastises Oliver before using the serum on Lex to bring him back. The next day, Oliver is back to normal and apologizes to Clark, who still invites him to Thanksgiving dinner. Lana shows up at Chloe's and reveals that she is pregnant, though she doesn't appear too happy. The final scenes show the warm, homey dinner at the Kents with Clark, Lois, Oliver, Lionel, Chloe, and Martha while at the Luthor mansion Lex and Lana share a quiet, cold meal.

This was an very good episode. I liked the concept of a rage-enduing drug and it was interesting to see Oliver lose the control. Lana's revelation, which I had heard about, is shocking because she seems very unhappy about it. I am beginning to enjoy the Green Arrow more and more with each episode and hope he stays in a bit longer.

Score: 3 / 5

Spider-Man / Red Sonja 1

Issue 1 of 5
Written by Michael Avon Oeming

Everything seems ordinary in New York City as Spider-Man swings around town and fights a group of bad guys ... all while talking on his cell phone to MJ! At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Senator Thomas is attending a major art exhibit while battling his conscience over some shady dealings with his confidant, Reilly. J Jonah Jameson welcomes the Senator to the exhibit with kind words, hoping to score an interview. Thomas agrees to it, but his eyes are drawn to a unique necklace on display. Though the curator, Professor Jones protests, Thomas puts on the necklace. This in turn releases the imprisoned spirit of the sorcerer Kulan Gath. Using his vast powers, he reshapes New York City into his own medieval/Hyborian version of itself. Spider-Man seems to be the only one unaffected by the spell.

People are still in need of help, though, so he springs to action to save the commoners. As he does so, Gath wishes Professor Jones to be his scribe. Refusing, Gath kills him and then requests Jameson to take over the duties. Gath then conjures up a sword and tells about how Spider-Man and Red Sonja foiled his plans before when they teamed up. This time he wishes to pit them against each other so they will be occupied. He calls forth Mary Jane to claim the sword and become Red Sonja. Spider-Man continues to fight his assailants, who have somehow become goblins in the meantime. Even though he saves the people, they fear Spider-Man as a demon. Getting away, he sees what used to be the Met and a strange glow. He goes to it to investigate and sees Mary Jane climbing the walls to get to the sword on the roof. Confronting her after she grabs it, he is instead face with Red Sonja.

I must say that I really enjoyed the artwork for this issue as well as the scripting for Spider-Man. He felt spot on, even though he wasn't in Marvel's hands. Makes me want to check out Red Sonja comics or other works by these staff to see what I am missing. As for the rest of the store, it really is a primer for things to come, but I still have high hopes, especially whenever Venom shows up. The only thing that really irked me was the manner of Jameson ... he allows himself to be bossed by Kulan to easily. Granted, he saw what happens when someone protests, but I still think he would be a bit more defiant. Looking forward to issue two.

Score: 3 / 5

Smallville - S6E6

Fallout
First Aired: Thursday November 2, 2006

Another Zoner makes itself known as Clark is reunited with Raya. Lana is again caught in Lex's world of secrecy.

This episode begins with showing one of the Zoners possess a young man in California. He requests the location of Kal-El and begins his trek to find him. In Metropolis, Lana meets secretly with the scientist working on Lex's box. He wants out and gives Lana the box for safe keeping. Jimmy Olsen takes picture of the meeting from the shadows of an alleyway. Chloe brings news to Clark that one of the Zoners was possibly coming for him, feeding off of nuclear power plants along the way. As she leaves, Clark is surprised by the appearance of Raya. They discuss Jor-El and Krypton. At the Daily Planet, Jimmy lets Chloe in on his "scoop" but she brushes him off. He then goes to Lex's mansion and confronts him with the pictures. Lex is none too pleased and has Jimmy removed, but not before Jimmy snaps from photos of the stuff on Lex's desk. He shows these to Chloe, who recognizes them as Kryptonian symbols. At the Kent farm, Clark and Raya meet Barren face-to-face and fight briefly. Barren has to leave when he loses his pent up power, though. Clark and Raya then go to the Daily Planet where Chloe tells them about Jimmy's pictures. Raya recognizes the symbols as belonging to BRAINIC which she says Barren can absorb for untold power. At that same time, Barren breaks into Lex's mansion, fending off Lex and Lana, and absorbs the box. Eventually, Clark and Raya go to the Fortress and face off against Barren. He is able to kill Raya, but Clark uses Jor-El's crystal to absorb first all of Barren's power and then suck Barren back to the Phantom Zone. Clark is able to take the young man back to Smallville General where he doesn't remember anything over the past six weeks. Lex and Lana reconcile as best as they can and Clark reveals to Martha that he will begin Jor-El's training as soon as he returns or kills all of the Zoners. The episode ends with the Fortress being revived.

This was a good episode. I liked the idea that Raya had a little more screen time than see did in the first episode, though she was a bit overbearing with Kal-El's destiny. That is expected, since she was an aide to Jor-El and saw first hand what will happen if he doesn't. Barren was an interesting villain, but like Gloria before him, he was a powerful Zoner but dispatched pretty easily the second encounter. I think it was good to give Clark a goal (to find the Zoners and then train) instead of his aimless track he has been on for the year(s).

Score: 3 / 5

Plague of the Living Dead 1

Written by Joe Russo
April 2007

Picking up where the Plague of the Living Dead Special left off, the survivors in the Price household try to get a grip on what is happening. They try to phone the police to no avail and Jessica sees the zombies eating Kelly. Zombie Greg busts through the door and Mr. Price is taken. As he is, he yells for Larry to get the women to the basement where his guns are. They watch Mr. Price get eaten. The women head for the basement, but Larry doesn't want to be stuck down there and wishes to stay above ground. Jessica and Darlene go down and leave him upstairs. On the Stone Mountain military base, Major Henry is having Corporal Todd Clark and Privates Terry Ellis and Steve Green transferred to Fort Sill. Todd hears gunfire in the distance, but Major Henry shrugs it off, telling their guards to use lethal force if necessary. Back at the Price residence, Darlene is trying to open the gun cabinet, but Jessica says her father must have the key. In shock, Jessica goes to open the door to the basement, thinking it is her father. The startling fact is that when she opens it, it is him, only now a zombie.

Now reading this after knowing the back story from the PotLD Special issue, I enjoyed this more. While it short (16 pages), they are able to show the crazed desperation that takes over. Mr. Price bits it and comes back in zombie form at the end. I am sure Larry got out alive somehow and will show up in an issue or two. The story with the troops is interesting, especially since the Major seems to know something. I am sure that their convoy will be stopped somehow by zombies. The art is top-notch again and is a pleasure to see the evilness, hah. Still, the comic is a bit to short to get an above average score for me.

Score: 3 / 5

Doktor Sleepless 1

Issue 1
Written by Warren Ellis

John Reinhardt has returned to Heavenside ... a bit different. He hasn't slept in a year and his angst has reached a peak. He has become the "character" Doktor Sleepless and he wishes to bring salvation to those he feel jipped of a future. DJ Amun is confronted by a former lover who has kept his aborted child/fetus with her in a vial around her neck. He freaks out, Sleepless takes his Pronoia, and he ends up killing himself. His friend, Sing, finds out the next morning while Sleepless begins to size up Heavenside with his nurse. At Sing's bookstore, a shipment shows up unsolicited from Reinhardt and Sing wonders it Johnny is back in town when she sees his address, but Doktor Sleepless' name. Sleepless pays visit to a local grinder bar where he revives a man everyone thinks is gone for good. Doing so, he proclaims him self the "Future Science Jesus". Back at Sing's bookstore, she and her friends enjoy a drink in DJ Amun's honor, putting on his radio show hoping a pre-taped show would be playing. Instead, Sleepless has taken over the airwaves, proclaiming what is on everyone's minds: "Where is our future? The one we deserve."

I wasn't really sure about this comic at the start. I started to read it and stopped after the first couple pages, thinking I was completely lost or missing something, an inside look. Today, I read some preview stuff on the internet about what this is "suppose to be" and, reading it right now, I came to a better understanding. If nothing else, this is a primer for things to come. A quick read through again before reviewing, I started to see things coming together, especially how Sing is somehow connected to Sleepless/Reinhardt. To me, this first issue was intriguing, but nothing spectacular. I will, however, read the next issue or two to see where this might be going and then decide if I will continue to get/read it.

Score: 2 / 5 first impression, 3 / 5 second read through

Smallville - S6E3

Wither
First Aired: Thursday October 12, 2006

While "on assignment", Chloe and Jimmy encounter a dead girl in the woods. Clark investigates and finds her boyfriend, but he has been affected by strange foliage. Also, Lana and Lex get closer while Lois meets Oliver Queen.

This episode begins with Jimmy and Chloe at Make-Out Point. They hear a scream from the path and Chloe makes them go investigate. They find a woman impaled on a tree. During the search party the next day, Clark meets Gloria, the alluring park ranger, before using his X-Ray vision to find the dead womans boyfriend in some vines. Trying to help, Clark is cut by the vines. At the hospital, X-rays reveal strange pods in the mans stomach and Chloe's bio professor tells her the plant is not of this Earth. Elsewhere, Lex is throwing a costume charity ball for Black Thursday, but Lana is continuing to have doubts about their "relationship". At the Kent residence, Lois snubs billionaire Oliver Queen, thinking he is a courier. Martha later corrects her and tells her Queen was there to talk about how he could help Martha's political platform. In the woods, Jimmy has taken it upon himself to find pictures, but he instead encounters Gloria. She uses her strange powers on him. At the hospital, surgeons try to remove the pods from the boyfriends stomach but apparently they burst and start to grow, killing the man. As Clark rushes to the forest after finding out Gloria is not the real park ranger, Chloe witnesses electricity killing the vines. In Metropolis, Lois goes to apologize to Oliver, who anticipated her arrival and asks her to Lex's ball. Clark finds Gloria in the forest and she reveals that she had been a prisoner of the Phantom Zone that escaped when Clark opened the gate. She subdues him and goes towards Lex's party for more suitors. Chloe shows up with a tazer gun and uses it to release Clark and Jimmy. Clark gets to Lex's greenhouse and defeats Gloria. Lana has come to terms with Lex and shows up at the ball. During the ball, Lex notices Oliver and they exchange some barbed words. Oliver, wowed by Lois, agrees to help Martha. When he takes Lois home later, she agrees to kiss him if he can shoot a can with his Robin Hood bow and arrows, but he misses (intentionally). The episode ends with Lois and Lex undressing while Clark sits alone in his loft.

This was a decent episode, nothing spectacular, though it seems the production value for some of the powers/action sequences has increased. This was more soap opera like then the previous two, but I guess it was needed to push the three relationships to the forefront now instead of later. It was funny to see Oliver dressed as Robin Hood, but I still don't know how I feel about him as the Green Arrow. I think we already have one arrogant billionaire (Lex). I also don't know what I think of Jimmy, since I would like to see Clark and Chloe instead of Chloe and Jimmy.

Score: 3 / 5

Captain America: The Chosen 1

Now You See Me, Now You Don't
September 5, 2007
Written by David Morrell

In Afghanistan, an outfit of the United States Marine Corps is fighting insurgents and operatives of Al Qaeda. The story itself focuses on Corporal James Newman and his inner struggles. Newman's unit has been dispatched to a nearby village where smoke has been spotted. His thoughts show his opinions on why he is fighting and also his confusion as to who it is that are targets. His mind is also occupied with thoughts about his wife, Lori, and his five-month-old son, Brad, in San Francisco. His convoy is ultimately attacked in town, with Newman fighting a fierce gun battle with the residents. Entering a home after taking out a gun-totting man, he encounters a native couple and he begins to let his fears almost get the better of him. It is at this time of indecision that, out of nowhere, Captain America show up to impart some words of wisdom. Bolstering Newman's courage, the two men spring to action and save two fellow troops.

After the skirmish, Newman is a bit dismayed to find out no one else had seen Captain America helping him. In fact, several of the men said it was Newman who single-handedly did the saving. Newman, now a bit shaken from this revelation, begins to wonder if fighting for so long has begun to take a toll on his sanity. The issue ends with a shot of Captain America on a sort of respirator, being attended to by a woman and a mysterious man (Nick Fury) while a monitor behind Captain America shows Newman on the battlefield.

Now about a day after reading this comic, I am still a bit at odds. One plus for the comic is that the art is masterful. Mitch Breitweiser is an excellent artist and will most likely be the reason I continue to read the following issues. As far as the story goes, I enjoyed it for the most part, but felt a bit at odds with the overly patriotic slant of it. Of course, being a Captain America focused limited series about war, I figured it would. The writer was able to convey the inner turmoil of Newman well. The ending has me asking questions, not doubt what it is suppose to do. Knowing very little of the Civil War proceedings beyond the fact that Cap was assassinated, I found myself wondering "Is this really Cap? Is Nick Fury keeping him alive? To save him?"

Score: 3 / 5

A-Next #2

Suddenly ... the Sentry!
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

As the second issue of this Earth-982 series begins, Mainframe, J2, and Thunderstrike are waiting for Stinger to come to an meeting. She is late because she is getting a stern talking to be her father, the former Ant-Man, about putting herself in jeopardy. She arrives shortly after and Mainframe tells the team that Earth's space defense satellites, put into orbit years ago after a major Skrull invasion, shot at something that then broke into two pieces, landing in Washington Park National Forest. Dr. William Foster and his son John Foster are in the area working with the Maria Stark Foundation (also a backer of the Avengers), and sends its own people to check on the crash. Their two people, Carol and Walt, are blasted by some creature though. On the flight in the Quinjet to the Forest, the group learns J2's identity since he reverts back after a time. Thunderstrike in particular becomes angered that a kid is part of his Avengers. They decide to continue the conversation after the mission as they land and are briefed by Dr. Foster. The Avengers and Fosters then break into two groups to investigate the crashes. Mainframe and Thunderstrike find the two researchers, set them free, and then begin a battle with Intergalactic Sentry 666. Stinger, J2, and the Fosters find the ship and infiltrate it, finding the pilot dead. As the battle gets closer to the craft, Stinger and J2 join the fight, but a misplaced hit by J2 sends the Sentry towards the ship. Panicking and wishing to save his father, John Foster tries to the Kree controls and becomes a human/Kree Sentry! He comes out of the ship with his father and joins the battle. He lures the Sentry into the ship, which falls into a ravine, and activates the ships self-destruct. The issue ends with John proclaiming himself the Earth Sentry and telling the Avengers he knows the Kree are going to try something eventually.

This issue was a bit better than even the first one, since it didn't get bogged down by trying to explain how they all got together in the first place. Once thing that I was a little perturbed by was the amount of exposition during the fight scenes ... it was like Shakespeare during a Jackie Chan movie! Other then that, I enjoyed the conflict of interest between Thunderstrike and J2, since I find J2 a bit unnerving, especially in his series. I think it is funny that he continually thinks he is doing good when it turns out very bad. John Foster seems like he will be an interesting character, but I almost thought he would become evil by the way he was first presented. Overall, a good issue, but still a bit below of 4.

Score: 3 / 5

Freaks and Geeks - E06

I'm With the Band
First Aired: Saturday November 13, 1999

Nick's future is in jeopardy and he is trying his hardest to make it as a drummer. Lindsay tries to help, but ends up messing things up. Sam is ordered to take a shower in gym class, but he continually tries to duck out of them.

The episode opens with showing Nick pantimoining to a live recording while playing his drum kit. His father comes downstairs and shakes his head disapprovingly. The next day, Lindsay goes to hear his band play, but everyone bails when Nick's father wishes to talk to him. Lindsay stays and overhears the conversation. His father is going to send him into the Army when he is eighteen if he doesn't keep a C+ average. Lindsay tells Nick that they need to practice more and that they currently aren't that great. When the band gets together the next day, Nick brings this up and the band becomes disgruntled after having to perform "Sunshine of Your Love" six times. Ultimately, the band dissolves and Lindsay is to blame. All of the friends are at odds now the next day. Lindsay tries to rectify it by showing Nick a "drummer wanted" flyer for a local band. He goes to try out, but finally realizes he is way out of their playing league. To reassure him, Lindsay kisses him in the parking lot. The next day, all of the friends are talking again and Nick is more at ease with things. However, Kim talks with Lindsay about how Nick told people he and her had sex, leading to a confused Lindsay.

In the other story line, Sam's gym class is told by their gym teacher that they must all now take shows afterwards. Sam continues to refuse to do so, even getting Bill and Neil to join him in protest the first day. The following day, however, they relent and go to take shows. They are summarily harassed by the bigger kids with towel slaps. Sam finally does agree to take a shower, but on the way there, he is waylay-ed by his bully Alex. The bully pushes Sam out into the halls and then takes his towel. Sam then sprints around the school trying to get to his locker, but ends up back in the gym area where the teacher is flirting with another teacher. Sam is depressed about his ordeal and his bully confronts him after school about it. However, a car of football players and cheerleaders come by and applaud Sam's "ballsy" move. His bully leaves in a huff since Sam feels better now.

This was a good episode, a bit better than the couple of previous ones. I think it was and interesting story line for Nick and progressed his character. One thing I don't enjoy too much is that previous episodes aren't ever addressed, it seems. Lindsay and Dan are friends again even though she laughed in his face during the cheating episode. I am also sure nothing will come of Nick's "boasting". As for the Sam story, I think this is a common theme is sitcoms dealing with young boys, so I wasn't terribly impressed with it. Bill and Neil did have some great lines, though.

Score: 3 / 5

J2 #2

Secrets and Lies / Alone Against the X-People
November 1998
Written by Tom DeFalco

In the first story, Zane is dealing with the aftermath of being admitted into the Avengers. His mother, A.D.A. Yama, is concerned this new Juggernaut may have had contact with Cain Marko and explains this to her son. Zane leaves for school worrying about what this may all mean for him if his mother finds out he is actually J2. In school, Miller is still gloating about "helping" J2 in the previous issue and Zane becomes angry. J2 calls to check in with the Avengers and Jarvis tells him A.D.A. Yama would like a meeting with J2. Miller shows up and demands the phone. Vowing to "diss" Miller, he changes into J2 later but ends up responding to a bank robbery. There, he meets and fights with Buffer Zone, a shield-protected bad guy. In the end, it is Miller again who helps Zane by taking the guy out when his force field was down. Zane slinks away in shame and meets with his mother at the Avengers headquarters. She demands to know who he is and how he got his powers, but he doesn't relent and she leave in a huff. In the end, Zane's high school classmates are talking about how Miller is partners with J2 and Zane begins to feel even worse.

In the other story, Zane is on his way to visit the X-People in Saddle River, New Jersey when he notices their gate is broken. Changing into J2, he rushes in to offer aid, but is mistaken for someone else; Enthralla, niece to the Mastermind. He is able to fight off the various X-People, but is ultimate faced with Enthralla herself, who uses her powers to enthrall J2. Zane's helmet is impervious to mental and psonic attacks, though, and he is able use a shockwave to disorient her. His splash wave from the pool he used to knock out the X-People also brought them to their senses and they proceed to take care of Enthralla. The story ends with J2 being accepted as a good guy by the X-People.

While not as bad as the first issue, I was still hoping this would be a one story issue. However, both stories were decent enough, even if they had some cheese exposition. I don't like the side-story about Miller being J2's helper very much, but I do like the mystery with A.D.A. Yama trying to figure out who J2 is. The X-People story reminded me a lot of the old comics from the 50's and 60's, with the action and the comments. Overall, a better issue then that first, but still only average.

Score: 3 / 5

Freaks and Geeks - E05

Tests and Breasts
First Aired: Saturday November 6, 1999

Lindsay offers her services to Daniel so he can pass an algebra test, but things don't go as planned as they are accused of cheating. Sam and his friends decide to learn about sex the hard way; by watching a porno.

This episode began with Sam and his friends in health class. Bill and Neil are being disruptive and it is Sam who tries to quiet them done. However, he turns out to be the one who gets into trouble. The health teacher gets frustrated enough that he makes Sam go up to the front and teacher about the female reproductive system. Sam is unable to but is called Doctor Love is jest. Daniel is having the same type of trouble, but he is jeopardy of failing algebra. Later at lunch, he tells Lindsay this and she offers to help him study that evening. Sam, while trying to talk with his crush Cindy, is taunted by other males by being called Doctor Love. He and he friends then try to figure out a perverted joke, even trying to tell other people and get it explained to them. That evening, Daniel shows up, but is miffed when he finds out Lindsay actually wants him to study instead of learn "shortcuts". As he goes outside to smoke, he sees Sam trying to read the sex education book, and offers to help him with something tomorrow. Dan leaves shortly after. The next day, he steals the test and asks Lindsay to help him fill it in, but she refuses by trying to get him an extension. When the teacher is rude about that, she agrees and Dan passes, which sends up a red flag with the teacher. He accuses Dan and Lindsay of cheating. Dan lived up to his promise to help Sam, though it wasn't what he expected. He gave same a 35mm porno. Neil offers to have Sam and Bill come over to watch it, but when they do, Sam and Bill become disgusted. The next day, Sam can't even talk to Cindy without being embarrassed. The health teacher pulls him aside after class because Sam had submitted some odd questions anonymously, but the teacher was able to tell who it was. He then proceeded to disclose secretly what he could to Sam about sex. Back with Lindsay and Daniel, she keeps flip-flopping about whether to admit it or not. Dan even gives her a sob story about how he was labeled dumb when he was in sixth-grade. When they are in their meeting, the teacher said he will dismiss the charges if Dan can do the first problem. Of course, he can't and instead writes "LED ZEPPELIN". When the teachers and parents start to get upset, he comes into his sob story that he had told Lindsay. Before anyone can say anything at the end of it, Lindsay begins to laugh uncontrollably because she realized how badly Dan has been playing her.

I enjoyed the episode, but I still felt like it was average. I understand that the humor, if there is any, is suppose to be subtle. The show seems like it has become more and more serious with each episode, and though that is not a bad thing, I think the comedy they did have in the show's pilot and even second episode were what made it great. I figured before that Dan is really good at manipulating people, but I didn't think he would do it this soon to Lindsay. At first, I wanted to feel bad for him, but now I am beginning to realize just about everything he says is a lie. As for Sam's story, I think that was pretty good from the awkward side of things. It was cool to see Tom Wilson as the sex education teacher, since I remember him mostly from the Back to the Future movies. I think his ending was good with the teacher giving him the whole truth about sex. So, overall I enjoyed Sam's story more than Lindsay's.

Score: 3 / 5

Angel - S1E20

Warzone
First Aired: Tuesday May 9, 2000

Angel is hired by a rich computer person to stop him from being blackmailed. When Angel strays into a certain neighborhood, he is confronted by a rag-tag team of street kids who hunt vampires.

The opening segment of the episode shows a girl being chased by some vampires, but when they turn to see who has come to stop them, it is a young black man (instead of Angel). He and his group take on the vampires, dusting a few, but when they return to their home, one of the group dies. Charles Gunn, the leader, shows little remorse since the guy died for a cause. Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley are attending a party elsewhere. The man running the party is a computer nerd who has made millions and is now being blackmailed with pictures of him at a demon brothel. Investigating the case, Angel is lead back to a man in a seedy part of town. When he confronts the man there, Gunn sees Angel vamp-out and sees him as a target. Angel returns the next night, but the blackmailer has brought a demon, which Angel is able to kill after a taxing battle. That isn't the end of the night for him, however, since Gunn's crew then shows up and hunts him. They corner Angel, who has Gunn's sister hostage, but he saves her life and the crew lets him go. Angel worries for their wellbeing and returns the next night to aid them. They aren't interested in that, since they had been ambushed by the vampires in the area and Gun's sister was taken, so they look him in a meat locker and they go to confront the vamps. Gun wishes to enter alone and is confronted by a horrifying sight; his sister has been turned. She tries to convince him to join her, but in the end he does the hardest thing and stakes her. Back at the locker, Cordelia and Wesley show up to let Angel out. Angel arrives at the warehouse in time to kill the vampire leader and scares off the rest. Cordelia and Wesley talk the next day about how the people survive with Charles Gunn before Cordelia starts talking about selling herself out to the geek. The episode ends with Angel meeting up with Gunn in an abandoned building and Angel saying he may need his help in the future, giving him reassurance that what he is doing is right.

I enjoyed this episode, if for nothing more than it introduced Gunn. It was an above average episode where two separate story lines converged into one. My favorite moment was at the end when Angel sort of confirmed to Gunn that he was on the right path and that Angel would be glad to have him as an ally.

Score: 3 / 5

Freaks and Geeks - E04

Kim Kelly Is My Friend
First Aired: Tuesday September 5, 2000

Lindsay has been trying very hard to be nice to Kim, but Kim keeps putting her down or she is bitchy towards her. On the verge of giving up trying, Kim asks Lindsay to come to her house for dinner.

Ever since the first episode, Kim has been nothing but hostile towards Lindsay and her intrusion into their clic. After she talks to Nick about it, Kim asks her to come over to her house for dinner that night. Worried Nick said something, she doesn't know what to say but agrees anyway. Sam has been having trouble with Kim's one friend, Karen, who started berating him when Sam confused their lockers. Karen starts to write demeaning stuff on his locker so that he will remember. When he tries to write over the latest one, a teacher sees, thinks Sam did it, and tells him to write a paper for the next day. Lindsay goes to Kim's home, which is a total madhouse, and learns that Kim is only using her to show her parents she has a "normal" friend. Also, she has been using Lindsay as an excuse on weekends. When Lindsay slips up, the two girls have to make a frantic exit from the premises. Going to find Dan, they instead notice him being very touchy-feely with Karen, so Kim proceeds to try to run him over. The girls retreat to Lindsay's home, where Kim is treated nicely, though awkwardly, by Lindsay's parents. Eventually, Dan shows up and the two make up. The next day in school, Kim had written "SLUT" on Karen's locker, which Sam thanked her for.

This was another average episode of the show. There were some good parts, but overall I felt this was more just awkward humor then anything. It was fun trying to figure out if Kim is being sincere or not and I am interested in just what will happen in the next feew episodes. One thing this episode was missing was more Bill and some of Seth Rogen, which might have been the downfall of the episode.

Score: 3 / 5

Freaks and Geeks - E3

Tricks and Treats
First Aired: Saturday October 30, 1999

In this Halloween themed episode, Lindsay wishes to be with her new friends for the evening, but her mother is psyched to spend the night with her handing out candy. Sam wants to go trick-or-treating after finding out he has to read Crime and Punishment.

Around the Weir table, the family discusses Halloween. Their mother wonders why Sam no longer wants to trick-or-treat, but he tries to make it clear he is fourteen and in high school now. She is still excited about spending the night giving out candy with Lindsay, though. At school, Lindsay joins the "freaks" at lunch and Daniel tries to get her to go out with him, Kim, and Nick for the evening. She refuses because she wants to spend it with her mother. Later on in the day, she sees her old friend Millie kissing a guy. It is revealed that Millie met a boyfriend at bible camp and she didn't want to tell Lindsay because she didn't have one. Lindsay becomes upset and goes to tell the guys she is going out with them. Elsewhere, Sam and his friends have to read half of Crime and Punishment by Monday. This seems to make Sam have the resolve to be younger again, so he tries to get his buddies to go trick-or-treating with him. On Halloween, Lindsay tries to brooch the subject, but things keep getting in the way. Finally, she just leaves when Dan shows up. While she is out doing mischievous things, Sam and his friends meet resistance around every corner, including from their bully. The last straw is when Lindsay unknowingly pelts him with eggs. Lindsay comes how quickly, but Sam doesn't tell on her. Their mother is upset that Lindsay didn't come to her to tell her about Halloween. The episode, however, ends with Lindsay dressing up anyway and helping her give out candy while Sam begins to start reading Crime and Punishment.

This was a good episode, little above average. I think it was a building block for Sam most of all, since it really isn't spelled out to the viewer, but it seems Sam does a double take. He tries to become a kid again in order to get out of having to be grownup and read the book his class was assigned. By the end of the episode, though, he has resigned himself to his fate and begins to read the book. I am not really sure if Lindsay grew much in this episode. She runs from her roots of helping her mother, but comes back in the end. The constant "toe in"/"toe out" of water is disrupting her with who she is trying to figure out she really is. She at first gives herself up to be bad with Daniel and his friends, but then retracts fast once she sees the damage she has cause her brother. She wants the best of both worlds (of the brain and of the freak/cool), and she can't see to find an equal balance. I find myself enjoying her brother's parts more than hers, which was not the case with the first episode. While watching this, I get a feel of Dawson's Creek, but with a hardnosed edge, which I like. Also, I want Lindsay to slap Kim ... 'nuff said.

Score: 3 / 5

Buffy - S4E18

Where the Wild Things Are
First Aired: Tuesday April 25, 2000

Buffy and Riley's sexual energy releases something in the Lowell Fraternity house. When the guys of Lowell through a party, everyone is put into danger, especially Buffy and Riley.

The episode begins with Buffy and Riley battling a vampire/demon tag-team duo. Afterwards, their sexual energy leads them back to Lowell house instead of to Giles to report the strange occurrence of vampire helping demons. When they finally do tell him the next day, Riley comes to the conclusion that Adam is behind the unlikely pairing. Buffy and Riley run off to have sex again while the focus shifts to Anya and Xander. Xander, now an ice-cream man, is getting guff from Anya for not having sex with her the previous night, leading her to believe their relationship was over. Elsewhere, while preparing for the party, Riley's men overhear Buffy and him going at it again, but for some reason the fireplace erupts over one of the men. Later that night, Anya goes to the Bronze and encounters Spike, who tries to rob her, and they bound over dissing on their signifacant others. Back at the party, Buffy and Riley again go off to have sex and strange things begin to occur. Spike and Anya show up as well, but Xander is not willing to let her get under his skin. Once things start to get really out of hand, the Scoobies get out of the house and try to find Giles for help. They research and find out that the house used to be a boarding home, run by a decorated public social worker. They go to talk with her and in the process find out that she used severe punishment for the children being "unclean". The gang then surmises that Buffy and Riley are trapped in order to keep having sex, with the ghosts sucking the energy from them until they will ultimately die. Tara, Willow, and Giles try a spell to distract the spirits while Xander and Anya enter the house. While not successful at first, Anya's determination saves Xander and they get to Buffy and Riley shortly afterward. The episode ends with the Scoobies all talking about transpired, focusing more on the fact that Giles sings and plays guitar.

I am not a big fan of sexually themed episodes. When they are a part of the overall story, I do not mind the sex. Otherwise, it should be left to closed doors. I understand that they have to show the fact that Buffy and Riley were doing this, but it still irked me a bit. Overall, the premise of the episode was interesting, but it wasn't anything great. I think the best parts of the episode came from Xander and Anya, where there relationship continues to grow, as well as Anya's human side. Spike also added some very good lines/acting, which is always a given. Overall, I felt this was a good Xander/Anya-centric episode, but sub-par for the series nonetheless.

Score: 3 / 5

Angel - S1E17

Eternity
First Aired: Tuesday April 4, 2000

Angel takes on a case to protect a famous actress after he saves her life. She becomes enamored with him, even after finding out he is a vampire, because he doesn't know who she is and how much of a star she is.

The episode begins with Angel and Wesley trying to devise an exit strategy ... from Cordelia play. They try to reassure her about her acting afterwards, but Angel is distracted when he saves the life of Rebecca Lowell, a famous television star. The next day, she visits Angel's office because she can't believe there is someone who doesn't know who she is or care. Angel refuses to help her with her stalker problem, which Wesley postulates is because Angel is attracted to her and is afraid to get close. That evening after a party at Rebecca's house, Angel stops another attempt on her life. She notices that Angel doesn't have a reflection after the fight and she isn't freaked out by it. The next day, she wishes Angel to accompany her to a movie premiere, but as they are leaving the mystery man tries to shoot them. Angel again stops the guy and this time he is captured by the police. Rebecca's agent reveals to her that he was a stunt man he hired to make publicity for the woman, since she didn't get her latest role. She becomes distraught because the character Raven she played will be forever young while she continues to age. She then devises a plan to have Angel sire her. Angel becomes wise to her plan, as does Cordelia, but it is a little late because she had drugged Angel with a drug that induces euphoria. This in turn brings out Angelus, who confronts Rebecca, Wesley and Cordelia. Ultimately, Wesley is able to knock Angelus out a window and they chain him up. When Angel returns, he tries to apologize and while Cordelia and Wesley understand, they know he meant what he said.

This was a decent enough filler episode, helped immensely by the great acting of David Boreanz as Angelus. I have to check, but this might have been the last appearance of Angelus until season four when they tried to have him help kill the Big Bad. I found the character of Rebecca Lowell to be wholly un-interesting and bothersome. It was funny to actually see Cordelia trying to act ("line?") and this is perhaps a natural progression towards her realizing she can't act.

Score: 3 / 5

Monte Cook's Ptolus - City by the Spire 6 of 6

Issue 6
Written by Monte Cook

This issue picks up right where five left off with the Iron Mage and Sheva Callister trying to figure out what to do now. Apparently, the Hound was killed in the battle and the Iron Mage shows his gratitude to Sheva for helping him with Kervis. It is around this time that Sheva notices her hungersword is missing, taken by Gattara Vladaam back to her father as a birthday present. The Iron Mage offers Sheva his assistance in retrieving the blade. Before long, the infiltrate the Vladaam mansion and face off against the siblings Gattara, Aliaster and Godfred. While Sheva duels with Godfred, the Iron Mage makes little work of Aliaster and Gattara. Ultimately, the Iron Mage holds them at bay and threatens that if they ever go against Sheva again, he will personally see them at an end.

The Iron Mage then transports himself and Sheva to his home, which is halfway across the world. He takes the Book of Whispering Souls from Sheva to study while Sheva wanders his compound. Eventually, he summons her and she is finally reunited with Parnell, he ghost friend. It turns out that Aliaster had used a spell that had trapped Parnell's soul, so he remembers nothing since trying to escape the Vladaam compound in issue one. With his debt seemingly paid, the Iron Mage transports Sheva and Parnell back to Ptolus. In the Dark Sanctuary, Lilith is fuming over the failed attempt by the Hound. One of her major demons (or is she his worker?) finds the resolution favorable, since now they know the Iron Mage can be subdued. If it had not been for Sheva, he would be gone. They make plans to make sure she isn't around when they try to "take the city" so Sheva and the Iron Mage can team up again.

At the Ptolus tavern, Sheva reunites with a healthy Brusselt and Daersidian, who then proceed to liven up their adventures for Parnell. They leave the tavern later and are stopped by Lord Dorant Khatru, the main reason they were in Ptolus. He wanted to know if, after two weeks, Sheva had gotten the Brooch of Khatru from House Vladaam. She in fact had and hands it over to him in return for a scroll. Sheva tells Parnell that Kervis Killraven had the Brooch and that their reward was a map to a temple that apparently held the secrets of bringing a ghost back to life. The series ends with Sheva asking Parnell "Ready for another adventure?"

Well, apparently Caanan White wasn't around for this issue either, but it didn't show as much as with issue four's changes. I am still a bit unsure about how I feel about the final issue. I think I was expecting more of big climactic ending. I was thinking perhaps Lilith and her demons would play a part, but I guess they were just a lead into what would possibly come in any further series, though I don't think there will be any (at least not with Marvel). I also had pegged Parnell as being in on this, but that was not the case. I was also hoping for an appearance by the Vladaam patriarch, but that didn't happen either. The highest point of the issue was again the great artwork, though it did venture a bit into the cartoon-ish look. Overall, I think I would give the series a 6 / 10. For this issue, though, I would give:

Score: 3 / 5