Looks like it's farewell (Plus one last review)

In case you're wondering, no, you read the title correctly. This will most likely be my last post on this blog. I'm really sorry to say it's the end, since I really enjoyed reviewing various stuff. My family will be moving away to a new place, so there's that. With this most likely being the end, I found it difficult on what to write. Until I came across something interesting: Avengers Assemble.

But first a little history: Back in 2010, before the Avengers movie came out, there was Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. The series basically took the classic comic book series by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, updated them, and add other elements from modern stories about the Avengers. The show itself was received greatly, and is seen as one the best Marvel series ever. Reason being was Marvel has earned a terrible reputation for how they badly handled their animated shows, such as either canceling them too soon (usually in its first season) or making just plain terrible ones, such as the current Spider-Man animated series, Ultimate Spider-Man. Sadly, the curse strikes again, and A:EMH was canceled after just two seasons, with a total of 52 episodes.

Just soon after, production began on Avengers Assemble, which was created to capitalize on the success of the 2012 movie. As expected, fans were outraged, and for a good reason. Marvel had unjustly canceled what was arguably one of their best animated series in favor of just making another one because of the new movie, which, when thinking about it, was a pretty dumb decision. However, Jeph Loeb, Executive Vice President of Marvel Animation, said that Assemble would be a continuation of A:EMH.

I had a chance to watch the first episode online today, and after it was over, I thought it was alright. I'm glad that Marvel seems to have learned from its mistake with Ultimate Spider-Man, and that the series isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It had a few bumps here and there, but overall, it was good. Of course, this is just the first episode, so the quality could still go down a bit over time.

And with that, we come to an end. Thanks for reading this site, and until we meet again, in the words TOM from Toonami, "Stay Gold".

Sonic & Mega Man: Worlds Collide

I consider myself to be a big Sonic The Hedehog fan. For as long as I can remember I've always enjoyed the Blue Blur, and have enjoyed just about everything  Sonic related. And recently, I have become interested in the Mega Man franchise. So imagine my suprise when I learned that they would be having a comic book crossover. The plot is as follows: Dr. Eggman, the archnemisis of Sonic, has teamed up with another mad scientist, Dr.Wily, the archnemisis of Mega Man. Togehter they set about locating the chaos emeralds and have turned some of Sonics' friends into robots. Now Mega Man and Sonic must join forces to stop the mad doctors before it's too late.

So far I would say I'm enjoying this crossover. The interactions with the different characters is spot on, especically between Eggman and Wily. There's in a TMNT reference it there believe it or not. Mega Man and Sonic make a pretty great team, and the battle between them was full of non stop action. I hope the rest of the crossover will continue to be this good.

Retrospective: Usagi Yojimbo

 

Today I want to talk about one of my favorite black & white comics of the 80's/90's: Usagi Yojimbo. A very well written and drawn comic, it tells the story of Miayamoto Usagi, a rabbit ronin (which in japan is a samurai without a master, who wanders through the land.) The character of Usagi is based on Miayamoto Musashi, a legendary ronin who was the greatest swordsman in Japan, who was also He was the founder of the Niten-ryū style of swordsmanship. The books are set during the Edo period of Japan, with anthropomorphic animals replacing humans. What I love about this comic is how it has helped me to learn more about this time period of the time of Samurai, Ninjas, and other interesting stuff. I sadly only own only two issues, but I hope to someday expand upon that and get more.

Peanuts: The Movie

One of my favorite cartoons to read and watch was Peanuts. For as long as I can remember I've always been a fan of Charlie Brown and the gang, having read the comic strip that started the franchise and having watched just about every animated special. So imagine my surprise when I learned their would be a movie about these guys that will be coming to theaters! Unfortunately, there's not much is known about this except that it will be in CG, whereas the animated specials were 2D, and that Fox's animation studio, Blue Sky Studios, will be making it. This studio has made many good films over the years, including Ice Age and its sequels, Horten Hears a Who!, Robots, etc. The movie will be written by Craig Shulz, the son of the creator of Peanuts Charles Shulz, alongside Shulz's grandsons Bryan, and Cornelius Uliano. It will also be directed by Steve Martino. "Peanuts" will be in theaters November November 15, 2015, coinciding with the 65th anniversary of the comic’s debut.

Fathers

There aren't many things that I remember well from when I was young. But one thing I do recall is when my mother and father got divorced. My brother and I still visited him from time to time, but as we got older, stopped doing that. I began to share the hate my mom had for him leaving us. We didn't see him for another 5 years. That was, at least, until a few days ago.

My mom told us that he would be visiting us because he would be helping my brother with some immigration details. I didn't really know how to feel and I was just wait for it to be over with. When arrived, he showed up with a new wife, my step mom. I just decided to keep my distant while he talked to my mom. Later on, he offered to take me to the store to buy me a computer. During this my brother disappeared, not coming back until around 11:00 p.m. He talked to me, telling me that he was sorry for how he was for not being there for us, and then began to cry. After that we began to bond a bit, and I decided to forgive him because he really looked like he regretted his actions. We spent the next few days together, even my brother decided to join us. And the best part was that he and my mom seem to be getting along with each other. I even got to show him some of my sketches, and he even said, "I'm so proud of you". It might sound cheesy, considering I have heard it form my mom many times. But to actually hear it from him was just really great. So even if he still lives far away, I'm glad he's somewhat back in my life.

My thoughts on "Man Of Steel"

 Superman. He's regarded as one the greatest heroes ever created within the comic book  industry. It was him who began the the creation of heroes. And now, he's returning to the big screen this year. "Man of Steel" is an upcoming film that serves as a reboot to the Superman film franchise. It retells the early days of Superman and his first confrontation against one of his most dangerous foes, Zod, another Kryptonian.

With today officially the 75th anniversary of the Superman, I'd thought I'd share my thoughts on this film. All though I like Superman, he's not exactly one of my top favorite heroes, so at first I wasn't that interested in this film because of how bad "Superman Returns" was. But after seeing the new trailer, I've become very excited for the film. Henry Cavill, who will be playing Superman, seems to have the part down. And I love how the managed to update the costume, as shown in the above picture, but still manages to stay true to it's roots. I also like that Superman will actually be fighting in ths film and get to use his powers to the fullest extent. Overall, "Man of Steel" looks like it will be the ultimate return for Superman.

The Wife of Jim Henson has passed away

Jim Henson played a pretty big part in not my childhood, but pretty much everyone. Well known as the man who created "The Muppets" and "Seaseme Street", he's regarded as one the greatest puppet tears that ever lived. Though he passed away in 1990, he's still honored among us. Sadly, his wife, Jane Henson, has gone to join him today. She was 78 years old. Jane also helped co-create "The Muppets" alongside her husband. So in her honor this post is dedicated to her.

RIP JANE HENSON 1934-2013

My Thoughts on "Teen Titans GO!"

"When there's trouble, you know who to call...Teen Titans!" For many kids who grew up during the early 2000s, they might recognize the follwing phrase from the theme song of the 2003-2006 "Teen Titans" animated series. Known for it's great mixture of comedy and action, "Teen Titans" is argueably once of the most iconic cartoons based on a DC comic book. The show lasted 5 seasons, sadly ending on a cliffhanger. For years many fans wanted at least one more season of the show. Now after 7 years, the Titans are coming back to the TV screen in a brand new series. Unfortunatly, it's not the series many wanted or expected, which includes me.

"Teen Titans GO!" is an  upcoming series set to premire this month on April 23. Unlike the original series, the show is said to be a complete comedy with little action. Also, it's also flash animated like shows such as "Johnny Test". It has also been said to to NOT be a continuation of the original series. The show has gotten a mixed response from fans. While many are glad to see the Titans return and be voiced by their original actors, many do not like how the show will not be like the original series and have no dark elements. I personally agree, because I would have liked to see a follow up to where the series had ended. I watch a few episodes first before I decided if I like it or not. but my expectations are pretty low.

"Teen Titans GO!" will premire April 23 on Cartoon Network.

The Sad State Of Television

As it can be interpertated from my past posts, I'm a big fan of various forms of entertainment. Movies, cartoons, etc.  I'm a big lover of anything that has action, drama, and can tell a good story. But sadly, it's haard to find shows like that on television. At my home, there are three channels that I mainly watch most of the time: Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and (sometimes) Disney Channels. All three of these networks have the same problem: Sitcoms and/or live action shows. And I'm not talking about shows like Seinfeld or Everybody Loves Raymond, because those are good. I'm talking about cheesy live action shows that seem to only appeal to little and tween girls. Shows that follow the same basic formula about some girl or guy who goes through some cheesy drama or stuff. I know it might be sounding like I'm complaining for nothing, but recently I've been noticing these types of shows popping up alot lately. I blame this mostly on Disney because they were the ones who started this back during the early 2000s, with shows like "Hannah Montana" and stuff like that. As time went on, there became less and less cartoons on Disney Channel and more and more tween sitcoms.  Nickelodeon soon started to do this as well, though they actually try to focus on both boys and girls. Cartoon Network has thankfully not many of these and still focus on what they do best: animation. It is sad to say that the tween sitcom craze is taking over so many channels that many kids, like myself, grew up watching. I've givin up on watch Disney long ago, and can only hope other of my favorite channels don't fall victim to this.

Retrospective: Star Wars

 

It has been regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi films of all time. Even after 36 years, this film is still highly regarded by fans everywhere. Indeed, Stars Wars, despite some bumps here and there, still seems as popular as ever. And for a good reason as well. The films introduced one of the most iconic villians and heroes of all time, Darth Vadar and Luke Skywalker respectivily. And with Disney having bought the series, it seems like it will grow even more popular and introduce more characters for a brand new generation. Even though I'm not really a big fan of the series, I can't help but wonder what the future holds for Star Wars. Will we continue to see new animated series since the recent one, Clone Wars, was cancelled? Will the new movies be as well recived as the first trilogy was? And can the dirctors accomplish it? Only time will tell. Till then, May the Force be with you.

My thoughts on TMNT: Out of the Shadows

So recently, a new video game based on on of my favorite favorite heroes since I was a kid, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, was going to be released this summer. And as shown in the picture above this post, they've been given a more realistic design. Despite being said to be based on the new  hit CG animated series that is currently airing on the Nickelodeon channel, the turtles barely resemble how they look on the show, with only few elements from it, such as wearing the bandages on their hands and feel. The trailer also make this game appear to be a lot more dark and gritty than the cartoon. Not that I'm complaining, cause I'm always open to new interpretations on one of my favorite cartoons. So far, the new designs have revived mixed reactions from fans.  Personally, these new designs have begun to grow on me. I like how the turtles actually look like real mutant turtles. The gameplay looks similar to that of the Batman: Arkham games from Rocksteady. I'm hoping that the game will tell a good story and that the game will be successful.

Thoughts on Pacific Rim

So recently, I've learned about this upcoming movie called "Pacific Rim", directed by
Guillermo del Toro. The story is pretty much about humans piolting giant robots fighting monsters. And honestly? I think this looks amazing! After watching shows such as Transformers and Sym-Bionic Titan, created by Genndy Tartakovsky, I've been very interested in giant robot battles. The trailer for the film was pretty great too and had alot of action. I hope to be able to see it this summer. Hopefully the humans won't be as bland as they were in Micheal Bay's Transformers film, and that the story won't stray away from the plot. The action sequences look pretty intense, so hopefully the action will be just as good.

Review: The Dark Knight Returns film

The latest animated film from Warner Brothers Animation, "The Dark Knight Returns" is an animated adaptation of the 1986 comic book, often regarded as one the best comics in history. Set in a dystopian near future of Gotham City, The Dark Knight Returns follows a 55-year old Batman returning to fight crime, along with a brand new Robin named Carrie Kelly. The film features Peter Weller, better known as the original RoboCop, as the voice of Batman. The film was released as 2 parts.

Like most DC animated films, "The Dark Knight Returns" has not only high quality animation, but great voice acting as well.  Peter Weller does a great job as the voice of the older Batman, as well as Micheal Emerson as the Joker. The movie also has Conan O'Brien guest star as a TV host. The film manages to capture the dark and gritty feel of the comic, and despite a few changes here and there, manages to stay true to the source material. The highlight of this film, however, would be the adaptation of the legendary Superman vs. Batman fight from the comic book, and is without a doubt the one of the best parts about the film. Another would be the final showdown between Joker and Batman, in a gruesome and intense fight scene. The pace is always moving along quickly, though there are time the film does slow down. However, because of the short time, moments do feel somewhat rushed, and there have been parts cut from the film

Overall, despite its ups and downs, "The Dark Knight Returns" is an amazing animated film that stays true to the source material, and is worth checking out.

Review: Tron: Uprising

I've been meaning to do something like this for awhile now. I feel like since this series has been said to be canceled, now would be a good time to review this series. So, let's begin.





Tron: Uprising is a 2D/CGI animated that aired on Disney XD. The series as a prequel to Tron: Legacy, the sequel to the 1984 Tron movie. The main character is Beck, who works alongside Tron to free his home, and the Grid, from the main villain Clu 2. The show has garnered praise for it's mature storytelling and voice acting, with Elijah Wood voicing Beck. The show itself, in my opinion, was one of Disney's best movie based animated series. The show itself manage to appeal not only to kids, but adults as well.The show itself isn't afraid to go get dark, and does show characters killed. Beck himself is a great original character and is worthy of carrying the title of Tron.

Overall, Tron: Uprising was one of the best animated series on television back when it was on. But because of the poor promotion Disney put out, this great series has come to an end. Let's hope Disney has learned from this.

Gun Violence

After some major gun shootings from last year, something has really begin to bug me. I don't understand why people who aren't cops or in the army even have guns. Why should we be selling it to ordinary civilians? Isn't it likely someone other than you is going to get hurt? Or even worse, killed? Guns are not toys, and after these incidents, I felt kinda scared. Now I feel like movie theaters are no longer as safe as they were before after what happened in Aurora, Colorado. And after that school shooting with those little kids, I really feel scared. I just hope something is being done to control this.

Review: Dexter's Rude Removal

After almost 14 years, the legendary "unaired" episode of Dexter's Laboratory, "Rude Removal", has finally been uploaded online. So does this piece of lost history from the show good as it has been said? Or should it have been left unfound?

Synopsis:
"As Dexter is putting the finish touches on his newest invention, the "Rude Removal System", Dee Dee shows up, interrupting Dexter as usual. Dexter explains his new invention and plans to remove the rudeness from Dee Dee, causing the siblings to engage in a fight. Inadvertently, the Rude Removal System is activated, and the two end up inside of the device, splitting the pair into well-behaved and rude halves. The rude halves constantly use profanity and break things. As their mother calls them for lunch time, the rude halves go to the kitchen. There, they cause a mess and act insubordinate, enraging their mother. The well-behaved halves soon follow and are forced to answer for the mess their counterparts caused. Eventually, the rude halves end up in Dexter's laboratory, destroying his lab. The well-behaved halves think up of a plan to trap the rude halves in the Rude Removal System and activate a reversal sequence to merge back together. Once they have merged and head out of the lab, they encounter their mother with a bar of soap to literally wash out her kids' mouths."

 As it said in the synopsis, this is a typical episode of Dexter. Deedee comes in, something goes wrong, and it's up to Dexter to fix it. However, this episode features some language, which (thankfully) is beeped out. Some may say that this episode is a disgrace to the show, however long time fans will be intrigued. Cartoon Network stated that they would never show this episode to the public, but thanks to Adult Swim, Dexter's Laboratory has finally come to a close. The episode, while strange, is  still enjoyable for any Dexter fan.

Overall, "Rude Removal", while different, is still an enjoyable classic to watch.

2013 Update

 It feels like months since I've written a post here. But after along break, I'm ready to get back into writing. So here's what's been going on so far in my life:











1) After weeks of waiting, "Dexter's Rude Removal" has finally been uploaded online. I had a chance to watch, and found myself laughing very hard when they beeped the profanity. Here's where you can watch it: http://www.inquisitr.com/491695/dexters-laboratory-rude-removal-episode-airs-14-years-after-its-creation/
I'll be doing a review of this soon.





 2) A few weeks ago it was my birthday, and I am now 16 years old. I didn't really get anything that day, but I did order some comic books. Mostly TMNT and Usagi Yojimbo comics.




3) And finally, I've really gotten into the Disney's new animated series Tron: Uprising. I'm not really a Tron fan, but I really enjoy this series. I'll be doing another review of this too.

That's all for now. See you later! :)