Great Caesar's Ghost! Superman is a Leap Year Baby!

You can thank social media for this discovery but I never that Superman's declared birthday is February 29th. This article here includes background details of the event as well as sample pages from the Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons story, "For the Man Who has Everything" and John Byrne page from an uncredited story. A link for 40% discount on select Superman e-books for is also included. However, I have discovered that other e-book retailers are participating in the sale as well so one has options for where one can purchase the little over a handful of trades being offered for discount for today. Keep in mind, the sale is only for 2/29/2016 only.


Why does Superman declare his birthday is on a leap year? From a publication standpoint, I conjecture its because editors Mort Weisinger and Julius Schwartz did not have to contend with publishing content on an annual basis nor have to address thousands of annual correspondence from Superman's young fans on Superman's birthday. Superman probably uses February 29th as a birthday to both distract others from his secret identity as Clark Kent, who has a different birthday, and so that he would not have to bother with it every year. Furthermore, the post-Crisis and pre-New 52 Superman utilized a PO Box and would collect his mail once every year. Not celebrating a birthday every year probably cuts down on birthday cards.


As for the ebooks themselves, several attract my eye particular the trades collecting the Curt Swan and George Perez stories. The New Krypton and Grounded stories were stories that I decided to wait for the trade but never purchased. Well, I believe anyway. I already own Power Couple and, I believe, Escape from Bizarro World. Digital Comics are still hit and miss for me as I still prefer dead-tree copies. So I may range from buying a couple to all but a couple to none at all. Perhaps I'll reference the story as Superman Birthday Review when I finally review it?


In any case, Happy Birthday Superman! Until next time in 2020.

WWE Royal Rumble 2016 - Yep, Just Recently Saw It

WWE FastLane 2016 happened recently. However, I'm not going to discuss that PPV. Instead, Royal Rumble 2016 is the object of my focus. Due to the WWE Network, I finally saw it... about two days after FastLane. So should I comment on FastLane that should be about mid or late-March, right? For the newcomers wondering why I am discussing a wrestling PPV on comics and games blog, the answer is quite simple. Back in 2009, I decided to occasionally discuss sports entertainment via this blog in lieu of starting another. Just haven't discussed wrestling for pretty much the same reason that I took more than a month to discuss the 2016 Rumble. Just have not watched much of the current stuff since resuming my blog.


You may ask, why watch Royal Rumble 2016 especially since FastLane 2016 was in the books two days prior? One, outcomes aside, the Rumble match usually is enjoyable. Two, the Royal Rumble always gets me in the mood for WrestleMania. Quite simply, it's part of my 'Mania tradition. I may not always watch the PPV that comes between but I usually try to watch the Royal Rumble itself. Three, ever since I first became of the Royal Rumble match I have always wanted to see the champion defend his championship in that match itself. For the first time ever, the reigning champion, Roman Reigns defended his belt in the Royal Rumble match. Must see.


Here's the breakdown of what I thought:


IC Title Match: Dean Ambrose vs Kevin Owens: Easily among the best last man standing matches that I have ever seen. I've seen a couple stinkers so I was glad this match did not disappoint. The double table spot was amazing. Both Owens (whom I am familiar with as Steene) and Ambrose have quite a hardcore legacy ahead. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Tag Title Match: The New Day vs The Usos: Solid match. New Day is absolutely hilarious. Quite an entertaining gimmick. As I recently saw the Deadpool movie, Kofi Kingston possessing a unicorn horn was probably far more funny than it otherwise would have been. Rating 3 out of 5 stars


US Title Match: Alberto Del Rio vs Kallisto: Another decent match. My first time watching Kallisto work. Would loved to have seen more but Alberto Del Rio was wrestling his heel-quash-the-luchador style. Find it rather amusing that, what I believe are, two Mexicans are competing for the US Title. Kind of like the European belt being defended within North America between people from NA... Rating: 3 out of 5 stars


Divas Title Match: Charlotte vs Becky Lynch: Never seen either of these women wrestle before. Quite an impressive athletic women's match that portends good things for women wrestling within the WWE. Loved how Charlotte channeled the heel mannerisms of her father. Ric Flair's presence was a nice treat. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.


Rather impressed with the quality of the matches. The fact all of them were championship matches was nice touch.


Royal Rumble Match
The storytelling was decent during the match although I could have done without all the out of the ring shenanigans. Not to mention what I felt was cheap way for Roman Reigns to go the distance.


Loved AJ Styles first appearance in WWE. Impressed that he lasted as long.


Chris Jericho was the workhorse he ran the distance and served as the glue for most of the match.


Bran Strowman is quite the giant. During any other era I'd see a championship match in his future.


Kofi Kingston was usually a highlight for the match. There was a cute segment but it's a far cry from the Kofi of old.


R Truth thinking it was a Ladder Match was hilarious.


First time seeing the stable that is the League of Nations together in operation. Decent heel showing and received their storyline comeuppance.


Never thought I would cheer so much for Brock Lesnar.


The Wyatt family looked formidable. One would think a feud between them and Lesnar as inevitable after watching this match.


So if the eliminated Wyatts came back in to eliminate Brock, why not eliminate everyone else?


If the Authority truly wanted Reigns out, why not toss him back in and then eliminate him?


Reigns receiving the level of boos is troubling considering he's supposed to be the hero. Cena is cheered more.


Triple H  winning the Rumble and becoming champion wasn't so bad. I am ready for the storyline loss to Reigns at WrestleMania.


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars


Overall: Royal Rumble 2016 was a decent PPV (3 out of 5 stars) especially for the cost of the WWE Network. Loved that all the belts were defended in solid matches. Eagerly looking forward to WrestleMania. My only quibble is that Roman Reigns may not be, and probably should not be, the hero of the story.

A new category for my blog: Cancelled/On the Bubble Comics

Alas, I knew it was going to happen and it did. When Marvel released its All-New All-Different (ANAD) initiative, sixty new titles seemed way too much in too small a time-frame. The market and publisher would not support all those titles. Cancellations would occur.


One cancellation has.


Recently, I discovered to my chagrin that Marvel is cancelling Black Knight as of issue five. Way back when I was to doing my 'buy, maybe, pass' bit on new ANAD titles, Black Knight was among the definite 'buy' list. Needless to say, I am disappointed by this news. I learned about the cancellation as the preface of a list of titles that are on the bubble, thus in danger of cancellation.


An occasional feature that appeared it the now defunct Comic's Buyer's Guide was Cancelled Comics Cavalcade. CCC would as the title suggests discuss several recently cancelled comics and their respective strengths, weaknesses, and reason for cancellation. As luck would have it, many titles that I read or collect are comics that get cancelled. Devoting a section of my blog towards cancelled comics is neat from a historical perspective. Many of my favorite comics were those that were cut short. However, advocating titles that others may gloss over is also a desire. One of the reasons I hyped the ANAD titles was so that titles that may not receive attention had some attention directed their way. So instead of just discussing cancelled comics, titles that hover on the bubble will receive some extra attention. Thus, a new category: Cancelled/On the Bubble.


In the wake of Black Knight issue 4 debuting this week, I'll wait until issue five arrives before featuring my discussion on Black Knight.

TV Round Up 2/2 - 2/8

Welcome to another edition of my commentary on week's worth of television. Not surprisingly given the nature of this blog, most of television shows are based on comic book properties. Others have had comics based upon them. There's also shows that I think may be of interest to gamers as well. So here's my arbitrary thoughts on week of February 2nd through February 8th. Spoilers


Flash - As far as lingering plotlines, that was fast. The Wells betrayal plotline wrapped up with this episode. Thought they would prolong it more. Oh well, it sets of Earth-2 exploration so that's a good thing. We also see further progress in the West family dynamic. In fact, much of the episode derives from it. Wally is obsessed with speed. Gee, I wonder what ever will the show do with that... As for the villain-of-the-week Tar Pit, he has potential. However, Tar Pit served more as a plot device to further the Harry and Wally stories than as the actual subject of the episode. Suppose, Tar Pit could serve as antagonist in future episodes as his work is only one-third finished. An enjoyable episode that leads me eagerly anticipating next week's.


Agent Carter - Much like the Mage: the Ascension background Arcane, I can't seem to recall the name of elite club that's the source of much of the grief on Agent Carter. A simple name too! Parallel flashbacks for both Peggy Carter and Whitney Frost dot the episode serving as background origin stories for the duo. Tranquilizer darts are used to hilarious effect. There's also an interrogation scene that leads to a revelation pertaining to the power that the elite club wields. Although not how our heroes wanted. Once again, I love how Agent Carter uses strong female leads that would befit a more modern setting, while acknowledging the difficulties that women experience during its time period. Oh, more characters learn that something is up with Whitney Frost. Directly or indirectly. Another solid episode.


DC's Legends of Tomorrow - Attention! Want to know how to do a proper team comic book-based television show? Thursday's episode is how! A madcap crazy adventure in which the team splits into three directions only learn episode's lesson at the end. Yep, there's a moral of the story! Let's just say the team learns that it should not be quite so schismatic. What I especially loved was how the trailer only accounted for maybe five or ten minutes and not the theme. So what crazy stuff happened? One occurs entirely off-screen as a Jax fixes something far more advanced than what he's familiar with. If the Palladium Megaversal Role-Playing system was used that's quite the penalty! Vampires! Okay, not exactly but that's the first thought that popped into my head. Journey through a bloodstream! Atom fans should be pleased. Professor Martin Stein is the ultimate troll. However, unlike most trolls he manages to spin it in such a fashion in order to provide quite a pep-talk! A Carter Hall appearance! A burglary! Come on, a team that includes Captain Cold and Heat Wave a burglary was inevitable. White Canary kicking ass and armed with enough concealed blades that would brighten any gamers day. While last week we discovered the time-stream could be altered for members of the team, some members learn that some events from their past is indeed a fixed point. I suspect another character will discover that towards the end...
Arrow - Regular readers know that I didn't watch Arrow during its second and third seasons. Heck, I still have yet to watch the final five episodes of season one. Fittingly, this week's episode was the most continuity-heavy on developments from that era. So if like me you didn't watch any of those episodes, the Calculator's first appearance was fairly accessible. Oops, I spoiled it. That's right, the Calculator makes his first appearance in CWDCU. Quite the first too! Aboslutely love who he related too. Hint: its the character that the Calculator feuds with the most during the episode. Katanna had a nice cameo. Roy Harper/Red Arrow guest stars. Wondered if he would lose his arm and become Arsenal but that did not occur. So Brad Meltzer should be happy... Best scene was when Curtis Holt took one more step towards becoming Mr. Terrific. Talk about a slow burn...


Elementary - Knew about the big arc of the season involving Sherlock's father Morland. Since I still have yet to watch the first four episodes, I didn't know the Joan Watson has a nemesis in the form of a female police officer. She entreats Joan to help with some off-the-clock vigilante shenanigans, while providing the insight that both Sherlock and Watson already balance on the edge. I suspect this plotline will rear its head later this season. As for the mystery itself, it fit the classical definition of a mystery and Sherlock was actually in true Sherlock form by rapidly solving it with barest of clues. Probably the most circular reasoning to bomb a morgue...
Grimm - Yep, if I didn't know better, I swear the writing staff of this season of Grimm played Vampire LARPs as the season has the same tone. Does the Grimm crew join the faction directly opposed to Black Claw or does it not? Okay, the question is only posed this episode. Eve claims she's no longer the Juliette that Nick knew. Does a good job too. Factions aside, there actually is a monster of the week. Admittedly, I did go 'holy camp crystal lake!' a couple times. The central thrust was a lake monster terrorizing tourists... Or is it? Don't remember the last time Nick let his status as a police officer get in his way of being a Grimm but that's what Trubel is for. Right?
Sleepy Hollow - Sleepy Hollow returns! The hunt for Abby begins. Would appear the rest of the season with be Crane and the gang rescuing her from the dimension she finds herself in. What will Crane do without a partner? Fear not. Crane's new partner is the undercover FBI agent we met earlier this season. Apparently, her parents fan afoul of demonic forces while on an archaeological dig. She finally gets her first taste when a locator spell cast by Crane goes awry. Meanwhile, the other duo retrieves a map after some struggle that may prove far more productive. I really should learn more characters names... At episodes end, we discover that Pandora created a beacon drawing monsters from all over the world toward Sleepy Hollow.


X-Files - Last week was the humorous monster-of-the-week, this week's episode was the more serious kind. A mysterious boogeyman who employs a garbage truck kills and dismembers those that profit off of the poor and treat them as trash. Afterwards, some of grisly remains are tossed into a garbage truck. Also strange street art by a 'Trashman' appears nearby. Some nice political commentary without the episode being preachy. Scully experiences a loss. Very dramatic. Scully and Mulder's son is once again referenced and tied thematically into the story. Another solid episode. I've also realized how much I miss show's opening montages. My X-Files fandom has been re-awakened.
Lucifer - my one grief with episode is more a beef with television shows in general. There's way too many police procedurals on television these days. Never read the Lucifer comics so I don't know if the show mirrors the comics. That said, another splendid episode. Lucifer is downright hilarious; and it is amusing watching him run around aiding Detective Decker (hey, I remember a name!) catch (and thus punish) evil-doers. A minor sub-plot where someone decided to impersonate Lucifer dovetails into the main plot and was pretty neat. For a show that veers more towards subtle displays of power, the final scene where Lucifer propels the perpetrator through the glass was eye-catching.

TV Round Up 1/26 - 2/1

How about another round of what I thought of several shows that aired from January 26th through February 1st.


Spoilers ahead.




Flash - RIP Turtle. I know I should be so hard on the show but the Flash's second season has been murder on its new crop of villains. Literally. Cisco receives his Vibe goggles! He's now one step closer to becoming the hero Vibe. If he becomes Vibe... As the trailers hinted at, this is how the Reverse-Flash learns what he knows that he uses to plague Barry & Co. during season one. Thought the episode provided a fairly decent explanation as to why the ending of the first season isn't a permanent as one would think. Rather neat spin that Barry's largest triumph against his greatest nemesis occurred during the earliest portions of his career. Gives new insight into Thawne/Wells comment that Barry would never be truly happy. Well, Patty leaves this very episode. In a way I am reminded of the time Betty Brant left Peter Parker during the early days of Amazing. Furthermore, we finally meet Hunter Zolomon! There goes the suspicion that Zoom is Earth-2 Barry as Zolomon was Zoom in the comics...




Agent Carter - The plot thickens. Peggy Carter and the gang infiltrate the all-white, gentlemen's club (no women!) that's behind the conspiracy. Now this is spy-related espionage that I wish was more prevalent in Agents of SHIELD! While I understand Howard Stark is a product of his time, he's quite a hoot because of it. We also meet the super-powered individual of the season. The heroes are definitely the underdogs...




Arrow - The show takes a break from HIVE as a criminal organization that poses as a mercenary organization is the central threat. Hey, Felicity finally receives a codename! Alas, its not Oracle but Overmind. Apparently there's already an Oracle... Andy Diggle's arc appears to reach its zenith... for now. And a member of Argus dies. A major character too.


DC's Legends of Tomorrow - The second part of the pilot was just a phenomenal as the first! The team continues their quest during the 70's and confront their nemesis Vandal Savage. Nice cameo by Damian Dahrk. The action sequences were great and several shots capture the entire team. Firestorm and nuclear bomb! Atom, Captain Cold, and Heatwave go on a burglary! Professor Martin Stein (one half of Firestorm) and White Canary flirt! Wait, what? More time-space shenanigans ensue! Legends of Tomorrow certainly lives up to roller coaster plug that its producers attributed to it. Oh by the way, a major character dies. Turns out that character's death serves as unifying force and motivation for our motley band to combat Vandal Savage and save the future.


Elementary - Since Elementary is a murder mystery show obviously someone, or two, dies. The actual mystery is more connect the dots instead of a mystery to be solved. Sherlock's attention is focused more on why his father Morlund is in town and the concealed assassination attempt. A pivotal episode more in terms the season's arc than in terms of the episode's quality.


Grimm - At last Grimm returns... and Juliette's alive! But don't fret, plenty of characters die this episode. I was reminded of several Vampire LARPs that I played in over the years as I watched this episode. The Big Bad, which we learn is called the Black Claw, of the season kicks its operations in motion. Let's just say their network is quite extensive... A pivotal episode that drastically changes the show.


X-Files - A monster-of-the-week episode. Even more, it's the tongue-in-cheek kind. My favorite. Loved the journey of Mulder from skeptic to sort-of-believer by the end of the episode. Nice twist on the classical werewolf myth. Excellent satire on modern society. Episodes such as this is why I was a fan of the X-Files in the first place.


Lucifer - Another solid episode. Lucifer displays his mojo quite a bit in this episode. There's an attempt at ironic punishment towards the end. The female lead (my apologies I'm not as good with character names as I used to be) begins to learn that there's more to Lucifer than what she believes. Ironically, Lucifer is not shy at all about revealing what he is. As a player of the World of Darkness RPGs, its a refreshing change of pace from quest to keep the supernatural secret. However, the best moment is at the end when the child mentions that with advent of the Internet that embarrassing moments aren't as secret as they once were. Absolutely hilarious.