Author: Neil Vagg

Following on from an excellent pilot presentation, reviewed here, comes ‘Fastest Man Alive’ a second episode which successfully holds back from making Barry an instant hero and instead focusses on blowing the universe wide open. Where ‘Arrow’ initially held back from introducing too many characters from the DC Universe ‘The Flash’ is diving right in with the inclusions of Simon Stagg and Danton Black and as it eventually did with ‘Arrow’ it works really well for ‘The Flash’. Gustin is still a little doe-eyed to front the series but his ensemble cast a helping to push him to be the…

Following on from a pretty wall-to-wall pilot episode jammed with references to comics and characters from Batman-lore and proving itself to be more than an average crime procedural in an unusual setting ‘Gotham’ takes a slightly darker tone to its second episode by delving into the world of human trafficking with its unusually titled second episode ‘Selina Kyle’. It’s unusually titled in that Selina (or Cat as she likes to be known…) is not the full focus of the episode although she is present for much of the action. Following on from the pilot Gordon is still hiding the truth…

Finally after an extra three months of waiting the latest incarnation of the heroes-in-a-half-shell has been released to UK cinemas as of 17th October! Directed by relative newcomer Jonathan Liebesman (‘Battle: Los Angeles’, ‘Wrath of the Titans’) and based on a screenplay by Josh Applebaum (‘Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol’), André Nemec (‘Beverly Hills Cop 4’) and Evan Daugherty (‘Divergent’, ‘Snow White and the Huntsman’) the film stars Megan Fox, Will Arnett, William Fitchner plus the voices of Alan Richson, Noel Fisher, Jeremy Howard and Johnny Knoxville. ‘TMNT’ 2014 is a full on reboot of the franchise takes cues from the…

The second episode produced for ‘BtAS’ was planned as the big introduction for two major characters to the animated universe: The Joker and Dick Grayson/Robin. The episode would also the first starring role for supporting cast member Summer Gleason, the ‘BtAS’ equivalent of journalist Vicki Vale from the comics and ‘Batman’ 1989. ‘Christmas with the Joker’ first aired on 13th November 1992 as the series 38th episode putting slightly closer to Christmas than the shows September debut on US screens. The story sees Joker escape Arkham Asylum on Christmas Eve and he has a special Christmas planned for Batman and Robin. Kidnapping Commissioner Gordon, Summer Gleeson, and Harvey Bullock,…

Where better to start with ‘Batman the Animated Series’ that with the original pilot episode ‘On Leather Wings’. Although the episode appears on home video releases of the series as the first episode it was screen as the second episode, the first aired being ‘The Cat and the Claw pt1’ which was bumped up from episode 15 due to the popularity of the Catwoman character portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer in Tim Burton’s ‘Batman Returns’ released a mere 11 weeks before the episode aired. Whilst the films of Tim Burton were rated 12 in UK ‘BtAS’ shutting out the younger audience to the…

Finally after months of build up and anticipation Fox’s new DC Comics property ‘Gotham’ hit screens across America on Monday, 22nd September. Written by Bruno Heller, directed by Danny Cannon the show stars ‘The OC’ alum Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, Donal Logue (‘Sons of Anarchy’) as Harvey Bullock, David Mazouz (‘Touch’) as Bruce Wayne and Sean Pertwee (‘A Touch of Frost’) as Alfred Pennyworth to name but a few. Set in a Gotham city years before Batman would appear to clean up the streets the show centres around the younger Detective James Gordon, a new recruit under the leadership of Captain…

Written by Brian Michael Bendis Art by Sara Pichelli Colours by Marte Gracia Letters by CV’s Corv Petit Cover by Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger and Marte Gracia Purchase your copy @ Comixology now! Recently I’ve complained that ‘All-New X-Men’ has lingered too long in the fallout from ‘Battle of the Atom’ and become a little stagnant but thankfully this issue steps up to the mark visually whilst almost managing to push the story forwards for the first time in several issues. The quality of this book has never faltered, its just the nature of the story that has held it back from…

Script by Rhianna Pratchett & Gail Simone Pencils by Derlis Santacruz Inks by Andy Owens Colours by Michael Atiyeh Letters by Michael Heisler Cover by Stephanie Hans Purchase your copy @ TFAW now! Having finally tied up lose ends on the island of Yamatai Lara Croft is feeling sentimental this month and paying tribute to friends lost during all her recent trouble. But of course this is ‘Tomb Raider’ so where Lara goes trouble is not far behind culminating in a trip to the Ukraine. Most of this issue is set on the hillside of Snowdonia in Wales, not looking…

Written by Jason Latour Art by Robbi Rodriguez Colours by Rico Renzi Letters & production by VC’s Clayton Cowles Purchase your copy @ Forbidden Planet now! Last week the first issues of ‘Edge of the Spider-verse’ (reviewed here!) bought us a story featuring an already established version of Spider-Man from various forms of media and brought him in to the continuity of the current ‘Superior Spider-Man’ comics. This week the build up to Novembers ‘Spider-verse’ story beings us a twist on a famous character from Spidey history… Gwen Stacy. Modern fans of the hero might be less familiar with the character…

Script by Christos Gage Pencils by Karl Moline, Cliff Richards Inks by Andy Owens Colours by Dan Jackson Letters by Richard Starkings & Jimmy Betancourt Variant cover by Rebekah Isaacs & Dan Jackson Purchase your copy @ TFAW now! This month ‘BtVS’ takes some time to reflect on times past by taking our characters back to a time when life was, almost, simpler. Moving on from the recent Dracula theme arc (reviewed in issues #4 and #5) the series is dialling back on the big-scale drama and dialling up the emotional content. Season 10 continues to prove that it’s digging back…