Batman: No Man’s Land, by Greg Rucka — a comic book novelization review

I knew who Greg Rucka was before I purchased this novel. And, not for his work in superhero comics. No, Rucka was the author of a series of novels about a bodyguard named Atticus Kodiak. I read a couple of these about twenty years ago, and, as I recall, I liked them. Batman: No Man’s […]

Spider-Man: Far from Home — a movie review

With this movie in my rearview mirror, only Captain Marvel remains as an obstacle to my completion of Phase 3 of the MCU. As of the day I’m typing this post, I’m not sure where we’ve landed with the Sony vs. Marvel negotiations. I thought Spidey was removed from our MCU continuity, but now I’m […]

Identity Crisis, by Brad Meltzer & Rags Morales — a comic book review

I’ve read exactly one of Brad Meltzer’s novels. This was The Book of Lies, which attempted to tie the biblical story of Cain-and-Abel to the murder of Jerry Siegel’s father, and thus to the creation of the grandfather of all superheroes, Superman. From this, I knew he had a connection to the world of comic […]

Flashpoint, by Geoff Johns & Andy Kubert — a comic book review

If you’ve had anything to do with any DC Comics property during the last eight years or so—including comics, video games and the CW shows—you’ve heard about Flashpoint. I think Flashpoint Batman was offered as an alternate skin in one of the Arkham games (probably Arkham Knight), and I really didn’t know what that […]

Doom Patrol: Season 1 — a review

What did I just watch? I mean, really. What was that? And why was it just so damned interesting? Doom Patrol is not the first show about unconventional superheroes, on television or at the movies. We’ve seen what kind of box office numbers Deadpool (a Rob Liefeld creation: Egads!!) is capable of generating. The Suicide […]

Batman: Year One, by Frank Miller & David Mazzucchelli — a comic book review

I went about this, as they say, all bass-ackwards. I watched the 2011 DC Universe Animated Original Movie version of this first. This was the one in which Ben Mackenzie, who would go on to play Jim Gordon in the television series Gotham (now wrapping up its final season), provided the voice of Bruce […]

Batman & Bill (2017 documentary) — a review

While it has become difficult for me to watch any documentary these days without thinking about the brilliant Fred Armisen/Bill Hader mockumentary series on IFC, Documentary Now!, I will still watch one when the subject matter appeals to me. You know what subjects appeal to me, of course. Just read the titles of my posts […]

The Gifted: Season 2 — a review

As of the day I’m typing this review, The Gifted, FOX’s entry into the Marvel mutant sweepstakes, has not been renewed for a third season. Whether it gets renewed or not, I’m tapping out after this season. It’s not that this has been a terrible show. It is an okay superhero series, with some […]

The Gifted: Season 2 Premiere: Episode 2.1 “eMergence” — a review

The first season of The Gifted surprised me. No, it didn’t surprise me by being more of the same “mutant superheroes being persecuted and treated as the unwanted minority du jour.” That comic book trope has been with us since at least the beginning of the X-Men, and isn’t likely to go away. The surprise […]

Marvel’s Iron Fist: Season Two — a review

A lot of people chose to dogpile on the mound of criticism directed at the first season of Iron Fist. I can understand why, objectively. It was my least favorite of the Marvel shows on Netflix, at the time. Still, I thought it was okay. Just okay. Not great. So, I went into Season Two […]

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