Category: TV Series

GREEN HORNET # 14 (1992 NOW Comics)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 8, 2020

Written by Ron Fortier

Art by Sal Velluto; Barb Kaalberg; Suzanne Dechnik & Holly SanFelippo; and Andrea Albert

Cover Art by Sal Velluto; Tony DeZuniga; & Suzanne Dechnik

SUMMARY:

Published by NOW Comics for October 1992, the 24-page The Odyssey of the Crimson Wasp, Part III is entitled “Dying for Dollar$.” Paul Reid, the current Green Hornet, and a masked crook, Johnny Dollar, conspire to some money laundering business, both expecting an inevitable double-cross. Meanwhile, Kato’s younger sister, the sword-wielding Mishi, intends to finish her family’s vendetta against Dollar. A three-way warehouse shoot-out chaotically ensues.

REVIEW:

For long-time Green Hornet fans, it’s mildly entertaining. Despite relying on bland script clichés, writer Ron Fortier nicely works the Hornet & Kato’s classic partnership dynamic, particularly with Mishi as the ‘Crimson Wasp.’ Johnny Dollar, however, is reminiscent of a poor man’s Riddler, but he’s still a worthy foe for this Hornet & Kato. Yet, there isn’t anything distinctly imaginative going on. Approximately half of the story is allotted to a big shoot-out where the minimal blood merits a PG-rating. Make no mistake, though: a sizable body count and a villain’s single profanity shout-out doesn’t make this comic kid-friendly. Aside from adequate artwork, the undemanding story is an okay single read. To its credit, the cover art accurately reflects what this comic delivers.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

There’s a two-page spread promoting NOW’s newly-released comics. Series editor Joan Weis answers ‘The Buzz Word’ letters column. The final page is ‘Show Stoppers,’ which has five candid NOW-related photos at Summer 1992 comic conventions. Among these photos is one of actor Van Williams (TV’s Green Hornet) busily signing autographs and another of Mr. T posing with a comic shop owner.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 4½ Stars

Comic Books & Graphic Novels Independent Publishers (Comic Books & Graphic Novels) TV Series

HONEY WEST # 7 (2012 MOONSTONE Books)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 8, 2020

Written by Trina Robbins

Art by Silvestre Szilagyi; Gaspar Gonzalez; James Brown; & Bernie Lee

Cover Art ‘A’ Credited to ‘Marat Mychaels’

SUMMARY:

Published in 2012 by Moonstone, the second half of the medieval fair-themed Murder, Forsooth storyline is entitled “The Queen is Dead; Long Live the Queen.” At the fair’s crime scene, L.A.P.D. Lt. Mark Storm questions rival private eyes Honey and Rick re: the homicide of strangled 18-year old Felicity Golden. Honey ponders two potential suspects: stalker Angela LaFarge, who is harassing Honey’s client; and Felicity’s boyfriend, Gary Winter, before calling it a night. Despite Lt. Storm arresting LaFarge, Honey goes undercover at the fair’s beauty pageant to find the killer. After a dinner date with smarmy Rick, Honey’s pet feline, Bruce, offers fitting payback.

Note 1: ‘Cover A’ below indicates three artists whose signatures aren’t recognizable. Moonstone’s sole cover credit is allotted to ‘Marat Mychaels,’ who might be the image’s model.

Note 2: Though the images aren’t available here, two variant covers exist: ‘Cover B’ is credited to model Hollis Mclachin and ‘Cover C’ depicts actress Anne Francis from the Honey West TV series.

REVIEW:

This undemanding murder-mystery is the comic book equivalent of a formulaic TV episode. Writer Trina Robbins plausibly spices the dialogue with a few profanities and innuendos, so this comic wouldn’t qualify as kid-friendly. A spot-on likeness of actress Anne Francis transcends the otherwise ordinary artwork. For her fan base, Honey West # 7 is a relatively solid read.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Except for obligatory ads, there is none.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 6½ Stars

Comic Books & Graphic Novels Independent Publishers (Comic Books & Graphic Novels) TV Series

BEAUTY & THE BEAST: NIGHT OF BEAUTY (1990 FIRST Publishing)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 8, 2020

Written & Illustrated by Wendy Pini

Lettering by Willie Schubert

Cover Art by Jim Warren

SUMMARY:

Released by First Publishing in 1990, this 46-page one-shot adapts the late 1980’s TV series, Beauty and the Beast, starring Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman. Reeling from Catherine Chandler’s murder and the abduction of their infant son, a despondent Vincent seeks solace. An old friend’s suggestion leads Vincent to seek a mystical means of breaching the nebulous dream world where her restless spirit may still exist. Yet, the fate of their missing child hinges on what may Vincent’s last chance to save his beloved Catherine.

Note: First Publishing also released Beauty and the Beast: Portrait of Love.

REVIEW:

Author Wendy Pini’s storyline is perfectly attuned to the TV series’ poignant fantasy-romanticism. Though Pini’s mushy dialogue overplays Vincent’s sorrow, she makes up for it with a stellar conclusion. As for her lush artwork, its life-like quality occasionally varies. Still, Pini saves her best page for last with a lovely portrait in homage of actress Linda Hamilton’s Catherine. For fans of the TV series, one may deem “Night of Beauty” as a ‘lost’ episode, as even the series creator, Ron Koslow, indicated a desire to see Pini’s love story produced as a two-hour film.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Accompanied by a stellar head shot sketch of ‘Catherine,’ Wendi Pini divulges the behind-the scenes origin of this story, as she entitles this single page: “Reflections.” Accompanied by a sketch of Catherine & Vincent kissing, Anton Grosz provides an interesting afterword.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics DC's Hardcovers & Trade Paperbacks TV Series

SCOOBY-DOO! TEAM-UP, VOLUME 1 (DC Comics)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 4, 2020

Written by Sholly Finch

Art by Dario Brizuela; Franco Riesco; Saida Temofonte; & Deron Bennett; and Heroic Age

Cover Art by Dario Brizuela

SUMMARY:

Released in 2015 by DC Comics, this 126-page paperback reprints the first six issues of Scooby-Doo Team-Up from 2014. Consider it a comic book mash-up of two 1970’s Hanna-Barbera cartoon TV series: The New Scooby-Doo Movies and The Super-Friends.

Starting with three consecutive Bat-capers, Mystery Inc. reunites with the Dynamic Duo. The Scooby gang first helps the Caped Crusaders thwart four Man-Bats at a shopping mall, but only one of them can be the real deal. The sequel has Mystery Inc. in Gotham City as Batman & Robin’s guests for a gathering with other DC Comics detectives. It’s soon up to two caped canine crusaders (Ace the Bat-Hound & Scooby) to pursue Scarecrow & his crew. Batting third in the line-up is a spoofy tale of Bat-Mite & Scooby-Mite egging each other on as to whose idol is superior: Batman or Scooby?

The fourth story is a crossover with Teen Titans Go! (Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, & Cyborg), as Mystery Inc. investigates a ghostly mystery at Titans Tower. Refusing to leave, one of Raven’s unwanted relatives ups the ante in this sitcom. On Themyscira (Paradise Island), guests Daphne & Velma undergo Wonder Woman’s Amazon training while the gang tackles a case re: disappearing monsters. At the Hall of Justice, Mystery Inc. & the Justice League (Aquaman, Batman & Robin, Superman, Supergirl, Wonder Woman, & Aquaman) are confronted by foes with some old scores to settle from Challenge of the Super-Friends.

REVIEW:

Loaded with in-jokes, this book is a delightful diversion for readers who adore the concept of Scooby + DC Super-Heroes. The Scooby gang’s Man-Bat case is nicely done. An amusing in-joke pays homage to the incessant team-ups that both Mystery Inc. and Batman are prone to. Their Bat-Hound caper is even better, as writer Sholly Finch cleverly ‘translates’ Scooby & Bat-Hound’s dialogue from barking. This book’s worst, however, by far is the Bat-Mite groaner. It’s a matter of how a little Bat-Mite really goes a long way. There’s few chuckles, as the dubious Bat-Mite/Scooby-Mite concept wears out any welcome fast with older readers.

Fans of Teen Titans Go! should be amused seeing the Scooby gang mingle with the cartoony Titans (including a nice gag re: how different this version of Robin is to the one they’ve already met). If one plays along with the eye-rolling Daphne & Velma-in Amazon-training premise, the Wonder Woman tale holds up well. A LOL gag is Scooby’s warbling of Lynda Carter’s TV series theme. The story itself is nicely written, as it should be potentially appealing to boys, too. In part due to its Wendy & Marvin and The Wonder Twins references, the Super-Friends appearance is comic book magic. Still faithful to Hanna-Barbera’s minimal violence policy, it’s cool nostalgia pitting the Super-Friends vs. the Legion of Doom

Consistently well-played by writer Sholly Finch (who has an impressive knack of cartoon history) and a capable art squad, Scooby-Doo! Team-Up, Vol. 1 is a gem worthy of discovery. As a recommendation, this one is absolutely kid-friendly for youngsters who dig super-heroes and Scooby.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

The covers are included.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars

DVD LOONEY TUNES-Related Movies & Television (Videos) TV Series

LOONEY TUNE SUPER STARS: PEPE LE PEW – ZEE BEST OF ZEE BEST

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 4, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 175 min.

Released by Warner Home Video in 2011, this installment of the Looney Tunes Super Stars collection consists of seventeen cartoons, with the Oscar-winning “For Scent-imental Reasons,” chief among them. Further, fourteen of these episodes have never before released to video. Specific cartoons are readily identified on the menu screen as being available in full-frame viewing only. The cartoon roster is:

1. Odor-able Kitty (full-frame) 10. Past Perfurmance

2. Scent-imental Over You (full-frame) 11. Two Scent’s Worth (full-frame)

3. Odor of the Day (full-frame) 12. Heaven Scent

4. For Scent-imental Reasons (full-frame) 13. Touché and Go

5. Scent-mental Romeo (full-frame) 14. Really Scent?

6. Little Beau-Pepe (full-frame) 15. Who Scent You?

7. Wild Over You (full-frame) 16. A Scent of the Matterhorn

8. Dog Pounded (Sylvester & Tweety) 17. Louvre Come Back to Me!

9. The Cats’ Bah

REVIEW:

At nearly three hours, it’s a hardcore Pepé fan’s dream. For others, however, even a little Pepé goes a long way. His Oscar-winning mistaken-identity duet with Penelope Pussycat is fine by itself, as is his hilarious cameo in Dog Pounded. Beyond that, the amorous French skunk’s hijinks don’t age well, as far too many sex-starved gags are neither cute nor amusing. His incessant stalking, sexual harassment, and refusal to take ‘no’ from any poor creature (male or female) remotely resembling a skunk is icky to watch, if one considers the inferences. Another detriment is the sheer repetitiveness of these slow-moving plots will likely grow tiresome for most casual fans.

Short of catching a few underrated Looney Tunes (i.e. Penelope Pussycat) receive some worthy attention, the most charming element of these Pepé cartoons are the clever, pun-filled episode titles.

BONUS FEATURES:

One can choose between standard-screen and widescreen viewing. Language options are in English SDH and French, as are the sub-titles. The two DVD trailers are for “Happiness is … Peanuts: Friends Forever” and Gene Wilder’s “Willie Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” ‘ultimate’ Blu-ray edition.

PACKAGING:

Excellent. All of the pertinent info is available on the DVD case. The disc is secured in a standard casing.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars

DC SUPER-HEROES: THE FILMATION ADVENTURES, VOLUME 2

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 4, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 103 Min.

From Warner Home Video in 2008 is this collection of nine archival cartoons (approximately seven minutes per episode) from Filmation’s 1967 TV adaptation of DC Comics. Plus, there is a 40-minute featurette on Filmation founder/animator Lou Scheimer. With the exception of a credited writer, no other credits are included. The episodes are:

Hawkman: Peril from Pluto (written by George Kashdan). Katar Hol’s Hawkman intercepts an invisible destruction ray, which he traces back to the villain’s observatory on Pluto. Of course, the ray is the first step towards an invasion of Earth.
Hawkman: A Visit to Venus (written by George Kashdan). As Hawkman, Katar Hol must rescue three astronauts abducted by mind-controlling alien raiders on planet Venus.
Hawkman: The Twenty-Third Dimension (written by Dennis Marks). Banished to a crystal-like dimension, Hawkman must escape to thwart a duo of trouble-making imps from planet Jupiter.

Justice League of America: (In) Between Two Armies (written by George Kashdan). Superman; Green Lantern; Flash; Atom; and Hawkman thwart a hostile feud between Mercury’s ‘Crystal Men’ and alien rock-men.
Justice League of America: Target Earth (no writing credit). Yet another alien invasion (this time, Earth is being pulled closer to the sun) forces Green Lantern; Superman; Hawkman; Atom; and Flash to split up on different missions to save the world.
Justice League of America: Bad Day on Black Mountain (written by Dennis Marks). Threatening to expose their secret identities and destroy the Justice League, the evil Mastermind abducts Superman, Atom, and the Flash. Completing their own mission, Hawkman & Green Lantern try to save their teammates. Superman ensures that Mastermind grimly meets a deserving fate.

Note: Despite his billing in the Justice League’s intro, Aquaman isn’t included in these three adventures.

Teen Titans: The Monster Machine (written by George Kashdan). Kid Flash; Wonder Girl; Speedy; and Aqualad take on sea robots sent in advance of an alien invasion.
Teen Titans: The Space Beast Round-Up (written by George Kashdan). Wonder Girl; Aqualad; Kid Flash; and Speedy must trap three escaped space dinosaurs.
Teen Titans: Operation Rescue (written by George Kashdan). Wonder Girl and Kid Flash rescue Aqualad, Speedy, an explorer; and the explorer’s young son from mutated, horned men.

REVIEW:

In terms of nostalgic value, these formulaic cartoons are worth perusing maybe once. The cheap animation is primitive, as compared to later Filmation projects, like the animated Star Trek, The New Adventures of Batman, and He-Man & The Masters of Universe.

Predictably, with only seven minutes to work with, don’t expect to see any personality development, as the characters are essentially all talking cardboard. While dialogue for these DC heroes is virtually interchangeable, one notices that a bossy Superman considers himself the leader of this Justice League. Another notable exception is the Titans’ propensity for corny nicknames for one another. Like Volume 1, the stock plot is a never-ending series of generic alien invasions, as there isn’t an actual DC villain in sight. Frankly, there isn’t much here, though the content is safe for kids eight and under as a low-key precursor to Hanna-Barbera’s Super-Friends.

BONUS FEATURES:

Available languages and sub-titles are in English (for the hearing-impaired) and Portuguese. A forty-minute featurette, “Lou Scheimer, Animation Maverick,” poignantly explores Filmation’s co-founder and his impact on modern television animation. Trailers appear for Scooby Doo & the Goblin King; It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown; Popeye & Friends, Vol. 1; LEGO Batman (the video game); Smurfs, Vol. 2; & Tiny Toons – Season 1, Vol. 1 and Freakazoid – Season 1.

PACKAGING:

With the exception of Aquaman’s deceptive appearance, the DVD case provides a fair listing of its contents. The cover artwork is also noticeably better than the faded animation quality.

Note: There’s a visual goof, as Hanna-Barbera’s Birdman (instead of Hawkman) is included on the menu screens.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3½ Stars

Note: Volume 1 showcases more episodes from 1967: specifically, of the Atom, Flash, & Green Lantern in solo action.

DC SUPER-HEROES: THE FILMATION ADVENTURES, VOLUME 1

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 4, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 63 Min.

From Warner Home Video in 2008 is this archival collection of nine cartoons (approximately seven minutes per episode) from Filmation’s 1967 TV adaptation of DC Comics. With the exception of a credited writer, no other credits are included. The episodes are:

The Atom: Invasion of the Beetle Men (written by George Kashdan). Hiding inside a meteor, five alien beetle-like creatures capable of size-changing intend to cause atomic sabotage on Earth. It’s up to Ray Palmer as the Atom to thwart their efforts softening Earth as a potential invasion target.
The Atom: The Plant Master (written by George Kashdan). Ray Palmer must rescue his fellow expedition members from captivity on a secluded island held by a plant-controlling terrorist group. This episode includes the Atom’s hilarious ‘Tarzan’ yell wrapping up some baddies with a plant vine.
The Atom: The House of Doom (written by George Kashdan). Supposedly, invaders from planet Zurgo are manipulating evil Dr. Rokar to ruin Earth’s space exploration technology. It’s up to Ray Palmer’s Atom to short-circuit this villainous conspiracy.

The Flash: The Chemo-Creature (written by George Kashdan). A mutated, ant-like monster uses bizarre nuclear powers to create havoc in Central City and challenge Barry Allen’s Flash.
The Flash: Take a Giant Step (written by George Kashdan). Evil Professor Crag sends a giant robot to battle Barry Allen’s Flash and Wally West’s Kid Flash.
The Flash: To Catch a Blue Bolt (written by Bob Haney). Alien speedster Blue Bolt wreaks havoc in Western Europe and Egypt, with the Flash and Kid Flash in hot pursuit. Note: Filmation’s Wally West has black hair instead of reddish-orange (presumably, to distinguish his hair from his red Kid Flash mask).

Green Lantern: Evil is as Evil Does (written by George Kashdan). It’s Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern in battle against Evil Star on Earth and on planet Oa.
Green Lantern: The Vanishing World (written by George Kashdan). The kidnapping of his Venusian teenage sidekick, Kairo, by the brutish Org and friends (with big foreheads and bad haircuts) forces Green Lantern into battle on an asteroid. He must later chase Org’s getaway spaceship.
Green Lantern: Sirena, Empress of Evil (written by George Kashdan). Taken captive, Hal Jordan’s Green Lantern needs Kairo’s help to stop evil Sirena’s attempted takeover of planet Oa. Note: Filmation’s Guardians of the Universe appear far more human-like rather than in their familiar alien blue skin tone.

REVIEW:

In terms of nostalgic value, these formulaic cartoons are worth perusing maybe once. The cheap animation quality is primitive in comparison to later Filmation efforts, like the animated Star Trek, The New Adventures of Batman, and He-Man & The Masters of Universe. Predictably, with only seven minutes to work with, not one iota is spent on developing anyone’s personality, as the characters are essentially talking cardboard. That’s why dialogue for Green Lantern, Flash, and the Atom is nearly interchangeable (at least, that’s consistent with DC’s Justice League comic books from that era).

As with Volume 2, the stock plot is a never-ending series of generic alien invasions. At least, guest villain Evil Star makes a welcome appearance from the pages of Green Lantern. Although his episode is ruined by an atrocious, pun-filled ending, Blue Bolt is an intriguing foe for the Flash & Kid Flash, as if he were an alien knock-off of the Reverse-Flash. Beyond that, there really isn’t much else to see here, though the content is ultra-safe for kids eight and under.

Note: The jarring visual-audio technique used for the intro for “The Atom” and similarly in “The Flash” may be headache-inducing.

BONUS FEATURES:

Available languages and sub-titles are in English (for the hearing-impaired) and Portuguese.

PACKAGING:

The DVD case has a fair listing of its contents. Frankly, the cover artwork is noticeably better than the animation quality.

Note: Amusingly, Hanna-Barbera’s Birdman (instead of Hawkman) is included on the menu screens.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 3 Stars

Note: Volume 2 showcases more episodes from 1967: specifically, of Hawkman, the Justice League of America, and The Teen Titans.

Digital Animated Shorts Movies & Television (Videos) TV Series

MAGGIE SIMPSON IN THE LONGEST DAYCARE

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 3, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: Approx. 5 min. (Color)

Presumably to compete with Disney/Pixar, 20^th Century Fox opted to create original The Simpsons animated shorts to precede the studio’s theatrical releases. This short’s alternate title is simply The Longest Daycare. Originally accompanying Ice Age: Continental Drift’s 2012 theatrical release, this dialogue-free short is directed by David Silverman. Its producing and writing team includes series creator Matt Groening, James L. Brooks, & Al Jean. Dropped off by her doting mother, Marge, young Maggie Simpson experiences a bleak first day at the high-tech Ayn Rand School for Tots. Despite being terrorized by a sadistic bully, a resilient Maggie might find there is cause for hope.

The Longest Daycare was subsequently Oscar-nominated in 2013 for Best Animated Short Film.

Note: This cartoon is included on the Ice Age: Continental Drift Blu-Ray/DVD.

REVIEW:

It’s tempting to deem The Longest Daycare as overrated. Certainly it’s Emmy-caliber if there were such a category for animated shorts, but an Oscar nod seems a stretch. Primarily, The Longest Daycare resembles a snippet of the long-running TV series, so what then is big-screen special about it? Nothing, in particular – it’s merely like watching The Simpsons on a big-screen TV (that is, presuming viewers saw it in movie theaters). However, standing out are some clever visual jibes parodying elitist daycare mills that any working parent can appreciate. Even more so, the story’s uplifting finish is a gem. To its credit, 20^th Century Fox delivers a worthwhile Simpsons short as is – putting it on a movie screen doesn’t add anything more.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

THE BATMAN {Animated}: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 3, 2020

SUMMARY: RUNNING TIME: 272 Min.

Released by Warner Bros. Home Video in 2008, this final run of “The Batman” consists of thirteen 22-minute episodes (including a pair of two-parters as book-ends) on two discs. This time, Batman and his allies (Batgirl, Robin, & Alfred) host a familiar array of super-friends: Superman; Hawkman; Martian Manhunter; Green Arrow; Flash; and Green Lantern (Hal Jordan).

Beyond threats from the Joker, Bane, and the Penguin, Batman also faces off against Count Vertigo; Firefly; the Shadow Thief; Mirror Master; and Lex Luthor, among others. Ultimately, Batman and his fellow heroes must decide if there is truly strength in numbers by unifying as a Justice League.

Televised in 2007-2008, the episodes are:

# 1&2. Batman / Superman Story, Parts I & II.

Guest Appearances: Superman / Clark Kent; Lois Lane; Lex Luthor; Metallo; Clayface; Bane; Poison Ivy; Mr. Freeze; Black Mask; Mercy Graces; & Jimmy Olsen.

Plot: Superman, Lois, & Jimmy visit Gotham, as Lex Luthor unleashes his latest scheme. Beyond evading a mind-controlled Superman, Batman & Robin must thwart Luthor’s rocket-powered robotic army. Superman has second thoughts about turning down the newly-formed Justice League.

# 3. Vertigo.

Guest Appearances: Green Arrow & Count Vertigo.

Plot: Batman & Robin aid Green Arrow’s efforts to stop Count Vertigo’s takeover of Gotham City by using sound-amplifying mind control.

# 4. White Heat.

Guest Appearances: Firefly / Phosphorus & Blaze.

Plot: Firefly’s experimental upgrade leads to a showdown where Batman & Robin face a far more dangerous menace now calling himself Phosphorus.

# 5. A Mirror Darkly.

Guest Appearances: Flash & Mirror Master.

Plot: Flash, Batman, & Robin confront their evil mirror counterparts.

# 6. Joker Express.

Guest Appearances: None.

Plot: Batgirl aids the Dynamic Duo thwarting the Joker’s new train-themed plot.

# 7. Ring Toss.

Guest Appearances: Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) & Sinestro.

Plot: The Penguin seizes an opportunity to swipe Green Lantern’s power ring, and Hal Jordan must get it back with the Dynamic Duo’s help. Meanwhile, Sinestro seeks to destroy a temporarily powerless Jordan.

# 8. The Metal Face of Comedy.

Guest Appearance: Harley Quinn.

Plot: An on-line video game leads Batman & Robin into a showdown with Joker, Harley Quinn, and a giant-sized Joker robot. Nightwing makes an in-joke cameo.

# 9. Attack of the Terrible Trio.

Guest Appearances: None.

Plot: Batgirl summons Batman for help after three malicious college kids have acquired the ability to mutate into animals (a shark, fox, and vulture) similar to Man-Bat. Batman & Batgirl have their hands full in corralling these fiends. Note: The episode ends with an ominous inference re: prison life.

# 10. The End of the Batman.

Guest Appearances: Wrath & Scorn.

Plot: The Dynamic Duo’s evil counterparts are on the loose. Several Bat-villains make brief cameos.

# 11. What Goes Up.

Guest Appearances: Hawkman & Shadow Thief.

Plot: Shadow Thief’s theft of a gravity-defying weapon necessitates the Dynamic Duo’s team-up with Hawkman.

# 12&13. Lost Heroes, Parts I & II.

Guest Appearances: Superman; Green Lantern (Hal Jordan); Hawkman; Green Arrow; Martian Manhunter; Flash; Toyman; Mirror Master; the Joining; & Hugo Strange.

Plot: One by one, the Justice League’s most powerful members are abducted by a mysterious adversary. It’s up to Batman, Batgirl, Robin, & Green Arrow to save their kidnapped friends. Trying to reclaim their stolen super-powers from evil robots, the League desperately improvises to save Earth. Robin & Batgirl angle to become the League’s newest members.

BONUS FEATURES:

Included are two terrific featurettes: “Joining Forces – The Batman’s Legendary Team-Ups,” and a set of Justice League profiles for the season’s guest heroes. There are also some obligatory trailers.

REVIEW:

Despite its underwhelming animation, this final season is solid. A cool sense of continuity is an asset, too, as voice actors Dana Delany (Lois Lane), Clancy Brown (Lex Luthor), and George Newbern (Superman/Clark Kent) return with reliable efforts.

Not surprisingly, Batman’s all-star team-ups are the best episodes, including a top-notch season opening two-parter. Yet, why this guys-only Justice League excludes Wonder Woman, Zatanna Zatara, Black Canary, Vixen, and/or Hawkgirl is never explained. For that matter, there isn’t even a Catwoman caper this season.

Ironically, the adventures showcasing Batman & Robin are merely watchable. The lame “Joker Express” is the season’s big loser. It reminds viewers how the Joker’s woefully lame presence in this series is such a letdown. Yet, anchored by Batgirl’s well-written appearances, the surprisingly scary Terrible Trio episode, for instance, is close in spirit to the Bat-comics. While all these episodes are obviously toy commercials, “The Batman – The Complete Fifth Season” delivers surprisingly good entertainment.

QUALITY CONTROL:

It’s in standard-screen with excellent picture quality. The remote control access is easily accessible and comes with each episode’s scene selection.

PACKAGING:

Well-protected, the two discs each have sturdy storage pages. The back cover effectively conveys all of the pertinent information for Season Five.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars

Comic Books & Graphic Novels DC Comics DC's Hardcovers & Trade Paperbacks Independent Hardcovers & Trade Paperbacks Independent Publishers (Comic Books & Graphic Novels) TV Series

BATMAN ’66 MEETS MR. STEED & MRS. PEEL (DC Comics/Boom! Studios crossover)

Post author By oddmoonmediareviews
Post date November 3, 2020

Written by Ian Edginton

Art by Matthew Dow Smith; Wendy Broome; Jordie Bellaire; Carrie Strachan; & Wes Abbott

Cover Art by Michael Allred & Laura Allred

SUMMARY:

In 2016, DC Comics and Boom! Studios team the 1960’s two most iconic TV crime-fighting partnerships: Batman & Robin and the U.K.’s The Avengers in a six-issue mini-series. Their 144-page collaboration was then released as a trade paperback in 2017.

At a Gotham City museum, Bruce Wayne and British industrial heiress Michaela Gough witness a brazen attempted theft by Catwoman’s crew of the invaluable White Star Diamond on loan from England. Intervention by British Secret Service operatives John Steed and Emma Peel thwarts the near-heist. A greater mystery unfolds once an army of upgraded Cybernaut androids descends on the Batcave. Linking these well-dressed robot thugs to Lord Ffogg and Mr. Freeze, the Dynamic Duo joins their new British allies for a climatic showdown in England.

Notes: Presumably, for legal purposes, the only time The Avengers TV series is referenced by name is on the title credits page. The name of ‘Michaela Gough’ is evidently an in-joke referring to actor Michael Gough’s ‘Alfred’ in four Bat-movies (1989-1997).

REVIEW:

In theory, this crossover implies intriguing potential, as these TV franchises should have easily meshed. Yet, writer Ian Edginton’s sub-par script falls short of even modest expectations. His sole highlight is an obligatory fashion comment from Julie Newmar’s Catwoman re: Mrs. Peel’s own black cat-suit.

Instead of recruiting an ideal Bat-villain (Joker, Riddler, or Penguin) to get his naughty paws on Cybernauts and/or possibly present a Batgirl/Emma Peel team-up, Edginton opts for the ultra-bland tandem of Lord Ffogg and Mr. Freeze. Seriously? Hence, Catwoman’s brief cameo is a mere afterthought, as far as including an A-list Bat-villain.

To define the story’s ineptitude, try this preposterously campy plot twist. Specifically, an undercover Batman & Robin arrive in England (dressed as Bruce Wayne & Dick Grayson, no less) under false identities sporting only phony pencil moustaches. How no one doesn’t easily deduce the Dynamic Duo’s secret identities isn’t addressed, especially as Batman & Robin stupidly identify themselves aloud over and over again. A

similar gaffe applies to a villain’s earlier pinpointing of the Batcave’s location without drawing any obvious inferences re: stately Wayne Manor. There’s some minor compensation when yet another familiar somebody does plausibly deduce the Caped Crusader’s secret identity — yet, any faint hope this twist might boost Edginton’s storytelling quickly evaporates.

If one is assuming surefire visuals will compensate for mediocre plotting, then readers are out of luck. Further squandering this project is the art squad’s shockingly poor watercolor visuals. Case in point: far too few panels (i.e. a Batman image on page 38) remotely resemble anything big-league caliber. Considering the artistic resources available to DC Comics and Boom! Studios, why such an amateurish creative style was deployed defies common sense. Frankly, the vast majority of this book’s visuals shouldn’t have been released.

Low-grade in virtually every aspect, Batman ’66 Meets Steed and Mrs. Peel is an atrocious tag-team effort from Boom! and DC. Its sole redemption is that this book is kid-friendly, even if young Bat-fans will likely deem it an instant bore.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT:

Broken into twelve chapters (per the mini-series’ digital form), this book has a table of contents. Included are full-page cover reprints by Michael Allred & Laura Allred, which are a welcome improvement over the shoddy interior artwork. An extra variant cover for Issue # 1 by artist Cat Staggs offers nice photo-realistic visuals of actors Adam West, Burt Ward, and Julie Newmar (as Batman, Robin, and Catwoman). Yet, this same standard doesn’t apply to Patrick Macnee’s John Steed and Diana Rigg’s Emma Peel. Instead, their scowling faces are inexplicably skewed.

Of the full-page watercolor portraits showcasing the story’s pivotal characters, the art quality descends from good (Batman and Steed) to inexcusable (Mrs. Peel, Michaela Gough, and Catwoman). Suffice to say, the Peel, Gough, and Catwoman portraits are early elementary school quality. Yet, Matthew Dow Smith’s four-page character design gallery (Batman; Robin; Batgirl; Steed; Catwoman; and Mrs. Peel) preview actor likenesses better than the final product. In this instance, Dow Smith’s take on conveying Macnee’s Steed is actually pretty good.

BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 2½ Stars