COMIC BOOK PROFILE: JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85

 

COMIC BOOK PROFILE

Wow...it's been some time since I've had a chance to do one of THESE blogs, but I do enjoy them when I get the opportunity.  And...upon reflecting what I have called this section of my little page here, I decided to make a change.  It's no longer going to be a "Comic Book of the Week", because--obviously--I haven't DONE this on a weekly basis.  However, with the new name, I think it fits better, because that's what we do here.  And with that little tidbit out of the way, let's bring us to the book that is our focus this time around.  And, I have to admit---I planned this to coincide with the Disney Plus show LOKI.  So, what a better time....especially since Episode 5 was titled "Journey Into Mystery", that we take a peek inside the first Silver Age appearance of The God of Mischief.

JOURNEY INTO MYSTERY #85

COVER ART:  Jack Kirby, Dick Ayers, Stan Goldberg, Artie Simek

WRITER:  Stan Lee, Larry Lieber

ARTIST:  Jack Kirby, Don Heck, Steve Ditko

INKS: Dick Ayers, Don Heck, Steve Ditko

LETTERS:  Artie Simek, Jon D'Agostino

COLORS:  Stan Goldberg

EDITOR:  Stan Lee

COVER DATE:  October 1962

PUBLISHER:  Marvel Comics

TAGLINE: Never before has the Mighty Thor faced a foe as dangerous as LOKI, The God of Mischief!!  Take these other Journeys into Mystery in this great issue:  "Filbert's Frightful Future" & "Off Limits" 

STORY TITLE:  "Trapped By Loki, The God of Mischief", "The Clock", "Filbert's Frightful Future", "Off Limits"

Journey Into Mystery #85 is now considered, by Marvel nowadays, as the first Silver Age appearance of Loki.  Considering Marvel's previous publication history as Timely/Atlas Comics, they new consider all of the previous comics under their original name canon, and thus Loki made his first actual appearance in Venus #6 (I'll have to research that one), but it was in the Timely/Atlas comic Journey Into Mystery that gave us--first--The God of Thunder Thor in issue #83, but we get introduced to his mischievous and sinister half-brother in this issue.  Marvel would end up using this comic as the platform for the Thunder God to establish his world and his entry into the Marvel Universe.  The series ran until issue #125, until it was renamed for our Norse God Avenger with issue #126 as The Mighty Thor.  Loki would return many time to plague Thor, The Avengers, and everyone else in the Marvel Universe, in his quest for power and hijinks.  And when the Marvel Cinematic Universe got started off...they did lay the groundwork in Thor's movie debut for his big role as the villain in The Avengers.  He's not only made appearances in the other two Thor features, but in more Avengers movies, as well as anywhere else he can be inserted into.  Tom Hiddleston's performance has been magical and captivating, and has brought this character to life in magnificent ways.  And now with the TV show, he's been allowed to expand on his own as the main character, and show us aspects that we've not gotten before.  Hiddleston's portrayal has given Loki's stock as a character an immense boost.  

THE STORY:  Loki has been trapped in a tree, having been put there by his father Odin for past misdeeds.  He is in the tree until someone sheds a tear, and releases him.  He manages to get a leaf to fall into the eyes of Heimdall, who sheds a tear, thus releasing the God of Mischief, who then plots his revenge against his half-brother, Thor.  Loki then spends the story trying to obtain Thor's hammer in order to destroy him.  

"The Clock" is a story reprinted from Marvel Tales #148.  Where an old clockmaker nearly dies from severe cold, only to be saved by the wooden figures that are a part of his clocks, of which he's given part of his soul to.

"Filbert's Frightful Future" is about a man who invents a time machine to become extremely wealthy off of future events, only to realize that his time machine cannot go into the future with him until it reaches the present, where there is nothing.

"Off Limits" sees Rip Van Winkle as an alien being visiting Earth in violation of Galactic travel guidelines, which declared the planet off limits due to the being's dormitive effect.

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This issue continues to bring Thor's mythology into the Marvel Universe by introducing us to his devious half-brother, and sets up THEIR long rivalry over the next 60-plus years.  Lee and Kirby deliver again with great action and storytelling for their time, and bring yet another villain into the Marvel Universe. We also got some short stories from Lee & Ditko as well, along with Don Heck.  If you're a collector and a fan of Loki...this SHOULD be on your list if you're able to find it....and afford it.

NEXT TIME:  We go back to the historical racks for yet another classic....

THE FLASH 7.16

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.16:  "P.O.W."

We've got a war on our hands---and it's moving at hyperspeed!  Team Flash is under siege, as it desperately tries to figure how how to stop to warring armies of Godspeeds from tearing apart Central City.  Barry has been certainly distracted enough with trying to start a family with Iris (and she's been missing as of late, being off camera for "illness" reasons), as well as trying to protect the city from the throes from destruction by velocity.  We've also had Frost dealing with Mr. Chillblaine himself roaming free on the streets, and Allegra is hoping to re-bond with her cousin, Esperanza, whom just had successful surgery courtesy of Caitlin to restore her voice.  But can those fences be mended between the two?  And there's Joe and Kristin Kramer's status, as they were caught by her former friend Creyke, who tried to blow the two up.  What shook out this week?  Let's find out...

As the news reports attacks to citizens in their homes, the Godspeeds are wreaking havoc all over Central City.  Barry is watching this with concern, and then dreams of his daughter Nora yet again, only THIS time, Nora is warning him that things are bad, and he needs to stop it.  He has been out there trying to stop them, but he's taking a beating, and this last time he's gotten some bruises.  Caitlin orders him to rest, but you know he won't.  Cecile is concerned that she can't get ahold of Joe since he and Kramer went out looking for Creyke.  They realize that the Godspeed's power is causing electronic disruptions, thus Cecile unable to call Joe.  They've also begun to operate without rhyme or reason, and it's gotten hard to track them.  Chunk goes to work on an algorithm to see if he can find a pattern to help the team track them.  

Out in the woods near Midway City, Joe and Kirstin manage to bail out of the car before Creyke blew it up.  They know he's on the hunt for them.  And they seek refuge in the woods, and Joe cannot connect into town for backup, because there's no cellphone signal.  So, like it or not, they're on their own against her former friend and teammate. 

Barry talks to Caitlin about his dream with Nora.  He is worried that Godspeed can destroy her future, because Godspeed is Nora's arch enemy in 2049.  Caitlin suggests to Barry that he race to the future to check on her, but he shoots that down, saying that there's a risk of creating another Flashpoint.  Help, however, arrives in the form of John Diggle...who's got a device he believes can help Barry and the team fight the war against Godspeed and win it. Cisco sent Diggle with something called an Entropy Trap.  The device will actually capture a Godspeed and keep it in stasis, thus allowing them to question it, or analyze it to figure out the other Godspeeds' next move.  John offers himself to help out, though he's still experiencing headaches.  The same one's he was going through when he saw the specailist in Gotham City.  

Caitlin also checks in on Esperanza, and tells her that her progress is going well, but just to take it easy.  Of course she's NOT going to listen, because she's got vendetta on her mind.  With the info she got from Dr. Nelson, she's going to track down all the other doctors who've had a hand in creating people like her, and kill them before they hurt anyone else.  Allegra tells her cousin she should take it easy, and wait until she's healed, and this Godspeed War to be over, and then she'd help her.  But Esperanza isn't going to wait.  She's off, leaving Allegra frustrated. 

The team puts their plan into play, as Flash is racing around town until he picks up a tail...and he's off running, with a Godspeed in tow.  The plan works, as Diggle helps Flash capture the pursuer.  Once they have him, he's not much for talking at first, but eventually, he opens up, and tells Flash they have much to discuss.  This Godspeed says he and Flash have the same agenda:  to stop the other Godspeeds from taking over.  They serve August Hart, who wants ultimate power.  However, his crew wants to do one thing:  live.  The Godspeed says they have a common enemy, but they want to kill August Hart before he destroys them.  However, Flash says that he refuses to kill...even an enemy.  This puts the Godspeed off, and he breaks free of the confines of the entropy machine, and he attacks Flash, and says that if he doesn't help them, then he's an enemy.  He takes down Flash, and steals some of his speed before he bolts out of there, but not before destroying the machine before taking off.  Flash is frustrated, and orders Chunk to fix it, but Chunk can't with what they have at STAR Labs, and Barry lays into him to figure it out.  Diggle orders everyone out of the room, and he asks Barry what's up.  Barry fills him in on his dreams about Nora, and wondering if he's okay.  He wants to check up on her, but he's afraid of messing up the timeline, and the fact that the Godspeeds need to be dealt with first.  Diggle says he should go...and that he would do ANYTHING...no matter the risk...to save his family.  That includes risking time and space.  Unbeknownst to them, Allegra overhears this, and makes the choice to take off and find Esperanza, and help her before she gets hurt. 

So, Barry decides to race to 2049 to check on Nora, and informs Cecile of his plans.  She says she's purused Nora's journals to get any info about Godspeed, and she says that there was a building in town that August Hart used as his base of operations, and she's going to check up on it.  She says she'll take John and Allegra with her, but Allegra is gone, and Diggle offers his help nonetheless. Caitlin and Chunk are keeping tabs on everything in the present while he's gone.  He races into the time stream, and is almost to 2049, until Gideon warns him that there is trouble up ahead.  A few Godspeeds are in the timeline, and blast him back, preventing him from reaching Nora.  He winds up in the Force Space, where Deon is there to inform him that the Speed Force is busy trying to fight off the Godspeeds, and that they're being stretched thin.  So, there are no trips through time until they're able to fend off the Godspeed threat.  Besides, his powers alone are weakened because he's had to protect someone else:  Iris.  It turns out, Iris' illness is more than just a cold or because of pregnancy....she's phasing in and out of time, and it's taking Deon's powers to keep her stable and safe.  He has to get her to another zone in order to keep her from fading out, and before the other Godspeeds find her.  

Before Cecile and John take off to find August Hart's hideout, John has another mental attack, and Cecile tries to help him, but she herself is overwhelmed by the impact of what's hitting John.  He recovers, and she says that he may want to sit this out.  What she felt it was...infinite.  But Diggle shrugs it off, and they're off to find the building where August Hart hangs out.  Once there, they end up facing off with a Godspeed, which Spartan shoots with nanites (courtesy of Ray Palmer), and it weakens the Godspeed enough for Spartan to start beating it down....but yet ANOTHER mental attack takes him down, and Frost blasts the Godspeed to send it racing away, saving Diggle.  Cecile comes upon a man who seems weak, but stable.  However, he has no idea who he is, but feels he can't leave the building.  

Allegra catches up to Esperanza, only to find a room of strewn bodies about, all looking like they're dead, and she comes across her cousin, who is mortally wounded.  Allegra apologizes for not being there for her, and for choosing her friends.  Esperanza says but she did, and now she will die alone.  Allegra begs her cousin to keep fighting, but Esperanza disintegrates in Allegra's hands....dying in the process. 

Creyke has been hunting Joe and Kramer, whom they think he only believes there's one person out there he's after.  They use that to their advantage, and then when he catches up to Kramer, he surprised to see her.  Joe slaps a dampener on him, and they talk.  Kramer wants to bring him in for killing their unit.  He says he's a mercenary, and he did it for the money.  He also said that he took that money, and gave it back to the people on their reservation.  He also questions Kristin, asking her just who SHE really is....considering Kristin Kramer was killed in the blast that killed the unit. Joe wonders what he's talking about, but she has no idea.  He says he can't die because he's immortal. She wants justice for her unit, and wants to kill him, but Joe once again talks her down.

Back at STAR Labs, Caitlin shows the team what's wrong with the man Cecile and John found, because there are gaps in his brain.  She says she has a way to get some of that info, and Barry gives the okay...as long as the man is okay with it. They need to know if they have August Hart. It's at this point, Diggle decides to take his leave---he's finally got to address this mental issue he's been having, and it's had to do with the night he almost got killed...and when he found the container with the green light in it.  Barry needs his help, but understands Diggle has to do what he has to do.  They give their farewells, and Diggle is off. 

Caitlin administers the drug to the man, and all can admit to is that his name is August...but not much more than that.  So, Barry is distraught because he feels they're right back where they started.  He's despondent because he couldn't see Nora, and they are no closer to solving the Godspeed riddle...and now he's worried sick about Iris.  Cecile tells him that she understands he's down....but that he needs to have some hope...they've gotten through worse, and they'll get through this.  Once alone, Barry is thinking when Nora shows up from the future.  She knows she's not supposed to be there, but she has something important to tell her dad.  Barry is just overjoyed to see her, and is glad she's okay.  She lets him know she's okay, and things turn out alright...for both of them.  He thinks that she's thinking of her and her mother, but Nora tells him that Iris will be fine, and they're fine....because she's there, living and breathing.  But she didn't come alone----because as happy as he is to see her...she brought company---and Bart Allen zips in, and Nora introduces her dad to his son.  

This episode really picked up the steam in the story department, as they have amped up the danger for Team Flash with all of these Godspeeds racing about, and an August Hart who has NO CLUE who and what he is.  And with him under the care of Team Flash, how long will it be before he regains his memory, and executes his final plan?  We have two episodes to go in this season, so the arc will wrap up in two parts.  But with no clue as to how to stop the threat, the stakes have been greater than it has been in previous seasons.  

With the appearance of Nora in the flesh this time...with Bart now in tow---XS & Impulse have arrived just in time to help their dad stop the Godspeed threat.  Also, we FINALLY got an appearance from Iris in this episode, as she's been missing the last few episodes.  And we also find out that she hasn't been experiencing morning sickness or a cold, but she's been phasing in and out of time.  Now, I am not sure how much this has to do with the leftover superpowers she has, or this plays into the actual origin of the comics version of Iris:  which is that Iris was not born in the same century as Barry, and was adopted by Ira West.  So, not sure how much they'll tap into THAT at all, but it DOES have me curious if this will be a way where she DOES get pregnant, and that she'll eventually LOSE her powers.  But at least we now have reason for her being offscreen.  

Diggle making his sojourn through the Arrowverse is nice welcome, as he's now our focal point from the Arrowverse from the perspective that Ollie had.  A regular guy in a superpowered world.  But now we got more in depth with the reason for his mental issues:  Cecile called it "infinite", and I have a feeling that the RING he got has been calling to him---or the Guardians.  Either way, this gives us even MORE reason to believe that John is THIS much closer to becoming Green Lantern. We can only hope....end the tease.  I also DID like Diggle's reference to Ray Palmer when he hit the Godspeed with nanites.  Letting us know that Ray is still in the loop in the superhero community, and is willing to lend a hand, even though he's no longer with the Legends. 

I have to admit---I was VERY disappointed with Allegra's arc in this.  To have her battle her cousin, beat her, then HELP her get her voice back....only to have the show runners KILL Esperanza off---that's a cop out and a let down.  I get that Esperanza wanted revenge, but we didn't get much of a redemption arc, we didn't get to see the two reconnect...it was just Esperanza still being bitter even when Allegra DID show up...but it was too late.  Was their story ALWAYS supposed to end tragically?  We'd already seen villains this season "see the light", and renounce their ways in some aspect, I guess they couldn't do that with everyone.  Plus...after I had time to process it---I think that by eliminating Esperanza, it propels Allegra forward, and gives HER some uniqueness as the ONLY person in her family with those powers....thus, now there's only ONE Ultraviolet...IF Allegra decides to run with that name.  And I HOPE she doesn't take her cousin's death out of Barry or the team---she AND Caitlin gave Esperanza fair warning about going after those Black Hole doctors in her weakened state...but she didn't listen.  Esperanza's death is on herself...not Allegra.  But we know Allegra won't see it that way.  But if they do this to turn Allegra villain...I'm gonna be pissed.  

The whole issue with Joe/Kristin/Creyke is one that I hope wraps up soon...her story is losing me fast.  We now know Creyke is immortal---this mean he's like Vandal Savage now?  And what's with his jab at Kramer being dead?  She know something WE don't?  Does SHE even know she's supposed to be dead?  Are they making HER a metahuman as well...just to spin the irony onto her after her issues with Frost?  Just put an end to it....you're needed in Central City.  And is this guy going to be a Flash villain down the road?  I dunno...but wrap it up, because the main story needs much more of the stage at this juncture. 

Well, boys and girls....did we LIKE the little surprise at the end of the episode with Nora returning and the first appearance of Bart?  I will admit...they got the outfit spot on.  Now...if they give him the goggles...I'm there.  But what about YOU guys?  What did YOU think?  Subscribe and comment below your insights.

Two to go until this season reaches the finish line, folks----so, until then....Keep on running!

THE FLASH 7.15

 

RECAP - THE FLASH  7.15:  "Enemy At The Gates"  

Barry Allen has A LOT on his mind---and it doesn't necessarily mean his job at the CCPD OR his life as The Flash.  Naaah....Barry's had something MUCH bigger on his mind:  fatherhood.  We know that from the last few episodes, Barry and Iris have been trying to start a family, and it's been the one thing distracting him...since they really haven't revealed anything to anyone about actually trying.  They just figured Barry and Iris were playing catch-up after not having much time for each other.  So, Iris has been absent lately (and was in THIS episode as well), and Barry has been accounting for her whereabouts (thus giving us--the viewers--a status update on Mrs. West-Allen), while actress Candice Patton has been off-screen.  Outside of Barry and Iris' attempts to make a baby, we have Allegra trying to save her cousin, Esperanza, and get her the one thing she desires back:  her voice.  Esperanza isn't the trusting type, so Allegra is trying to pull family rank on this one to get her to comply.  Then there's Joe and Kristin Kramer---who are now on the hunt for her former friend and teammate, Crayke, who's gone rogue, and was responsible for the death of her unit back in the Army.  But there's the long awaiting returning threat on the horizon that's going to shake Team Flash up in this final few-episode arc to bring out the end of the season.....Godspeed. 

Barry spends the majority of this episode awfully distracted.  While he and Iris have been secretly babymaking, he's wondering about fatherhood.  So much so, that while in his lab working, he ends up dreaming about Nora----who appears to him----saying that everything will work out as it's supposed to, and for him not to worry.  Turns out, Barry is dreaming, but it gives him something of a premonition that he and Iris are pregnant, and wants to test to see if they are.  So, while at home, he's got the samples from Iris to be able to run a pregnancy test at STAR Labs, but ends up running into Cecile, with whom he has a lunch date with, and he tries to shoo her out and cancel the luncheon, because he's preoccupied with getting the samples to the lab to test them.  She tries to read his mind and emotional state and knows something is up, but he says he'll catch up later and blows her off.  He tries again at STAR Labs, but runs into Chester, who starts asking questions about his weird behavior, but Barry again keeps playing it off.  He gets a private moment, and calls Iris, saying that he's not ready to reveal the results to the team yet, so she encourages him to go to his lab at the CCPD to run the tests.  So, he heads there.  

While Barry is trying to run his pregnancy test, Joe and Kristin are still hashing over the night of the mission, where her unit got killed thanks to the betrayal by her longtime friend Crayke.  She recalls how he wanted to join the Navy, but followed her into the Army instead.  She said he loved the water, and loved to fish.  Joe remembers a place he used to go fish as a kid, and uses Crayke's call sign as a search, and they come up with that name that's on a schooner in Midway City.  Kramer's not happy that he's been under her nose this whole time, but is ready to take him down.  But before they go, Joe warns her that if it's revenge she's after...she's going it alone.  Joe will not help her....because this should be about justice.  Kramer pauses a bit....than asks him to go with her. 

Frost has been a busy gal....trying to comb the city for Mark, and manages to find him at his old bar he used to work at, getting worked over by several thugs, because he turned state's evidence to get out.  She manages to scare the thugs to take a hike, but Mark's beat up pretty good.  She decides to take him to STAR Labs to get healed up, but she warns him that if he crosses her...she'll beat the hell out of him. 

Caitlin is set to operate on Esperanza to repair her vocal chords, and says that there's some circuitry in there, and that she'll need to repair it, or Esperanza can die.  Esperanza isn't one for trusting anyone on Team Flash, but Allegra pleads with her cousin to let Caitlin operate.  She wants to save her cousin.  

Barry's at his lab at the CCPD when Cecile walks in, ready for their lunch date.  Barry again tries to put it off, but Cecile is in his head, and realizes what Barry is up to.  He tries to play it down, and doesn't want this big reveal yet.  So, as they are awaiting the results of the test, things go from bad to worse, as Godspeed....who has returned to Central City....and began making duplicates of himself...is racing around the city, causing damage...zips by the CCPD, and the glass shatters in Barry's lab....and he gets him and Cecile to safety.  But that initial test is destroyed.  Back at STAR Labs, Chester and the team are trying to track Godspeed, but then he blips out.  They try to figure out where and when he will strike next, and Chester has the idea to track them by using their modem voices to get a signature. Frost goes to check up on Mark, and he knows about the Godspeeds in town, and offers up his help, but Frost denies it, and says his injuries will hinder him, and he's benched.  She would need him to be a good guy, but he tells her that "good and bad" are binary, and that SHE....of ALL people....should know. She locks him in his room nonetheless.

They find Godspeed about to destroy the power plant when Flash arrives to stop them.  He needed Frost and Allegra back at STAR Labs as the last line of defense should he fail.  Chester tries to warn Barry that other Godspeeds are coming, and that it was a trap.  They arrive, and Flash vibrates out..taking off and having the Godspeeds give chase.  He tells Chester to lower the shields at STAR Labs, and he does so....and in the process, he ends up trapping the Godspeeds in  an electrical forcefield fence.  They begin to start punching it to escape, leaving them precious little time to figure out how to stop them. Barry then calls Iris, and tells her what's going on, and orders her to stay home (she's been sick), and that he'll do everything he can to protect her and the baby.  Chester overhears this and gives him congrats, but Barry orders him silent on this until they know for sure.  Barry and Chester then figure out a way to possibly stop them, blasting their modem speak right back at them, causing confusion as to what to do.  Barry orders Chester to put it all over the building, and then to hide inside the Time Vault to protect himself.  They put the plan into action, but it doesn't seem to be working.

Frost goes to Mark, and tells him that the Godspeeds are coming, and they need to hold the fort.  She hands him his Chillblaine gloves, and tells him he needs to be a good guy today, and he says he can't because it's not who he is.  But she says if he DOESN'T help....they'll die.  And even HE doesn't want that.  And she reminds him that her trust isn't given, it's earned.  And if he blows it...deal's off.  The continued energy the Godspeeds are using to punch out is causing issues in the Med Bay, as Caitlin continues to work on Esperanza.  But we see Esperanza start to fidget...indicating the fear of what's happening.  Allegra wants to help, but she can't.  Cecile goes to Esperanza, and uses her empath powers to clam Esperanza down, allowing Caitlin to continue to operate.  As Chester is in the Time Vault, and having Gideon continue the broadcast of the Godspeed speak throughout the complex, they manage to break free, and the team has to start fighting them off.  Flash is able to take down a few, and Frost and Mark are able to beat some down....but one gets into the Time Vault, and shorts out Gideon, thus killing the feed to the speakers.  It allows the Godspeeds to recover and fight back.  Flash is on the run again to get them out of the building to save everyone else.  As he tries to outrun them, they overtake him, and blast him down.  As they begin to try and draw his speed away from him, more Godspeeds show up, and they begin battling each other.  Flash is confused by all this, as they all disappear.  

Back at STAR Labs, Caitlin was successful with Esperanza, and she's in recovery.  They all commiserate as to why Godspeeds would fight each other, when Godspeed himself is the one who wants ultimate speed...and Barry realizes that there's a civil war coming...and that's not good for Central City...OR The Flash.  Later on, Mark and Frost are alone chatting, and it looks like they're getting closer.  He sweet talks Frost just enough that when she goes to get them another drink...he rigged the shaker and it pops, distracting her long enough for him to make an escape.  

Barry's back at his lab at the CCPD, and has conducted another test with Cecile there.  He's hoping that the baby will be like Iris.  But...Barry is heartbroken when the test is negative.  He wonders whether or not they've lost their chance at having a child, and Cecile assures him to not give up yet.  

Joe and Kristin are staking out Crayke's place where his boat is, and she and Joe are talking....wondering if she'd ever wind up like her friend...to go down that dark road...and be a killer like him.  Before Joe can respond, a bright light shines behind them...and Kristin orders Joe to move, as their car is truck, causing it to explode.  

Well, we're in the final arc, and it's started off with a pretty decent level of excitement, as we have questions regarding the duplicate Godspeeds now roaming the city, and what exactly the original Godspeed's plan is...outside of taking Barry's speed...is.  Them warring with each other only raises the level of confusion, and hopefully they won't give us a long wait until they answer that question.  

Frost learned a valuable lesson that leopards can't change their spots.  While SHE is an exception to the rule...and she KNOWS she will be looked upon with a jaundice eye because of her past....SHE has made the effort to be a better person. But Mark makes no bones about who he is...and understands the ambiguity of the line between good and evil.  So, he's not going to pigeonhole himself for the sake of staying out of jail.  He is who he is.  There is no changing him. 

With Esperanza now possibly having her voice back....will SHE change?  Will she be able to mend her familial bond with Allegra?  Allegra WANTS to make the effort, but it's now on Esperanza's doorstep as to whether or not they re-bond.  But will Esperanza....much like Mark...find that line and decide to walk it instead of crossing one side to the other?  Or will she just see that what she was doing was too good to pass up?  I believe we explore that story next episode.

Joe seems to be a good counterbalance to Kristin.  And he's gotten her to open up.  Now...do I still fully trust her?  No.  But Joe has been to the point with her:  I don't like your methods, and I'm not big on your absolution when it comes to metas, and I'm not here for your revenge party.  But if you seek justice...I'll stand by you.  I think that's why she admires him---because he pulls no punches, but his years of experience as a cop has offered him TONS of wisdom...especially also being a part of Team Flash.  So, hopefully, they're able to survive this encounter, and we get to see Kristin have some justice....and peace of mind.  

For Barry....you kinda feel for him, as he was SO excited about the prospect of Iris being pregnant...and they've been trying SO hard lately.  But to see his face crestfallen as the pregnancy test was negative kinda hit you in the heart a little....especially when he had the dream about Nora at the beginning of the episode.  We miss Nora so much, and for her to tell him it'll all work out makes US believe...but I think it was also a message saying that "Don't worry, Dad....it may not happen TODAY....but it WILL happen.  Don't give up!".  And I know Cecile will stand by him through this.  But I guess there's a reason they have kept Candice Patton off canvas the last couple of episodes, and only heard about or mentioned by Barry.  The show is a little less without Candice's presence in the physical.  But hopefully, she'll be back soon....and we'll have good news to report from the West-Allen home.  

It was one of the better episodes this season, and I enjoyed it.  But this season as a whole has seemed to just plod along, and not one of the better ones.  Changes to the cast, and the fact that COVID really screwed up the filming schedule, but that's also no excuse to write meandering plots.  This show has shown better than this, and I'm hoping the season finishes strong, so that next season will be better.  But it will be going 8 seasons in next year, and will this show...much like Arrow...finally realize it's run out of gas?  I guess we'll find out in the next few installments, and see what next season beholds. But we DO know that Candice, Danielle, and Jessie have signed on for Season 8, so the core cast is back.  

What're YOUR thoughts after this week's episode, kids?  Subscribe and leave yer comments below....

Until next time....Keep on running!

BATWOMAN 2.18

 

RECAP - BATWOMAN  2.18:  "Power"  

Power....that's what it's all about in Gotham, and Black Mask wants it.  In this season finale, Black Mask makes his final push to drag Gotham City into chaos and anarchy...and then swoop in and become the savior of the town.  And he's got an army on his side....and his "daughter", Sersi.  With Kate still at Sersi Sionis' mercy, she's going to be on a rampage to help thrust Gotham into chaos---and what can the Bat Team do?  Well...it's the end of Season 2....let's see how it all shook out. 

Black Mask was revving up his troops, and using the old Channel 64 studios to send a city wide broadcast, spewing his agenda, and saying how the Crows, the GCPD, and Batwoman were the REAL prolem in Gotham, and that he wanted the people to rise up and initiate some anarchy in the town....take down the GCPD, the politicians, Batwoman.  He says if you've got the power---use it.  And thus, the powergrid is shut down, and the city is enveloped into darkness.  The Bat Team is watching all of this transpire when the power goes dark.  We then see Ryan in a quiet moment, penning a letter to Gotham, saying that maybe Batwoman isn't the answer.  But she never did take it for granted.  The team has to scramble to not only try and prevent the city from destroying itself, but to find Sersi and Black Mask...and put them down.  When looking at Black Mask's video footage, Ryan has an idea as to where he might be.  

Black Mask is overlooking all the bounty that Sersi had stolen from the Batcave, espousing that Batman loved his trophies, and that he got off on his power.  Now, he's going to use some of that power to take control of Gotham.  By using some of Bane's Venom...he gives a small dose to Tavaroff, as well as a mix of Snake Bite to help control him....but Tavaroff seems to have not survived the experiment, so Black Mask has his goons dump the body in the alley.  He reveals his plan to "save" the city once he destroys it. thus anointing himself the "white knight" of the city.  And that's after he disposes of his Black Mask identity, and having Roman Sionis as the sole savior of the town.  Luke informs Ryan where Black Mask is located.  Ryan is still doubting that she can beat Kate, and that maybe she's not cut out or deserving to be Batwoman.  Sophie sets her straight---she EARNED that cowl, and she IS Batwoman, and that is who the town needs right now.  They hear shooting and rioting outside, and they go to see what's happening, only to see the Mayor get shot.  Ryan tells Sophie to stay with him and get him to safety, while she has an idea on how to beat Kate.  Alice shows up at the cave, and says that Kate played them, and that Safiyah won't be a problem.  So, with that, she hands Alice a gas mask, and says that she's going to take down Black Mask, and get Kate back.  

Luke is in the Batcave trying to find alternate power, when he comes across some old drawings that look like designs of an old Batsuit.  It seems his father was building a new one, and the finds it under the black cloth we saw last episode.  We then get to see the Batwing suit in full glory, and as Luke touches it, it lights up to his signature.  Meanwhile, Mary is at her clinic, overloaded with patients, when someone brings Tavaroff in.  She notices the Snake Bite attatchment on his arm, and has an idea on how to stop Kate herself.  She has one of her assistants keep an eye on Tavaroff as she goes to call Luke and tell them her plan to use it on Kate...spark her memory, and get her back.  Everyone is on board with the idea.  But somehow, Tavaroff wakes up, and he's in a bad mood....and want's his elixir back.  So, Mary is in trouble.  

Ryan and Alice are on their way to the studio when Alice lets Ryan know she read up on her, and knows about her mother.  That she had supposedly killed her mother childbirth.  Alice tries apologizing for killing Ryan's adoptive mother, but Ryan refuses to accept it.  Ryan promises that they're going to find Kate, and then she's going to drag Alice to jail.  Mary is running away from Tavaroff when she is rescued by Batwing, who then takes out Tavaroff.  WHen he asks who he is...Batwing says "justice".  Mary then races to get the Snake Bite to Ryan, so that she can save Kate.  

Once they're at the stuido, Black Mask starts fighting Alice, as Sersi is off to do her damage, with Ryan in tow, meanwhile the rioting outside continues.  We then hear Vesper Fairchild reading a letter that Batwoman wrote (the same letter Ryan was composing at the start of the show), sayin that it was now Gotham's turn to be the hero...to use the mask and shine the light of justice and peace.  Many of the citizens do so, and when Ryan catches up with Mary to get the Snake Bite, she looks up and sees the city...heeding her call...and that they need Batwoman to save them. 

Roman and Alice continue their fight, and he calls Alice a failed villain....all because she has a heart.  Wanting to kill her sister, then save her sister....sends the wrong message as a villain.  But Black Mask/Roman Sionis...different face, same message.  Alice tells him that a great villain was The Joker...and she sprays Roman with the acid from the Joker's flower....thus scarring his face, and then putting his Black Mask back on, and she said good luck with his message, and walks off.  Ryan, at this time, is chasing Sersi down, trying to stop her from planting bombs and destroying the city.  Ryan finally catches up to her, and they begin to do battle on the bridge.  It's the same bridge that Kate and Alice crashed off of when they were kids.  As Sersi tries to goad Ryan, Ryan says to call her Batwoman.  Alice arrives to see the Snake Bite canister that Ryan dropped, and while Kate was dazed, Ryan yells at her to grab it and use it....Alice does, and Kate is sprayed in the face.  However, both of them tumble over the  railing and into the river---Ryan unable to stop them. 

As Alice and Kate hit the water, all the other artifacts from the cave that Sersi stole also fall into the river.  As both are out of it and close to drowning, Both Kate and Alice connect mentally...and Kate hears Alice, and calls out to Beth.  When she opens the door in her imagination from her locked room....Beth is there.  Alice wakes up, and then notices that Kate is drowning, and rescues her.  Ryan meets them down at the riverbed, and Kate is still out of it....so Ryan and Alice perform CPR on her, until she awakens, coughing up water.  As Kate stumbles into awareness, the GCPD is there, ready to spring on Alice and take her into custody.  

As the city has settled down, Vesper hits the airwaves the next day, giving props to the city for not buying ointo Black Mask, and for heeding the call to be heroes.  She also says the city refuses the resignation of Batwoman....they'll always need her. In the aftermath, Kate is back to normal, and she, Mary, and Luke catch up.  They respect the decision she's made, and as far as Alice goes---until Alice wants to be Beth...Kate says there's nothing she can do for her.  Ryan shows up, and she and Kate have a moment to chat.  Ryan says thanks to Kate , and Kate thanks her...and says that Batwoman is hers...and for her to watch out over Luke and Mary.  Ryan promises.  They shake hands, and Kate is off on one more errand.  She meets with Sophie, and says that timing is bad.  She says that she's got to go to National City to see a friend (have to visit Kara), and then visit her dad in Metropolis....then, she's off to find Bruce.  IF anything has happened to him, she owes it to herself to find her cousin like she failed to find Beth.  Sophie knows that they can't be together, but they share one last kiss until Kate takes off on her mission.  We should also note that Ryan had met with the parole board, and was finally granted her release from parole, making her a free woman once more--with no boundaries.  

The Bat Team meets up, and discuss current matters...including getting all the weapons that were stolen from the Cave back before they cause trouble.  Now that Mary's clinic is legit, Ryan feels that they should rebuild the youth center above it, and they all agree that's a good idea.  Ryan is also happy to have back up with Luke out in the field as Batwing.  They wondered how he found the suit, and he said he drew designs on what a black Batman would be like when he was a kid----and his father made it a reality.  Ryan then pays a visit to Alice at Blackgate Prison...letting her know that this is justice for her mother, and that she hopes they NEVER see each other again.  But Alice has yet another card to play----and reveals to Ryan that her biological mother is VERY much alive.

The show ends as we see the Penguin's umbrella...the Mad Hatter's hat...and the vial of Poison Ivy's vine floating in the Gotham river---and the vial opens....and when water comes into contact with the vine, it begins to grow. 

This was a pretty exciting ending to the 2nd season of the show!  I was happy with the way they wrapped up the Black Mask storyline, and now get the backstory as to how the mask is permanently fused to Roman's face now...his rep is done, and he's fallen from Babylon.  But we know he'll find a way to be a menace again down the road.  It also gives us a very satisfying ending to Kate's time in Gotham.  Now she's charged with a new mission:  finding Bruce Wayne.  We've never really understood Bruce's absence, but Kate is going to find answers.  She knows Gotham is in great hands with Ryan....who is now our ONLY Batwoman.  I have to admit....I had predicted that Alice and Kate would fall into the river in a scuffle....but that they'd BOTH disappear...and MAYBE wash up on Coryana.  But this works out better.  It still sees Alice as the villain, who still hasn't completely freformed...but happy that her sister is back.  As for Kate....a new direction, AND they can bring her back down the road.  Either way, I've no complaints about it.  Luke becoming Batwing was cool, and I LOVE the suit!  He's going to be an asset in the field for Ryan.  Mary's clinic is legit, so she's living her dream.  We DO bid farewell to Jacob Kane, as Dougray Scott is finished on Batwoman. With Kate gone, Alice incarcerated for the time being (and should only be seen SPORADICALLY), there is no further storyline for Jacob Kane....he served his purpose.  So, now the focus can shift to the Bat Team...which WILL have Sophie in tow, and a new slate of villains for next season.  I expected Sophie to stick around....she and Ryan have mended fences, and she's a valuable member to the team.  So, the sisterhood of the team will grow.  

As for Tavaroff....expect him to turn up next season as a villain...as well as what other designs the showrunners have for the Penguin's umbrella, the Mad Hatter's hat, and Poison Ivy's vine that just started to grow again.  This will be the team's next mission---getting all these artifacts back before a new breed of supervillains come to the fore.  But I enjoyed myself MUCH more this season, and Javicia Leslie was incredible...Ryan Wilder grew on me...and I totally see her as Batwoman.  NOW....I'm just hoping things will clear up with this virus crap, so that we can get some serious crossover action again.  

Okay boys and girls....how did YOU rate Batwoman, Season 2?  What did you like/hate about it?  What theories did YOU have going into this week's finale?  Subscribe and drop me a comment below.

Until next season....The Signal is OFF!

DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW 6.8

 

RECAP - DC'S LEGENDS OF TOMORROW  6.8:  "Stressed Western"  

Well...our Timestream Toublemakers try to adjust to having SOME sense of "normal"....at least for them.  Their intrepid Captain is back, and they're looking to get back to business:  fixing the timeline, and eliminating the aliens that have landed in it, and screwed it up.....mostly due to Sara and Gary having dumped them when they fought Gary's ex-fiance.   But before they get down to the next adventure---they want to properly welcome their Captain home.

So, we got the team whipping up a monster breakfast for Sara, who still hasn't revealed to the team that she's half alien.  She isn't quite ready to tell the team what happened to her, even though she just revealed it to Ava.  She wants to keep it under wraps until she has time to settle back in and come to terms with it herself.   But she professes to Ava that everything is fine.  Everyone wants to get time with Sara, but Ava wants as much time with her as possible.  So, she gets the big breakfast, but her appetite isn't where it usually is, and she settles on the smoothie Zari left instead.  Gideon interrupts Ava and Sara getting closer, as she finds yet another alien messing up the timeline....this time in a old western town named Fist City in the late 1800's.  Sara wants to have a romp, so Nate rallies the troops, and they head into the past to confront this new alien threat to the timeline. 

Before they take off, John confronts Gary about The Fountain of Imperium, and Gary says it's just a myth, and he doesn't believe it exists.  John walks off in a huff, and Gary looks on...knowing he just lied to John. 

When they get to the town, they find out it's....different.  They walk into the saloon, and as soon as they bump into one of the patrons, it looks as if a fight will break out.  Instead, the man is courteous, and orders them drinks....all soda.  There's no alcohol there, and also no gambling as well.  They see the list of rules, and find it weird.  From their research, this town was protected by the first black deputy sheriff named Bass Reeves, but he's considered an outlaw based on a wanted poster of him posted.  The actual sheriff of the town is a man named Stapleton, who was supposed to be the outlaw criminal based on history.  A balladeer shows up, and the saloon breaks out in song, as he tells the story of the sheriff, and Stapleton arrives, curious about the strangers who've come into town.  At this point, Sara is downing milkshakes like they're going out of style, and Ava is worried about her, and why she's acting the way she's acting.  Behrad makes nice with one of the locals, and his sister doesn't think the girl is right for him.  Nate is just trying to keep the peace, and Astra is not happy that the guys playing Go Fish at the tables have no gold on them, and she's heard of it.  She wants to grab some for herself.  Spooner, trying to sense the alien, and Astra giving her grief for having the foil in the hat.  

The tension between team members causes a rumble underneath the ground.  the card player and Astra have words, and they get angry.  Then, the alien shows up---a worm---that ends up swallowing the card player.  It takes the whistle from Stapleton to quell the alien, and force it back underground.  He tells the team to eat up, have a drink or two, and then hit the road.  They question Gary about it, and he says it's a Hadarac---and it feeds on anger.  They realize they have to get the whistle from the sheriff, so they head to the square dance....minus Astra and Spooner are left behind because of their tempers.  Astra then wants to follow the trail to find the gold of the card player.  So, she wants Spooner to help her find it.  She eggs Spooner about her powers, and says that she should learn to control them, instead of it controlling her.  She talks about her time in Hell, and having to fight for her power.  Spooner opens up about her mother, and how she had to survive without her.  Astra did not know this.  They end up finding the worm, and it turns out that the worm leaves a trail of gold in its wake.  They have been followed this whole time by Bass....who's curious as to who they are.  Bass says that this worm turned Fist City into a boomtown, and there's no way the townsfolk are going to let anything happen to the worm.  

At the square dance, Sara and Stapleton talk, and she challenges him to a shootout.  Winner gets the whistle, and the loser leaves town.  Stapleton agrees.  Ava wonders why Sara would do this, and Sara is calm, and she says she needs this.  Meanwhile, Zari and Behrad continue to argue about his flirtation with the woman, Ava is upset Sara is putting herself in danger.  The ground begins to rumble as the alien gets restless.  So, Sara and Stapleton have their showdown, and Stapleton shoots Sara in the head before she gets a chance to turn around.  However, Sara gets up and heals her head wound...a byproduct of her alien DNA.  She then turns around, and Stapleton continues to fire on her, but she takes all the bullets.  She then shoots the whistle off Stapleton.  The worm takes out Stapleton, and then the woman Behrad flirted with turns on the Legends, and they won't let them take the worm from them, so they start shooting at the Legends, who hide inside the saloon.  While the team is trying to figure out what to do, they all begin to argue.  Ava and Sara argue about what she just did, the siblings argue about Behrad's flirting with the woman, and John feels that if he had his magic, this wouldn't be a problem...and that's on Gary.  Nate has tried to keep the order, but then he tells the team to screw themselves, and starts to vent about trying to make this adventure fun for Sara, how he's had to listen to everyone else's problems, and how he's been all by himself because he's without the woman he loves, who's stuck in a totem.  He then goes outside, raging, and hoping to draw the alien to him.  Everyone wonders just what Nate is doing, so they all commiserate outside and see the alien approach Nate, ready to eat him.  But Astra and Spooner arrive in time with Bass to see Nate about to be eaten.  Spooner gets into the alien's head long enough to distract it, and Astra musters up enough magic to destroy the creature.

With the town back to normal, and Bass reasserted as sheriff, and how he uses everything he knows about the townsfolk to ensure they'll toe the line.  Back aboard the ship, Gary tells John where he can find the Fountain...but the only one who's got a clue to where it's at is Aleister Crowley....So, John takes off to find the Fountain to get his magic back...and Gary warns him that if he gets the map to be careful...no one's survived trying to find it.  The siblings make up, and Behrad realizes that Nate's been suffering without HIS Zari.  So, he lends Nate the totem to go and visit Zari within it, but just return it when he's done.  Sarah and Ava seem to be okay again as well.  

Well....we got back to some of the hijinks that makes our Waverider Bunch fun to watch.  We did get a decent dose of humor, but we also got some character development here.  I think that since they got engaged, Ava has now been taking more of a protective stance with Sara.  Call it the "worrisome wife" syndrome, but she's now going into that role.  She has yet to understand the struggle Sara is going through, as she realizes what her alien DNA has given her...a super healing factor, and an immensely indestructible body.  Sara is dealing with her humanity and what it means.  This week, she was unsure about how the team would react if they knew she was half alien.  That brings me to Spooner, and how she not only kept sensing the alien, but Gary as well.  However...it makes me wonder if she could sense Sara's half alien DNA as well.  Astra also made a good point to Spooner about taking control of her powers...and not letting them dictate to Spooner, but the other way around.  Astra also learned that Spooner is a lot like her:  rough around the edges, angry, and both lost someone they loved most:  their mothers.  It was also cool to see Behrad give Nate a helping hand by letting him borrow his part of the totem in order for him to visit Zari 1.0 inside it.  

We got a different guest role for David Ramsey, who also directed this episode.  So, while not a John Diggle appearance, he got a nice little guest role to help the plot along.  Sadly, no real interaction between him and Sara...but it's always good to see Ramsey on TV.  And did anyone notice that Mick had a small part in this week's episode?  He pretty much slept and ate steak in this episode as they went to the Old West.  I guess that they didn't really need Mick much in this episode and gave him a break.  We also got the siblings sniping at each other this week as well, as Zari went all sister mode on Behrad for his choice in women.  But we see that Zari is a loving and protective sister....showing their family dynamic as strong as ever, even when they argue. 

Overall...not too bad an episode.  Had some character development, had a baddie alien, some humorous moments, but doing their usual stuff.  It's not mind blowing things they're doing on this show, and they're staying the course.  Not sure what they have planned, but hopefully something major---especially if it means John and his quest for the Fountain of Illumination.  Because this season has just been staying in it's lane....but in cruise control...and that 's a problem with a show when it gets creatively stale.  That is what I fear for this program.  It needs a major jolt..and soon.

That's MY thoughts on this week's happenings about the Waverider crew....what about you?  What's YOUR take on the Legends so far this season?  Subscribe and drop me a comment below.  

Until next time....Time is on our side.