Stargate Round-Up 08-13-04

For those who may not know, I live in Florida, near Tampa, close to where Hurricaine Charley was supposed to strike. Luckily, for me it veered (but not lucky for those people it did hit... ). So I was expecting to be spending Friday night in darkness with candles, propane lamps, and flashlights to see...

Stargate: SG-1 "Avatar"

The concept? Tron meets Stargate... Teal'c tests out a chair which is a VR interface and is supposed to simulate a battle with the Anubis Drones who breached the SGC.

First off, yes, this isn't an altogether original plot, but as I will echo in my review of Atlantis, the Stargate Franchise makes up what it lacks in original plots with exceptional characterization.

And it's in no short supply in Teal'C's case this episode. I've noticed that Stargate likes to do focuses on its characters every once in a while, which really focus on a specific character and their persona really drives the episode. For O'Neill we got Season 1's "Cold Lazarus," for Carter we got last Season's "Grace," Daniel got the Season 3 and 4 (respectively) episodes "Forever in a Day" and "Absolute Power," while Teal'C got Season 5's "Tangent." And this episode.

Early on something goes wrong with the chair and it appears that Teal'C's subconscious won't let him out of the game. It's an interesting concept, similar to the one Batman devised to take down Wonder Woman in the event that she went rogue (or one could surmise, just turned against Bruce) as we learned in the JLA story "Tower of Babel." It's partly Teal'C's ego, but a large part of it is his upbrining and his unique situation as the first Jaffa to rebel.

But we learn an even more tasty tid-bit later on, which brings in a bit of continuity. In the Season 3 episode "Gamekeepr," SG-1 first came into contact with these chairs when they were used against them. Long story short, they broke free, liberated a planet, and gained allies (who were not mentioned again until this episode. An imprint from when Teal'C was in the chair originally reveals that Teal'C back then did not believe that total victory against the Goa'uld was possible. Daniel and Sam discuss the possibility that Teal'C may still feel that way.

Of course the ending was really...simple, but the journey to tne ending was worth it. Even heartbreaking when Teal'C's body succumbed to the strain and he effectively gave up.

As long as SG-1 keeps up the great characterization, I think I'll continue to enjoy Season 8 (as I have with last week being the only exception). I give "Avatar" an "A."

Stargate: Atlantis "Childhood's End"

Once again, the plot sounds familiar (I know I'm not the only one to see the comparisons to the original Star Trek episode "Miri" and Logan's Run). Basically the crew finds a planet of kids and learn that they sacrifice themselves when the night before their 25th birthday to keep the Wraith away.

The crew learns that it's not the sacrifice which does it, but a field generator which produces an EM-wave which keeps technology from working (Similar to one used in Deep Space Nine's "Progress"). They also learn it has a limited functional area and the sacrifice bit is to keep the population down, so that the numbers are able to live within the field. Oh and McKay manages to break this field, making them at risk for a Wraith attack.

Some great moments from McKay and one really memorable moment from Ford strengthen this by-the-numbers plot. McKay is his usual self around kids finding them aggrivating and then annoying, but Ford saves the day by introducing them to Choclate.

Sheppard really comes off as O'Neill lite and Teyla isn't much of a presence. Weir appears in two scenes to argue with McKay and I found her to be on the "right side."

Of course, there is a tidy ending which solves both the problem of the broken generator and the need to sacrifice themselves. They make small talk about seeing them again and then they're off.

A nice bit was McKay at the beginning explaining why each planet looks alike (like Vancouver, to be specific), which degrades into him babbling about Carter, a nice bit of continuity between the series.

Overall, it's an A- due to strong characterization and Atlantis continues to keep me entertained. I'm still waiting for the "knock my socks off" episode, similar to SG-1's "The Torment of Tantalus," which I think made a lot of people sit up and realize how great SG-1 was. In the meantime, I'm happy to watch these enjoyable, "fluff" episodes.

Catching up on almost a month full of comics!

Okay, got my issues today! Hadn't been to the shop since early July, pretty much a full month, so I got 7 issues (plus another copy of Identity Crisis #2 to replace the one that went missing since my last trip...so mad that I lost an issue...

I post over at Geoff John's board (registration required to read posts, sorry, not my rules!) in their weekly thread "Ranking the Week" so my premlinary thoughts on the books are taken from there. I might update later this weekend with more indepth thoughts once the books have sunk in and I've re-read them at least once more:

3 from this week, 4 others to catch up on, I'll do them seperately:

THIS WEEK'S BATCH:

3. JSA #64: Great, but it's a tough week to be just great. I loved the ties to Neil Gaiman's story, including seeing Brute and Glob again. I got the fanboy giggles when Glob said he knew Fate was Hector Hall. Really good way to bring Sand back, but it seems like too much for one issue. As always great character moments between the chracters, especially Wildcat and Power Girl. Nice continuity with Sand and Kendra, wonder if it was a regular dream or a prophetic one. ;) Great ending though...can't wait until the next arc...and then the Identity Crisis issues. GEOFF! We need a breather, I think!!! Black Reign to the Degaton issue, straight into the Spectre arc, into the Sandman two-parter, and now into the Hourman arc...TOO MUCH GOODNESS! 9.5 out of 10.0

2. Teen Titans #14: Really great, but it's a tough week to be just really great! Prior to this arc, I said that I felt that TT was best read when the arc was completed straight through, but this is the first arc that I'm really digging each individual issue. The scenes with Tim and Conner were just plain great. The guys at The Fourth Rail nailed it as two people are drifting apart. Nice focus on Gar, especially the ending...but there's more...tidbits about Raven and how she's changed and a MAJOR development on the horizon for the Ares/Wonder Girl thread! 9.7 out of 10.0

1. Identity Crisis #3: My major nitpick, which I've seen addressed elsewhere is how disorganized the JLA seemed in their fight against Slade and also how they seemed to ignore Dr. Light sitting on the sidelines. Aside from that the fight was as great as I expected, given the months of anticipation, Meltzer and most especially Rags and Mr. Bair did not fail to impress. My favorite scene was the one with Jimmy and Perry. Great chracterization of both of them, but to nitpick, Perry probably wouldn't have been so determined to get the pictures, at least not the Perry that Jeph Loeb wrote, which happens to be my favorite Perry. :) Still great bit of dialogue from two people who realize they might just be the next targets. 9.9 out of 10.0

Overall: 9.7 out of 10.0, if it gets better than this, I may just spontaneously explode from fanboy glee!

Now, to rank the books I missed since the last time I went to the store, about 4 weks ago :0 , sorry life just got in the way recently!

4. Superman #207: You know, everyone seemed to be tired of all the dialogue issues where not much happened and people were just waiting for an action issue. Well I have to say I'm a bit disappointed by it. Equus really failed to impress me and I was so much happier reading the dialogue between the Priest and Superman, which as with previous issues, was the highlight of this issue. Superman's internal dialogue is good and I did like his talk about sand, but the fighting did seem a bit Superman vs. X-Men Villain from the 90's reject Nox confuses me, I want to hate him...but he does seem to have the whole "I'm not the enemy vibe." Hopefully next issue with the JLA will really focus on Azzarello's strengths with this arc...making Superman seem more human. 7.5 out of 10.0

3. Transformers: Energon #26: Well the last two issues felt like filler, but we join in on the main action once again. I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get to see the transition of Tidal Wave to Mirage and Slugslinger's one panel appearance was lackluster (did like the comment about "which old foe in a new body is this one?"). Still, there's a lot of good threads going on here and the massive attack on Earth by the Terrorcons is a bold move. Carnage of this level on Earth hasn't happened since G2's ambigious ending, which some believe to be the destruction of Earth, while others aren't as fatalistic. The parts with Rad and Alexis were good, glad to see some more depth given to these characters. 8.0 out of 10.0

2. Flash #212: The wait for this issue really ruined some of it for me. I was expecting...I guess more. The main problem is that it does seem a bit too much like the profile on Captain Cold, Geoff's first during his run and his best (though I did really love the Profile issue on the Piper as well). As someone who got into comics after McCullough donned the costume, I'm not quite sure where his origin from past writers ended and Geoff's tidbits started. I wanted more on why the US government thought it a good idea to give McCullough the suit and why they didn't think he'd just turn on them (which he did). Back during his 12 issue run on the book I think Grant Morrison had the best portrayl of McCullough and as much as I love Geoff's writing, I wonder if Morrison would have done a profile issue that I would have enjoyed more. Still, as always Flash is a solid read and it really did go a long way towards explaining this Mirror Master. He sure was viscious and I'm glad we got to see his powers more than usual. Very dastardly! 8.5 out of 10.0.

1. Majestic #1: Once in a while, I pick up an issue of a comic and want to shout, "THIS IS WHY I READ COMICS!" Minor tangent here, but during late High School and early College, just before I went on a 3 year hiatus from buying comics, I remember scowering the racks for something new, some new twist on the hero concept that would blow me away. I found some good issues, but nothing...GREAT. Reading this issie, I realize THIS is the type of comic I was looking for.

Back during the "Strange Visitor" 3 parter people kept calling him a Superman clone or even what Superman should be. But the dialogue between Majestos and Kal-El that started this issue really characterized both of them. Hard to put into words, but you read the dialogue, humorous at times, and realize who both of these characters are.

I also really like how Majestic is portrayed. Too many times we see the "flip side" of a character like him...who is always made out to be a villain, despite somewhat nobel intentions. But there is little doubt that Majestic is a hero in this issue, just one who doesn't care if France is missing planes, because, heck, they were brazen enough to send them after him.

The fight with the Eradicator was great as well. I loved how the only dialogue was internal on the part of Majestic. It makes sense that this fight wouldn't be one punctuated by a lot of talk on either side. I really like how the Eradicator can manifest his armor, but still keep the new look he first sported in the "Strange Visitor" arc. I don't think we've seen the last of him either, but it's a good roll for him. He's always straddled the line between hero and anti-hero, at least ever since "Reign of the Supermen" and his original characterization in that storyline was more akin to the type we usually see in Majestic types, quasi-unsettling.

The ending was a bit confusing, but I do get that we see how Majestic came to the DCU. The last page is pretty unambigous, especially as telegraphed in the diner scenes. But it does make sense, it should be intersting to see how this develops.

But what propelled this book from Really, Really, Friggin' Great, to near IC quality for me was this bit of dialouge: "That's all. Oh, Lantern? He said you could have this back." Really nails Majestic as someone powerful enough to take on anyone, as well as someone who doesn't take guff from anyone, but moreso, as someone who is at least reasonable. A very humerous scene that belies the seriousness of a Majestic type in the DCU. The heroes have ony Superman's faith to go by, but at the heart of it, you really do feel that Majestic is someone who really does want to do good, he's just more direct about it. 9.8 out of 10.0

Overall: 8.5 out of 10.0 for this issues I caught up on.

Action Plan

Not yet a mission statement, but at least a plan of action.

I like reviewing things, so I'll stick to that.

Tentatively I think a review of comics I read every other week (when I get to the shop), reviews of Teen Titans and Justice League: Unlimited either Saturday night or Sunday, reviews of Stargates SG-1 and Atlantis Friday nights or Saturdays, and rambling from me in between.

I might add a weekly entry for scrubs, when it premieres.

So sporadic posts during the week, multiple reviews over the weekend.

I think this could work.

Back Again

Hello again dear friends, it's me again after 4 months of...well nothing.

See the thing is, I've been ignoring a cardinal rule in starting a project...always have a mission statement that's clear and concise. Problem is, up until now, my mission statement for this blog was, "post what I want, when I want." And obviously, if this is some grand experimnet on my part to see who is out there listening to me, it doesn't help if I don't post there and post often.

There are a lot of things I love that I could probably go on and on about, but it's nothing that isn't new and I guess I'm afraid I don't have a really unique perspective on things. Case in point, I love comics, but then I look at another comics blog, Comics Ate My Brain, and I realize it's something that's currently being done and done 100x better than I think I could do.

So I'm going to think long and hard about it and see what I can add to the WWW with this blog. I mean if people want to hear me gush about my kids, I can do that, but I tend to think it loses it's meaning when you don't know me or my kids personally. I do like to review things, so I might do that, or I might find a way of making more organized posts about...nothing.

It worked for Seinfeld, right?