Dragon Ball Z Movie Retrospective Part Four: "Battle of Gods" and "Resurrection F"

After years of wondering whether or not it would happen, Dragon Ball Super is confirmed to finally return and will adapt the Galactic Patrol arc that had previously been exclusive to the manga. I feel that's a good enough excuse to give my thoughts on the Super era of Dragon Ball movies.
What made these movies different from the previous Dragon Ball Z movies I've covered is that series creator Akira Toriyama was directly involved in the story and would be considered canon. So instead of being one-off adventures, they were part of the larger ongoing narrative. And considering how popular Dragon Ball had become in North America in the 2000's, this would lead to actual theatrical releases for the dubbed versions not long after the initial release in Japan, even retaining their original titles and music.
While the proper Super series didn't start until 2015, its first two arcs were retellings of the movies released the previous two years under the Dragon Ball Z name. Personally, I think one would be better off watching these movies first and start Super at episode 28 with the Universe 6 arc. Similar to why I prefer Z over Kai, watching the original version of a story is better than one that's either shortened or lengthened. 
But let's go ahead and dive right into the first movie...

BATTLE OF GODS

SYNOPSIS: Beerus, the devastating God of Destruction, travels to Earth in search of an opponent who can match his brutal battle skills. Driven by visions of an all-powerful warrior known as the Super Saiyan God, Beerus threatens to destroy the planet unless a worthy challenger steps forward. Goku must draw upon the power of his friends to unlock the strength of a Super Saiyan God and stop Beerus' evil rampage.
MY THOUGHTS: For the first entry in the Dragon Ball franchise that got a worldwide release since GT, "Battle of Gods" truly lived up to the hype when it was released in 2013.
The best way to describe the film's antagonist, Beerus, is a hedonist with a short fuse and unlimited cosmic power under the hood. Supply him good food though and you have a better chance of saving your planet. The introduction of him and his attendant Whis, who is revealed to be Beerus' teacher (and also later on to be an angel), would be the tip of the iceberg in how vast Super would go in expanding the Dragon Ball multiverse.
"Battle of Gods" mixes the serious action DBZ would be known for and return some of the more comedic from the original Dragon Ball series, setting the tone for the franchise going forward. On the latter, this is most exemplified with the return of the Pilaf gang, who were absent for all of Z. They're depicted here as children after a wish on the Dragon Balls to be young again has some Monkey's Paw connotations. What's interesting though is that none of the characters who knew them in the original series seemed to recognize them or put two and two together. Watching the movie this time around, I think maybe this was a dig at certain fans who skipped right over Dragon Ball and only watched Z.
In terms of both comedy and action, Vegeta would be the MVP on both. While his BINGO song and dance would be iconic, the rage he unleashes on Beerus after he slaps Bulma was epic. If Bruce Falcouner was still involved in redoing the music, his Super Saiyan Vegeta theme would have been very fitting for this scene. Something I noticed this time was how Vegeta as just a Super Saiyan was able to give Beerus some pushback while Goku in Super Saiyan 3 couldn't even land a blow near the beginning of the film. It's interesting because the motivation between the two characters seemed to switch in this movie. Goku challenged Beerus for the love of the fight while Vegeta defended the honor of the woman he loves. And the results speak for themselves.
One of my gripes is the wardrobe choices for Goku and Vegeta. They really should be wearing the main clothes from the Buu saga for continuity's sake, but they (understandably) went for their more iconic looks. It's not that egregious with Goku, but Vegeta wearing his Android Saga armor goes against how his clothing choices reflect his character development and his acceptance of Earth as his new home. Since the Saiyan saga, how much armor he wore would lessen as time went on, from losing the shoulder pads halfway through the Frieza saga to going without it completely by Buu.
The promise of the new Super Saiyan God form had fans excited and speculating how it would look, many expecting it to be like Super Saiyan 4 but with golden fur. What we got could be described as simplistic though it does end up being effective, but I'll get more into that with the next movie. In any case, the form leads to an exciting battle between Goku and Beerus that in true Dragon Ball fashion has a slow build up to a high-speed climax that would actually subvert expectations.
The excitement is elevated thanks to some music provided by Japanese rock band Flow. While this is more prominent with "Hero" near the end of Goku and Beerus battle, they also covered the original Dragon Ball Z opening theme "Cha-La Head-Cha-La" for the closing credits, which was just as good.
I feel I should mention that while the main Super series redid the movie, at the same time the Galactic Patrol sequel series was confirmed, that before that will be a miniseries with "Dragon Ball Super: Beerus" which will once again adapt "Battle of Gods". It will be apparently shorter than the Super version but still longer than the original movie. As I said in the opening, just watch the movie! It's infuriating that they're not only doing this story for the third time, but the production put into it could have gone to getting the Galactic Patrol arc faster as well as the rest of the yet to be adapted manga storylines.
Anyway, Dragon Ball had made its glorious return and the follow-up to "Battle of Gods" would bring back another familiar face...

RESURRECTION F

SYNOPSIS: After years in spiritual purgatory, Frieza has been resurrected and plans to take his revenge on the Z-Fighters of Earth. Facing off against Frieza's powerful new form and his army of a thousand soldiers, Goku and Vegeta must reach new levels of strength in order to protect Earth from their vengeful nemesis.
MY THOUGHTS: This may sound pedantic, but I always thought the full title of the film should have been "Resurrection of Frieza". "Resurrection F" sounds like the secret title before the big reveal. I could however see it as being a reference to the song "F" by Japanese heavy metal band Maximum the Hormone, which is about Frieza. The song would actually be used twice in this film. Along with an instrumental during his fight with Goku, the song is most prominent when Frieza's body, which had been sliced to bits by Future Trunks, is being regenerated by his followers. The tone of the song matches perfectly with the somewhat horrific imagery of a body being forced back together (though why his armor regenerated with him was probably an oversight). I could also see the title being their way of avoiding the name spelling discrepancy, as the character's name is spelled "Freeza" in Japan.
While the film does a good job at building up the threat of Frieza's return and how he's committed to getting stronger to shorten the gap between him and his enemies, the revival itself does create a plot hole though. The Earth's Dragon Balls can only bring back someone who's been dead for less than a year. By this point, Frieza had been dead for over a decade. This would actually be the beginning of Toriyama kind of playing fast and loose in Super with the rules he created before that, like the limitations of Shenron's power and the Hyberbolic Time Chamber. Well, it was his show, so who are we to argue?
One of the things that "Resurrection F" outshines "Battle of Gods" in is how it uses the other Z-Fighters. While they were all bodied by Beerus before, this film gives them some time to shine as they fight Frieza's thousand-man army. As I said before when talking about "Tree of Might", I always enjoyed the seeing Z-Fighters contribute to the plot and fighting more as a team before it usually comes down to Goku.
Goku and Vegeta gets some new outfits for the film. While they're not my favorites and Vegeta still wearing armor goes against the symbolism of his character progression, they're at least different. I just wish they kept them throughout Super instead of dropping them once again for their iconic outfits after the Universe 6 arc.
On the flipside is the lack of creativity in Frieza's new Golden form. While it's powerful, it can come across as deciding to go a different route in a Dragon Ball coloring book. The same criticism applies to the form of Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan, the name later thankfully shortened to Super Saiyan Blue. As the name implies, the form is basically applying the Super Saiyan power-up to the Super Saiyan God form. In hindsight, it would have made more sense for the original to be called Saiyan God while Blue would be Super Saiyan God. In terms of design though, the actual Super Saiyan God design outshines Blue in my opinion. While a first glance at Goku as Super Saiyan God would just be that his base hair style is red, his physique also becomes leaner, and his eyes gain red pupils. In contrast, Super Saiyan Blue just feels like Super Saiyan with blue hair and eyes instead.
The ending of the film remains controversial to this day. After tagging in from Goku, Vegeta powers up to Blue and gives Frieza a beatdown decades in the making. However, Vegeta's choice to savor his victory gives Frieza time to shoot a blast straight down to the Earth's core and immediately trigger the planet's destruction. Thanks to Whis, Goku and the others present are the only Earthlings to survive. But Whis' limited ability to reverse time gives them a second chance, with Goku jumping in to deliver a Kamehameha that obliterates Frieza. Given that Vegeta was the Z-Fighter who had suffered the most under Frieza, not giving him the well-deserved win over Frieza is a frustrating story choice. The reason for it though ties in with Goku and Vegeta's training session with Whis earlier in the film (which I realized this time around planted the seeds for Ultra Instinct). Whis explains that Goku and Vegeta could overcome their personal flaws as fighters if they learned from and worked with each other in battle; their decisions during their fight with Frieza would have definitively lead to the end of the world if not for Whis. As the movie concludes though, no one seemed to learn anything as Goku and Vegeta reaffirm their preference to fight solo.
I used to have trouble deciding which was better between "Battle of Gods" and "Resurrection F" because they each do some things better than the other. I've come to realize though that "Battle of Gods" is the clear winner. But overall, "Resurrection F" is flawed but still a fun movie to watch. Just for the love of Beerus, don't do this a third time too.
The credits close out the film with another entertaining song choice in "Pledge of Z" by Japanese girl group Momoiro Clover Z. I always get a sense of hope while listening to it after the film and feel the need to close out this post with the song to try to evoke the same in others. But come back next month when I cover the films actually under the Dragon Ball Super name.

Retro Review: Spider-Man Unlimited

The success of "X-Men '97" has fans hoping to see more of the 90's Marvel animated universe outside the revived series, primarily for Spider-Man to get the same treatment. Besides my belief we will see the X-Men team up with other heroes for a big event at some point, I don't see Marvel producing another Spider-Man series with "Friendly Neighborhood" in for a long run. But they did seem to meet fans in the middle with a "Spider-Man '94" comic miniseries, following Peter as he and the real Mary Jane finally return home and introduces Morlun and Kaine. I found it to be okay as it put their own spin on the villains and made the retcon that Aunt May always knew Peter was Spider-Man, despite the original series not really supporting that claim. The art was a decent attempt at copying the original style, but the artist seemed to have trouble with faces, Peter looking like a malnourished chipmunk being the biggest distraction. Before this mini though, the 1994 series already a loose continuation.

While rights issues at the time prevented a traditional Spider-Man series and the pitch for a 2099 adaptation being turned down, they seemed to blend the two with "Spider-Man Unlimited", premiering in 1999 on Fox Kids a year after the previous series' conclusion. After witnessing Venom and Carnage infiltrate the spaceship piloted by John Jameson to Counter-Earth, Spider-Man soon follows with a new high-tech suit to bring the Colonel home. Spidey discovers Counter-Earth to be ruled by the High Evolutionary with his Bestial creations (anthropomorphized animal beings) living in a futuristic society with humans barely scraping by in the slums as Jameson becomes leader of the resistance. Stranded on an alien world and caught up in a revolution, Peter must get by while trying to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict as well as prevent Venom and Carnage's own plans for a symbiotic takeover of the planet.

The show's run on TV would be as troubled as its production. The first three episodes would air in October 1999 while the fourth wouldn't release until December 2000 where from there the rest of the thirteen episode season would have a sporadic release schedule eventually wrapping in March 2001. Unfortunately, the show would only last that one season and end on a cliffhanger at that. The place of "Spider-Man Unlimited" in the web-slinger's history is an infamous one and from what I can gather has a mixed fan response largely due to placing Spidey in a more overt sci-fi setting than had been seen before. I remember enjoying this show as a kid and watching the reruns on Disney's Jetix action block. Giving it another rewatch, I believe "Spider-Man Unlimited" may have been ahead of its time.

I found the animation to be well done while Rino Romano as Spider-Man leads a very entertaining voice cast. The supporting characters and villains are engaging thanks in part to other well-known voice actors like Jennifer Hale, Scott McNeil, and Brian Drummond.
The writing and content are a lot darker than I remembered. I already mentioned the difference in quality of life between humans and Bestials, and the systematic discrimination orchestrated by the High Evolutionary goes even further. Not only can humans be snatched off the street and experimented on (including children), but Bestials who don't meet their dear leader's standard of genetic perfection are disposed of. As a kid, you miss the historical inspiration for such evil. Nowadays there's fear we're watching it repeat itself.

Due to the aforementioned rights issues, I believe this is what lead to certain changes in characters' designs and powers.
The most well-known thing to come out of the series is the high-tech "Unlimited" suit. With help from Reed Richards in its development, the suit is made up of nano-bots that are contained in Peter's watch until he needs to suit up. Along with Spider-Stingers that can be shot from his wrists, the suit also includes a stealth mode and sonics as a countermeasure against symbiotes but has also been used to get out of other dangerous situations. The tattered web cape doesn't seem to have a function, so I'll assume it was a 2099 easter egg. On top of all that though, the suit just looks so cool. It would go on to be used in a comic story and be included as an alternate skin in the original Activision games (where Romano would also supply Spidey's voice). Though it seems once the Iron Spider suit was introduced in 2006, it became the go-to in terms of high-tech Spidey suits. The Unlimited suit would be all but lost to time if not for an apparent resurgence the last few years. The Unlimited version of Spidey would cameo in "Across the Spider-Verse" in 2023 and there would finally be a Marvel Legends action figure released last year. My fingers are crossed that it appears in Insomniac's next Spider-Man game (along with the Ben Reilly Sensational suit).
The biggest change to Venom and Carnage is that they can move as fluidly as their own symbiotes, the logical explanation being that the bond between alien and host has reached down to the cellular level after so much time has passed. Their main designs also are a little more exaggerated. While I think we're all used to a hulking Venom at this point, Carnage is downright skeletal, which is creepy and very fitting for his character.
Along with his symbiotic foes and the High Evolutionary's forces (the most memorable to me being Sir Ram and Lady Vermin), Spider-Man does encounter some Counter-Earth versions of his rogue's gallery. This includes Kraven, Electro, Vulture, and Green Goblin, the latter two actually more heroic in nature. And I believe the Goblin having wings in lieu of a glider is another 2099 reference much like the web cape.

So how can "Spider-Man Unlimited" be seen as a continuation of the 1994 series? Besides a sting of that series' theme playing during Peter's suit up in the first episode, the main argument comes from my favorite episode of the series, "One is the Loneliest Number". In said episode, Eddie Brock is forcefully separated from the Venom symbiote and will die without it unless Spidey can reunite the two. Peter would recount his history with the symbiotes and despite some inconsistencies, the main points match up with the previous series. In terms of what makes it my favorite, a lot of it has to do with seeing Peter bond with the symbiote again to keep it alive until he can get it back to Eddie, along with seeing that Eddie does have a good-natured side to him when the symbiote isn't exploiting his negative emotions.

Whatever failings "Spider-Man Unlimited" faced, I believe it has more to do with what happened behind the scenes and doesn't totally fall on the final product. Had the show been given more time and trust by the network, I think it would have won more people over as it reached its proper conclusion. Maybe it could have fared better if it came out within the last decade or so as superheroes became more popular with mainstream audiences, including the more far-out ideas. For how things did turn out, "Unlimited" has its place in Spidey's history for better or worse. I believe there's value to it, and while it may not be for everyone, a chance is all it deserves.

TV Review: Wonder Man: Ultimate Cinema

 

Of all the areas explored throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Hollywood is uncharted territory. How does the entertainment industry fare in a world full of superpowered beings? Given his time as a movie star in the comics, the character of Simon Williams, also known as Wonder Man, is the best focal point to answer that question. In the context of this Disney+ series, Simon (played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) is vying for the lead role in a remake of his favorite childhood superhero film, "Wonder Man". His journey to stardom results in another unique tale within the MCU.

It should be stated from the get-go that "Wonder Man" is not a superhero show. It's a story about a struggling actor who just happens to have superpowers. There's even a slow buildup in showcasing what those powers are. But they don't define Simon or move him to use them for good or evil. All he wants to do is follow his passion of acting, though that passion often results in ostracization. He lacks full support from his family, and his process makes him hard to work with. Things change though when he meets a familiar face from the MCU, Trevor Slattery, once again played by Ben Kingsley. Compared to his appearances in "Iron Man 3" and "Shang-Chi", we get to see Trevor in his element as an actor. The relationship between Simon and Trevor is the best part of the show. Their bond over the craft creates a mentor/mentee dynamic with Trevor helping Simon get out of his head and reach his full potential.

While there's no big villain to overcome and Simon's main conflict is internal (he only gets in one physical fight the whole season), there is an outside antagonizing force that could derail his life. Damage Control is secretly investigating Simon due to his powers, though their reasoning doesn't appear altruistic. Things seem to have escalated since "Ms. Marvel" and their focus on enhanced people has less to do with public safety and more about justifying a new prison they've built. Not only does this evoke the "profits over people" societal issue that is very relevant today but also strengthens my previous theory that Damage Control will play a role once the X-Men are rebooted within the sacred timeline.

"Wonder Man" seems to be a one-and-done series but they leave it open to a second season with a very meta tease. I do hope we see more of Simon in the future because there's a lot more to explore with the character, particularly the origin of his powers. Another season could follow Simon as he deals with his new celebrity and having a harder time hiding his powers from the public, possibly leaning into traditional superhero territory. For a non-traditional superhero story though, "Wonder Man" captures the blood, sweat, and tears that go into climbing to the top in show business. And much like the old saying about show business, the success here could lead to more later.

TV Review: Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Season 2

 

We're still less than two years away from the sequel to "Mutant Mayhem", but the holidays have brought us the second season of the in-universe series "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Much of what worked from the first season carries over here, but a different approach has some costs and benefits.

While the first season was divided into two six-episode arcs, season two has four stories divided into three episodes each. Similar to season four of "Young Justice", each arc puts the spotlight on one of the Turtles.

The first arc of the season focuses on Raph as he competes in a Mutant Battle Arena run by the Purple Dragons street gang, unaware that he's the only one competing willingly. Raph's arc involves his love of fighting which is so intense that it can make Goku's look tame at times. He eventually gets overwhelmed when even his brothers and Splinter (though it's not explained how he gets caught compared to everyone else) are ensnared and he has to learn how to strategize over jumping headfirst into a fight. On a side note, I believe the outfit Mikey is made to wear while under mind control is a reference to the "Last Ronin" comics.
What made this arc interesting to me was trying to analyze Raph's mindset. As a hormonal teenager, I think fighting is his way of releasing a lot of pent-up feelings he's dealing with. This does however leave him vulnerable to what could be considered grooming by the Purple Dragons and he's unaware of the negative aspects until it's too late.

The next story is Donnie's, where we see him and the other Turtles take on a new batch of mutants (including fan favorites Tokka and Rahzar) created by a mad scientist seeking to stabilize his creations. Donnie is specifically sought out due to being the smart one, which plays into his arc. He feels isolated because his brothers don't share his scientific interests but at the same time is looked at to solve such problems while in the field, making him feel taken for granted.
There's a definite horror vibe to the arc, with a secret lab in an abandoned warehouse, the new mutants being more monstrous compared to all the others we've seen up to now, and plenty of jump scares. I think this is what makes this arc my favorite of the season, and watching this around Halloween would be very fitting.

And while I won't go into spoilers, there's some connections to the movie and the origins of the Turtles and Mutanimals that make for an interesting parallel.

Leo is up next as we dive into his hero fantasies, wanting to be like Batman in particular (which I totally get). He starts to patrol the streets as the Night Ninja, which I think is an interesting role reversal if you remember Raph's time as the Nightwatcher back in the 2007 film. Although his brothers decide to play along and disguise themselves as well. Though much like Kick-Ass, the fantasy leads to real life situations that get out of hand. They attract the attention of Scratch, a mutant cat who has a vendetta against Splinter and the Turtles, despite the fact they have no idea who he is. The best way to describe Scratch is that he's a poor man's Shredder, which I believe to be the intent. He has goals and works to accomplish them, but he's not as suave of a criminal mastermind that thinks he is about it.
One hang-up I have about this arc is that the reason the Turtles dress up to fight crime is that Donnie points out that vigilantism is illegal. So I get that this version of the Turtles are public figures and they've mostly dealt with extreme threats like Superfly and the Mechazoids, but doesn't that justify them getting a pass by the police in fighting normal crime? How much more do they need to do for the city?

The season wraps with Mikey and his unlikely friendship with Rod, Bishop's slacker assistant from last season. The two share interests and hang out, despite Mikey's brothers and other friends hating him and Rod constantly trying to get mutant blood so he can mutate himself. Rod gets kidnapped when he seemingly acquires mutant blood and Mikey leads the investigation into finding him. I personally found this to be the weakest arc of the whole series, especially since they hardly put effort into hiding who kidnapped Rod and even that gets semi-dropped by the second act with the focus being shifted to Rod's family drama. And while I've enjoyed the series maintaining the tone set from the movie, I think they may have been pushing it with what I can only describe as people dressed as "Eyes Wide Shut" style furries.

Between the two, I think season one was better. While the three-episode formula is more digestible, I found season two to lack the kind of sprawling story I've come accustomed to from this universe, especially with the quick wrap-ups following the climaxes.
I suppose I should discuss the elephant in the room of the show's canonicity. Something I missed during the initial viewing of season one but caught in subsequent viewings and going through season two is that each arc may not have actually happened, with a framing device in use where one of the Turtles tell their "tale." I wouldn't be opposed to an anthology approach, but there's the fact that plot elements and characters from stories are either referenced or carried over to later ones no matter which Turtle is telling the story. For example, the Mechazoid arc from season one was Leo's story but we see the Purple Dragons appear in Raph's subsequent stories and Rod is a central part of Mikey's.  Since we have these overlaps between the Turtles' stories, I'd like to think that maybe they're drawing inspiration from their personal lives but putting their own flair on them. Otherwise, it feels like they're making fan fiction about themselves and the series is a waste of time.

Not that the issue matters going forward as the show will not be returning for a third season. To be fair though, two seasons was always the plan, especially since they were meant to tide fans over in the years between the two movies (at least before the sequel was delayed). I also understand that they need to save some parts of the Turtles mythos for the big screen.
In any case though, "Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" was a mostly fun addition to the "Mutant Mayhem" canon and the Turtles franchise altogether.

TV Review: Peacemaker Season 2 - When Worlds Collide

For the most part, we're getting a fresh start for an interconnected DC Universe through film and TV. That being said, we still have some holdovers from the previous DCEU while not necessarily acknowledging an in-universe reason for the change-up. Which brings us to Peacemaker. While "The Suicide Squad" and season one of the surprise hit show were part of the DCEU, events of those two stories are at least semi-canon to James Gunn's new DCU. There may be initial questions about how they would blend the old with the new, but it's mostly inconsequential. Seeing more of John Cena's character and his friends is the important part, and Gunn tells a story that's quite different from the previous outing and deepens our emotional investment.

As we pick up with the 11th Street Kids, they're kind of in rough shape. Even though they saved the world last season, there's a lack of respect and appreciation for them and it puts some of them on self-destructive paths. It reminds me of the second seasons of "Jessica Jones" and "Doom Patrol" where despite a big win, there's still personal issues to deal with. But the best comparison is to another James Gunn project, "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2". Much like that film, a big part of this season is testing the bonds of the team. You can also get an idea of the tone they're going for compared to the first one based on the opening credits. ELO's "Mr. Blue Sky" is an upbeat song with something sinister lurking underneath and "Oh Lord" by Foxy Shazam invokes similar feelings.

By comparison to the first season, things seem a little more focused in both story and comedy this time around. This results in some shorter episodes while all the awkward comedy seems relegated to the new character of Langston Fleury, played by SNL alum Tim Meadows, though he does grow on you after awhile. In another contrast to last season, the larger universe connections are more prevalent. The first season came out during the time when the DCEU dropped any long-term goals and multiple projects were greenlit to see what would stick. Now that James Gunn has become to DC what Kevin Feige is to the MCU, the toybox is unlimited. Despite the DCU just starting, characters from "Superman" are already making follow-up appearances here and setting up plot points for the sequel in 2027.

With this being the DCU project immediately following "Superman", fans may feel a little whiplash from the first episode of the season alone. I think that goes to show the range of James Gunn where he can go from an uplifting story that instills hope to raunchy and violent escapades, and yet both still suck you into wanting things to work out for our protagonists.

While many of Gunn's tropes are present, he does seem to take chances that move away from his formula, particularly in the finale. I won't go into spoilers, but it really subverts expectations one expects from the season finale of a superhero show and Gunn seems to break one of his biggest rules when it comes to storytelling. Still, we should be expecting the announcement of a new project based on the ending sometime soon.

I think a big risk the season took was diving into the multiverse, especially since the DCU isn't even a year old yet. The multiverse as a concept has been played out across different forms of media for nearly a decade with DC being guilty of it as well with the Arrowverse and the Flash movie. Where Gunn deviates from this though is not making it part of a sprawling epic and instead using it for Chris' character arc and personal desires. I think it pays off in the penultimate episode where we see the character reach a breaking point and Cena's performance elevates the heartache. On a brighter sidenote, he at least gets a Vegeta moment if you think real hard about it.

One of the best parts of the season is Eagly, as he gets a lot more to do this season. We get to see how much of a threat he can be and what happens to those who get in his way; if he and Krypto ever teamed up, there would be no force powerful enough to stop this dynamic duo of super pets. Eagly even gets an arch enemy with a dynamic reminiscent of Looney Tunes in a subplot that I feel could have gone longer than it did.

It's kind of a "no duh" to say, but "Peacemaker" continues to be a great show. I'd be hard pressed to expect anything less from James Gunn at this point and I look forward to what comes next from the DCU.

Retro Review: "Supernatural: The Anime Series"

 

I've been wanting to revisit this for awhile, and with 2025 being the franchise's 20th anniversary (not to mention spooky season is right around the corner), now seemed like the opportune time.
For those unfamiliar, "Supernatural" follows the Winchester Brothers, Sam and Dean, who were trained since childhood to hunt and kill all manner of inhuman creatures by their father after the bizarre death of their mother. While it reached creator Eric Kripke's original five season plan, the series continued for another ten years before concluding with season fifteen in 2020. Its run had its ups and downs (with seasons eight and nine being my least favorite), but I believe it ended on a high note. There are some parts of the fanbase that disagree, but I believe they miss its deeper meaning.
During the series' run, we saw the release of an anime adaptation in 2011, though it seems to have been forgotten in the grand scheme of things. I haven't watched it in a long time, but I remember my initial feelings being "so-so". My rewatch garners the same results, but my years in reviewing now allows to better articulate what works and what doesn't.

The anime was produced by Japanese animation studio Madhouse, probably most well-known for "Death Note" and I'll note that it contributed two segments to the "Batman: Gotham Knight" anthology film in 2008. Between the horror of "Supernatural" and the overexaggerated nature of anime, it's a match that heightens the experience, from expressions, to creature designs, to the action and gore.
Character design wise, it appears that they only got the likeness rights to Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki (Dean and Sam's respective actors). Though I will say that Dean kind of looks like Tristan from "Yu-Gi-Oh" and Sam looks like Chad from "Bleach". Jared Padalecki provides Sam's voice for the entirety of the dub while Jensen Ackles only voices Dean for the two-part finale "All Hell Breaks Loose". Andrew Farrar voices Dean for the rest of the series before that and does a good job, though Jensen's inclusion is a double-edged sword. It's good he was able to be involved in the project (and it's clear he's a better voice actor than Jared), but it kind of makes you wish he was there from the beginning and downplays Farrar's contribution.
Other characters from the series appear but look much different from their live action counterparts. The characters' traits are still there, but I feel like some of the charm brought by actors like Jeffery Dean Morgan (John Winchester) and Jim Beaver (Bobby Singer) is missing. I will say though that Azazel's depiction is much creepier here. Meg Masters is also present, but her depiction is much younger, and one episode brings some very uncomfortable implications. I also give props that they elevate the character Missouri Moseley to a level she never got in the original series.

The series is made up of 22 half-hour episodes that covers the overarching plot of the first two seasons. They adapt episodes from those seasons to varying degrees of success. While some episodes are able to hit the main points of the original, the reduced runtime can hinder the story or lessen the impact of personal moments ("In My Time of Dying", "Heart", and "What Is And What Should Never Be" as examples). An adapted episode that really stood out for me was "Nightmare" as it gives the character of Max Miller an even more sympathetic backstory.
Some of the episodes are also original stories, although some of them feel inspired by other episodes from the live action series ("Ghost on the Highway" is similar to "Route 666" while "Savage Blood" is similar to "Bloodlust" for examples). It doesn't necessarily take anything away from those stories, but a keen-eyed "Supernatural" fan will likely pick up on that sort of thing. In addition to giving Lily and Jake focus episodes before their appearance in "All Hell Breaks Loose", the anime would have been remised to not dive into Japanese mythology for the episodes "The Spirit of Vegas" and "What Lives in the Lake".

The anime only lasted one season, and I think that's part of the reason it's been lost to time. It reminds me of what happened with the 2004 film adaptation of "A Series of Unfortunate Events". Despite it being a thirteen-book series and the film covering the first three, any plans to continue it with a similar formula never materialized and we wouldn't get a complete adaptation until the Netflix series came about. I definitely could have seen the Supernatural anime covering season three for its second season and seasons four and five for its third, at the very least reaching Kripke's original Lucifer endgame. There was lot of potential left untapped.
While it's hard not to make comparisons, it's best to go into "Supernatural: The Anime Series" as its own thing. And considering the main series did establish a multiverse, there's a good argument that the anime is part of the overall canon.

Movie Review: "Fantastic Four: First Steps" - Fourth Time's The Charm

 

July 2025 is probably one of the most important months in the history of comic book movies for the big two. Superman's first appearance in 1938 was the dawn of the superhero and what would become the DC Universe. The Fantastic Four's debut in 1962 was the beginning of the Marvel Universe we know today. While Superman's latest film has achieved success on par with the original, the Fantastic Four have desperately needed a win on that frontier. From a so bad it's good 90's film that was never officially released to a moderately successful duology in the 2000's and the disastrous reimagining of the 2015 film, Hollywood hasn't been kind to Marvel's first family. Now with Marvel Studios finally in charge of the property that put them on the map, "Fantastic Four: First Steps" gives fans the film they've always wanted in what could be considered a love letter to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby's original run.

While there were plenty of real life and story reasons to set this outside the Sacred Timeline, giving the Fantastic Four their own universe (named Earth-828) to play in was the right call. The filmmakers did an excellent job in capturing the retro aesthetic of the 60's while incorporating elements of what future technology would have thought to be like in that time period. If the film's style reminds me of other superhero films, it's The Incredibles films and surprisingly "The Batman." The Incredibles films had a similar retro style and the family themselves were inspired by the Fantastic Four, so seeing it done in live action with the archetype of the superhero family was a real treat. And much like how "The Batman" created a Gotham that felt so distinct from any real-life city, Earth-828 showcased a world similar to our own but had its own flair. It was a breath of fresh air from the rest of the MCU films and the superhero genre altogether.

I don't think this film could have casted a more perfect ensemble for the Fantastic Four. The actors nail what have made these characters endure for over six decades, from their mannerisms, interactions, and (with the help of the effects team) their abilities. Pedro Pascal captures Reed's intelligence and struggle to properly express his emotions. Ebon Moss-Bachrach is able to shine the humanity of Ben Grimm through the monstrous exterior of the Thing. Joseph Quinn's Johnny Storm will probably surprise viewers, because while he's still the youngest and most impulsive of the group, he shows he's not to be underestimated in other areas. And Vanessa Kirby steals the show as Sue. While she's already depicted as a strong woman, her badass-ness is elevated from her need to protect her newborn child.

In a change from the traditional story, the film takes the "Earth X" route by making the Silver Surfer Shalla-Bal (Norrin Rad's love interest). While some crowds would call this change "woke", it's actually to add a parallel to Sue's story as Shalla swore herself to Galactus mainly to protect her own child. It's what makes her arrival on Earth not just a warning of the extinction Galactus will bring, but it could also be seen as her trying to give them a chance to save their world as she did. I really have to applaud Julia Garner's performance as even before she begins to turn from Galactus, you can see the subtle touches in how she's not fully on board (pun slightly intended) with her lot in life. It results in what I think is a better redemption story than what was presented in the 2007 film and will make you want to see more of her.

Then there's the big planet eater himself, Galactus, portrayed by Ralph Ineson. Depicting a comic accurate Galactus on the big screen can be a challenge, but the way Marvel approached it was brilliant. It's said that's he's been alive for an incalculable amount of time, and we can see that in his ship, armor, and face. There's a dirtiness and sickness in his aura that makes his presences even more foreboding than one would already expect from this type of character. He's like an addict with how his hunger will never be fully satisfied. When he finally makes his move, we get what I believe to be Marvel's first real kaiju moment as he creates a path of destruction through New York. It makes for an exciting climax and in turn an emotional aftermath.

This July delivered a win for DC and now for Marvel. "First Steps" finally does right by the Fantastic Four on film and reaffirms Marvel is getting itself back on track as the road continues to the next two Avengers films. The new FF will return for that and I look forward to seeing them becoming part of a larger universe than they know.