Ghost Rider on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. - Initial Thoughts

What??? Ghost Rider in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.??? Check out the video to hear my thoughts on it, and why it might not actually be that bad of an idea!

Why do I love DC Comics so much?

I was born in January of 1998. I have yet to live in a single house for more than three years. My dad's a soldier, so we didn't always have the most immediate commodities available to us. I wasn't raised in the most traditional of ways. I wasn't allowed to watch TV for long periods of time, I didn't have a regular allowance, and I didn't have great internet access, even in the early 2000's. I didn't even have any real concept of what a 'comic book' was until I was in the 8th grade. But when you live in areas (like Europe) where American products are limited, you start to appreciate and gravitate what comes from home more and more. Something that I always looked forward to was watching the Justice League animated series on Saturday and Sunday mornings. This was my first exposure to superheroes as I knew them, and my interest in the DC universe only grew from here on.

I followed my love for the Justice League by finding myself reveling in the just-as-good-if-not-better follow-up series, Justice League: Unlimited, and the ever-entertaining Teen Titans TV series. As I grew in my knowledge and love of DC comics, so too did my understanding of the history of these characters. For example, Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg are not the original members of the Teen Titans, but rather an adaptation of the 2003 book lineup that was being released concurrently to the television series. But it wasn't where the characters had been that was interesting to me, and it wasn't even necessarily where they were going. These characters were so engaging, they were voice-acted spectacularly, and the animation was superb. The action was fun, the drama was intense, and I was genuinely having a thrill watching these superheroes fight the villains that they did. The writing has to be some of the most spectacular television writing I had ever seen as a kid: even back then, I knew it was better than the other goofy shows that were being debuted concurrently to DC's lineup.

But that alone doesn't attribute my love for DC. In all fairness, were there any Marvel shows that were running during the time period of the early to mid-2000's, I didn't watch them. I had no easy way to access them. So, I was kind of stuck with the DC brand. But that's not something I'm sorry for. Whether it be because I grew up with DC or not, I still prefer them over most of what Marvel does. And before you question any kind of credibility I have, go look at my Marvel Movie reviews I have written on the blog and compare them to the DC movie reviews. I'm not denying the fact that since about 2012, Marvel has been putting out the better product over DC (The Dark Knight trilogy is a discussion obviously removed from this one). But for one reason or another, the Marvel characters don't resonate with me on the same level that the DC characters do. But that can probably be nostalgia's fault. The same works for other well-known IP's: I mean, I like Star Wars as a whole more than I like Star Trek because Star Wars has been with me for such a long time. The same can be said for DC comics over Marvel.

But as I've grown to understand the characters that live in the DC universe better, I appreciate their complexities more and more, especially as a parallel to Marvel. Even now, as I write this editorial, what I'm finding to be the case is that DC comics' characters are often loaded with the responsibility of their grand power, their gifts, that they didn't necessarily seek out on their own. Clark Kent never asked to be given unimaginable power thanks to our yellow sun; Bruce Wayne never asked to be the agent of justice before his parents were murdered; Diana Prince never asked to bear the weight of being Zeus' daughter; and so on and so forth. When one looks at notable Marvel characters, the reasoning for their acts of heroism originate from slightly different ideas, albeit sometimes reaching the same conclusions. Tony Stark changed his business methodology from creating weapons of war to tools for protection; Steve Rodgers enlisted to protect those who couldn't protect themselves; hell, even Peter Parker just hopes to follow in the footsteps of the Avengers and be as great a hero as he can. While origins and motivations can overlap between the tales of these larger-than-life warriors, DC clearly challenges their characters with their realities differently than Marvel. And while Marvel Studios have done a masterful job translating their characters' stories to film, I'm still finding myself fonder of the challenges my DC characters face.

But maybe it's not that alone. Maybe it's the characters themselves. I mean, Superman and Batman are already the most prolific superheroes in the world. Their designs are great, and I always find myself fonder of the art in DC than in other comics. Often times (unless a particular story calls for otherwise), the art is streamlined and sophisticated enough to distance itself from its contemporaries, yet still true to the form of a 'comic book' that it doesn't distance itself too far from the familiar and comfortable tropes of the medium. And when one considers the specific eras of these comic book runs (whether it be the new 52, the silver-age DC, or the post-crisis era), there's a sense of unity within the brand. Artists and authors can certainly deviate to explore their creative interests, but a reader like myself never loses the sense that these different books are so far separated that the Suicide Squad couldn't exist in the same world of the Flash, or that Green Arrow and and Superman are so far separated that a meeting between them would be impossible. And thanks to that familiarity between the books, I feel even more at home when I switch between Aquaman to Green Lanterns to The Flash.

Y'know, as I write this, I find myself more and more flabbergasted as to the exact reason that I favor DC over Marvel, I mean, why should I? Even though I enjoy the DC characters more than the Marvel characters, I've been rewarded by Marvel for being a fan more than by DC. Their comics might not be what I reach for first, but even their recent issues of Black Panter are absolutely superb. Their movies, while varying in quality depending on who you ask, are always enjoyable and coherent. DC hasn't made a crowd-pleaser since The Dark Knight Rises (on the whole) in 2012, just when Marvel was only warming up with The Avengers. Hey, I enjoy Man of Steel, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, and Suicide Squad, but I'm not gonna try to convince anybody that they're on the same level of quality and polish that the Marvel films are. And while both comic book companies do this, I get even more hurt when it feels like DC sometimes tries to milk me for all I'm worth: in fact, not a couple hours ago from writing this, I just read that the LEGO Supergirl for the videogame LEGO Dimensions was, at least for the moment, a PlayStation 4 exclusive. Now, that's obviously logistical between LEGO and DC, but either one or the other (or both) offered up that specific character because they knew fans like myself would want such a collectible. Marvel does the same thing, but it stings most when it's a brand you're more connected to.

But with all that said, I'm still in love with the brand. I find the movies enjoyable, I love watching the cartoons, and I'm absolutely thrilled to see the influence these characters have on people. Fans cosplay as Harley Quinn, Batman, the Flash, and others. They're fun, they're unique, and these identities have become owned by the fans as much as by Warner Bros. Pictures. I know that I certainly have an opinion about (almost) each and every single character within the universe. I like to see them portrayed a particular way, I like to see them act in a certain manner, I like my passion to be respected by these creators; because it's because of those who came before them that respected these characters so much, I feel like equal responsibility should be placed upon the creators of today.

DC has all my love, now and forevermore. I want to continue to see the company tell stories of Batman, I want to expand my knowledge of Aquaman, I want to have fun in space with Green Lantern. Right now, I'm genuinely worried for the brand: because of the changing nature of the film industry and the groundbreaking success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, I'm aware that these producers and studio executives want to jump on the gravy train and make just as much money. But I want them to do it the right way. People love the MCU not just because they're superhero movies, but because they're good superhero movies. They give their characters challenges to overcome, they allow their characters to grow, they give them spectacular fights to fight, and they make these movies fun. And despite being in the game for quite some time, and having examples of what to do (the MCU, the Dark Knight trilogy) and what to not do (various X-Men, Fantastic Four, and Spider-Man movies) DC has faltered quite significantly.

They're not out of the game yet because they've offered things that the likes of Marvel hasn't yet: the first time Batman and Superman are on-screen together, the first villain team-up movie, the first female-led superhero movie, and the first DC good-guy team-up movie are all in the hole. What becomes of the latter two have yet to be seen. With creative executives like Geoff Johns working hard to keep the characters true to themselves and finding unique stories to tell with them, I have confidence that the movies will entertain me. But in all fairness, I haven't found the DC characters to be untrue to their comic book counterparts just yet (save for Lex Luthor). That being said, the first three films in the series were made before Johns' extensive involvement in the process. Whether he actually helps the films, or proves to be a detriment to their quality, has yet to be seen.

Look, I realize that most of this editorial has been wild rambling and not entirely well-constructed (as some would argue is the whole problem with DC to begin with). But I've seen the good that can come out of DC Entertainment. They did it through the late 70's to the early 80's way before Marvel got their act together. They continued the trend in the animated department from the early 90's to...well. to today, quite honestly. Batman: The Animated Series, Superman: The Animated Series, Justice League: The Animated Series, Young Justice, and more list the fantastic adaptations of these comic book titans. And while fans bicker and argue about opinions on the final product of recent DC efforts, I can't help but feel that the same thing happens behind the scenes with the executives. I only hope that a singular person with a singular vision for this world comes forth and helps to tell well-crafted stories. Will it be Geoff Johns? Will it be someone else?

I love these characters. For every DC movie that is released, you're probably guaranteed to have gotten one ticket from me. But what has enamored me about this world so much is the aesthetic of the characters, their environment, and the stories that encompass it all. Like any great fiction, the best stories from this world help to ask the readers what is the duty of humans, superpowered or not. Do we take the law in our own hands when the law itself is not enough (like Batman), or do we try to work within the system for the slow-but-morally-right solution (like Bruce Wayne)? Characters like Wonder Woman help to inspire girls everywhere that they have power within themselves, power that no social hierarchy can keep them from using. Characters like Green Lantern can inspire young readers to be courageous in times of fear. Hell, even characters like Etrigan the Demon can display how humans can overcome their dark natures (metaphorically for us, literally for him). The DC characters are characters who are often thrust with god-like powers, authority, or responsibility, and tell stories that compliment those kinds of themes. I find the humanizing of gods incredibly intriguing, especially when half of those gods try to be regular people. Clark Kent tries to be the simple farm boy he always was just as much as he tries to be an ideal for hope. Barry Allen tries to be a good son just as much as he tries to be the fastest man alive. This form of escapism is the most beautiful form of storytelling I find myself enjoying: the art, the character development, and the epic tales engross me so much as a consumer that I can't help but fall in love with these characters.

The stories told within DC comics, the characters that they choose to tell stories about, and the fact that I can relate with characters like a half-man/half-machine, or a character like a green space cop, makes me love them even more. This universe has captured my imagination since the age of 7, and I honestly don't see it slowing down anytime soon. So, forgive this total gush session over DC comics, but I couldn't help it: I love DC.

How to fix DC Movies: A Speculation

After the significant critical backlash of the past 3 DC comics films, what's a studio like Warner Bros. Pictures to do? Well, I sat down and thought about that very issue. Take a watch, why don't ya?

Suicide Squad Movie Review (NO SPOILERS)

In the interest of promoting my YouTube page further, I made a video that's more of a blurb of my Suicide Squad thoughts. If reading isn't your thing, consider giving this a shot! Thanks so much, and don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel, The Geek Galaxy Ltd.!

*P.S. - Sorry for the shaky camera work and possibly bad audio. Don't have the best setup yet, but I'm working on it!

Suicide Squad Review (NO SPOILERS)

Amidst a world where critics are favoring the DC brand less and less, I was genuinely worried about my experience with this film after seeing those early reviews of Suicide Squad reach the internet. I don't believe critics seek to have a bad time with these movies, because that's not what I look to do with them either. That being said, the reviews allowed me to mitigate my excitement ever so slightly before I went into the 11 AM showing today. What I was looking for was a fun, villainous romp with some of my favorite characters from DC comics. And that's exactly what I got. And that is a great thing to have happen.

For those of you unaware, DC's Suicide Squad takes place in a world after the loss of Superman (not a spoiler, they tell you as much in the first 5 minutes of the movie) where the U.S. government tries to rally some sort of initiative to prevent any "evil supermen" from having any potential authority over the U.S. government, or the world at large. Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis, decides the best way to fight fire is with fire, and sets forth the initiative of creating Task Force X, a.k.a. the Suicide Squad. With the help of government officials and a few costumed heroes, Floyd Lawton, a.k.a. Deadshot (played by Will Smith), Dr. Harleen Quinzel, a.k.a. Harley Quinn (played by Margot Robbie), Chato Santana, a.k.a. El Diablo (played by Jay Hernandez), Waylon Jones, a.k.a. Killer Croc (played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), George "Digger" Harkness, a.k.a. Captain Boomerang (played by Jai Courtney), June Moon, a.k.a. Enchantress (played by Cara Delevigne) and Christopher Weiss, a.k.a. Slipknot (played by Adam Beach) are all rounded up and held captive under threat of death. Keeping the squad in line is Colonel Rick Flagg (played by Joel Kinnaman) and Katana, a.k.a. Tatsu Yamashiro (played by Karen Fukuhara). When the squad is called into Midway City to deal with an impending threat, not only do these bad guys have to play good or get their heads blown up, the Joker (played by Jared Leto) makes waves in the crime world as he works to free Harley from the grip of his enemies.

For all that this movie tries to accomplish, I think it succeeds. Beginning with the plot, the idea is intriguing enough to engross me within the first two acts. To see villains play good is something that we as an audience get a glimpse at every now and then. To see the protagonists of the film still be antagonists in their own right is a new concept altogether. The way this story and the dialogue crafts itself around the fact that these bad guys are still bad in their own right, but coerced into doing good, is something really fun to see. That being said, by the time the film drifts into its third act, it does become rather simple. The awe of seeing a super-villain team fades away, especially after you see these guys being the bad-asses that they are. The story and plot is essentially here to compliment the action sequences these villains find themselves in, which was fine for me since it was really cool to see these lower-powered villains fight. Deadshot's shooting was awesome, and he's got a few sequences to shine with his skills. Harley is brutal with her bat, Katana is fearless with her sword, and Boomerang's boomerangs are fun to see. El Diablo is cool when he has time to show off his stuff, but those opportunities are few and far between. The same is said for Killer Croc, Slipknot, and Enchantress. That doesn't mean they're lame to see fight, we as the audience just don't see them as frequently.

Even though the story eventually becomes rather simplistic, both the individual acting of the cast as well as their chemistry with each other is an absolute joy to watch. It's actually very similar to seeing the Avengers unite (at least, it is for a DC fan like myself). But even if you have no basis for these characters, their dynamic and unique personalities emanating from the characters and clashing with their respective co-stars is fun to watch. These characters are fun, albeit terrible people; but I think that's what makes them fun. While (most) superhero movies concern themselves with having the heroes remain the moral standard thanks to the gifts they're blessed, here is a movie that offers us a different perspective to what different "super-powered" people choose to do with their gifts, and how they use their abilities - and what exactly the consequences of those very actions are.

And to get any semblance of sympathy for these characters is a tribute to the acting of this wonderful, diverse cast. Will Smith is incredibly subtle in his role, but also a confident leader of the squad. He's a solid, strong character. Margot Robbie does Harley the best justice I could have ever seen on the big screen. She's wacky, she's insane, but she's also methodical and cunning. Jay Hernandez is damaged as Diablo, and he's able to translate his pain in a few lines in the same masterful way that Bradley Cooper was able to as "Rocket Raccoon" in Guardians of the Galaxy. Adewale is incredibly intimidating as Killer Croc (although the makeup helps), Joel does a great job as the loyal soldier, Jai has fun with the loopy Aussie, Karen is committed as the wayward warrior, but perhaps the best performance came from Viola Davis as Amanda Waller. She's tough, she's intimidating, she's cold: everything that the character is in the comics. The writing was able to nail the spirit of these characters, and these actors helped bring them to life in the most enjoyable of ways. Even Jared Leto's Joker, who was in the movie for the right amount of time (weird to think, I know) established his take on the character beautifully, distancing himself from Heath Ledger's award-winning performance but honoring it at the same time. This Joker takes the best elements of the past fan-favorite Jokers, and mixes it with a drug-boss inspiration that's fascinating to see onscreen. I love what the actors were able to do with these roles, even when some were serviced less than others.

And when I previously mentioned the action, it should be mentioned that it's some of the best action I've seen in a movie this year. Taking place in nearly exclusively close-quarters, it's incredibly exciting to see these bad guys mow through faceless soldiers and do their stuff. The cinematography work helps accentuate each character's personality by highlighting their fighting style: Boomerang, being the rash rogue he is, gets up-close and personal to take down his foes. Croc throws his enemies across whole rooms before clawing at their bodies. Katana keeps low to the ground,and swiftly rises with her sword to slash her opponents. But I don't want to spoil the fun of an audience member seeing for themselves the action. At any rate, it's tense and fun at the same time.

All in all, what I wanted from this movie was a fun, popcorn romp. That's exactly what I got. I could honestly consider this the best connected DC movie to date. It's more fun than either Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice or Man of Steel, and it's got more heart than either of those films as well. But that's just my opinion. As an end-of-the-summer movie, this is exactly what I wanted. I'm looking forward to the next time I get to see the squad, and the characters that make it up. But please go see for yourself. I'd hate for this movie to suffer because of an odd stir in critics' opinion.

Rating: 8.75/10

*P.S. - There's finally a post-credits scene in a DC movie! So hold in that pee; you're not gonna want to miss it!

Batman and Batgirl was a Bad Idea

As a preface, this whole editorial is in relation to the recently-released Batman: The Killing Joke animated film. I haven't seen the film in full, but I am familiar with the graphic novel which it is based upon. I'm aware of the characters that play into the story and their importance within the Batman mythos, and I understand fully why there are arguments for and against the topic with which I'm about to discuss. Everybody up to speed? Good; spoilers for both the film and the graphic novel will follow.

For a graphic novel that's barely 50 pages long, any attempt to adapt such a short narrative for the purpose of creating a feature-length film was a challenge enough already. Factor in the fact that this graphic novel is one of both the artistic and tonal standards for any Batman story, and renowned creators Bruce Timm and Brian Azzarello, both of whom are wholly familiar with the DC icon (the former animated for the renowned, emmy-winning series, the latter writing for the character in comic book form throughout the 21st century) had taken on a task nearly as difficult as adapting another beloved, Alan Moore-written project, Watchmen. The graphic novel, which was written in 1988, was renowned for its interesting approach to identify the origin of the Joker character, as well as explain in little ways the psychology of the character. The book won the Eisner Award for 'Best Graphic Novel' the year after it was produced. This book has a legacy as  not only providing what many fans consider the origin story of the Joker, but a change in the tide for the Batman world by paralyzing the long-time, fan-favorite character Batgirl and tormenting her father, Commissioner Gordon, with the reality that his daughter's normal life has been ripped from her.

What's funny (pun intended) is that the original graphic novel doesn't truly focus on Batman; not in the traditional manner, anyways. While there is certainly a particular perspective that fans share, the goal of writer Alan Moore was to leave the story, ending, and everything in between open to reader interpretation. For example, as I read this book, I saw this tale mirror the 1987 four-issue Batman arc written by comic legend Frank Miller: Batman: Year One. The focus of the narrative isn't necessarily supposed to chronicle the efforts of the Dark Knight like every other one of his stories, but rather shine a spotlight on the characters that traditionally support Batman's narratives. The focus of the story, the objective, is to torment Commissioner Gordon past the point of insanity, with the Joker leading the charge on the endeavor by crippling his daughter. In the eyes of the book's main character, the Joker, Batman is only meant to really watch the tale unfold as it happens. Joker's typical methodical planning and quest for anarchy have already been completed by the time Batman finds him.

But it's with this mindset that I have to control myself before I criticize Timm and Azzarello for running with an idea that held the similar tenant of which I believe the book to be based upon. The opening of the film, unlike the book, begins when Batgirl is still active, serving dutifully alongside the defender of Gotham. In the midst of a case more dangerous than in the past, Batman decides to put Batgirl on the bench instead of out on the town. Now, throughout this prologue, we're introduced to this idea that Barbara Gordon, a.k.a. Batgirl, is having some frustrations with Batman beyond serving his every whim in the suit. Barbara herself is infatuated with the Dark Knight; this central theme is where my frustrations rest in the story. Considering this is coming from the creative minds of Bruce Timm, I'm not necessarily surprised that this Batgirl feels this way about Batman. In Batman: The Animated Series, the Barbara Gordon/Batgirl of that interpretation displayed hints of such an infatuation to the caped crusader as well. In the show, from what I can remember, the creators always had Batman awkwardly play off such advances and essentially leaving that kind of plot in the background. By the time Batman: Beyond was up and running, again created with the assistance of Bruce Timm, dialogue once again hinted at a possible intimate relationship between Barbara Gordon and Bruce Wayne. Now, that's the creators' choice to use the character in such a way, but I feel as though it's a detriment to the character.

See, Barbara has a certain path to follow after her demise as Batgirl. Still resilient, committed, and determined to help how she can, her intellect is put to use as Batman's careful and calculating guide, Oracle. By this point in Babs' life, she's sought out by not only Batman and his Bat-family for assistance in advancing their equipment and utilizing her impressive technological skills, but even members of the Justice League like Superman and Martian Manhunter have asked for her assistance on occasion. This girl is just as intelligent as Batman, maybe even more so, but she's got a light inside of her that Batman doesn't. Barbara is able to keep her father positive in the darker times in Gotham, she's a consul to her fellow crime-fighters, and there's even an argument to be made that Barbara is one of the only people in the world that can help to humanize Bruce Wayne in the best way. To have her reduced to an impatient student who favors Batman in such a manner, while theoretically understandable, goes against the general understanding of the character.

But I understand this perspective of the Batgirl character. This is a girl who was raised without a mother in an incredibly male-dominated, law-abiding environment. Her father was controlling (as far as my Commissioner Gordon knowledge goes), and Barbara wasn't allowed to have much identity outside of her academic prowess when it came to her relationship with her dad. Not only that, but being police commissioner (of Gotham City, no less) meant Barbara was on her own for most of the time. Figuring out who the Batman is validated her intelligence to herself and gave her the confidence to join his crusade. The crusade itself allowed her to rebel against the institutions of society, like every teenager dabbles in every now and then. And the Batman himself, who is always depicted as being the peak of the male physical form and one of the most intelligent men in the world, could very well be a distraction to any person, especially to those who knew him well. By the time Barbara became of age, it's amazing these two characters wouldn't have advanced at all.

But it's a bad move to go down what could be seen as a clearly-obvious path. This relationship has so much baggage packaged with it already: Barbara is the daughter of the Commissioner, one of the last good cops left in the police department, and Batman is a mentor as well as a consul to Barbara throughout their years of working together. Bruce Wayne saw this youthful girl with promise grow into her own, and the fact that their professional work in the field culminated in them consummating their feelings towards one another (in this particular story, anyways) paints Batman as a man who can abuse his influence on an especially impressionable woman, a woman who is for all intents and purposes under his particular protection. This is different from Catwoman, from Vicki Vale, from Talia al Ghul, because those women don't have the history that Batgirl does with Batman. It's almost the same thing as if a father had a friend who happened to be a good friend, and happened to be male, who spent a lot of time around the family, watched the father's daughter grow up from middle school to becoming an adult, and then the father found out that the daughter and his friend had sex. Sure, the daughter's a woman, she can make her own decisions, and the anger for the event isn't necessarily directed towards her, but rather to the older male friend. The male friend, one way or another, abused the fact that in that particular dynamic, he had some power over her in the relationship, and exploited the fact. That is the issue with all of this. Batman has all the power in the dynamic between him and Batgirl, and he used it all the wrong ways. The fact that he's not only resisted the advances of women before but was able to send them away forever and did not use these specific skills in this instance is just creepy, at the very least.

My interpretation of Barbara Gordon has never been based in the reality that she has incredibly powerful, romantic infatuations with Batman. I understand where one may think that such feelings could appear, but I think that the character always works better when she's the epitome of individualism and confidence. Barbara works hard to become the hero she knows she can be, despite her father's reservations over the actions of vigilantes. She becomes a solid figure in the Batman mythos that not only Batman can rely on, but that characters like Nightwing, Red Hood, Red Robin, and more seek guidance and advice from, and even a figure that Gotham City can rally behind more than Batman. Because Batgirl is personal, she's quirky, she's headstrong, she's confident, she's kind, she's daring. She's everything that 1970's DC comics wrote into one character: adventurous and fun. She's not a sexually-challenged lackey that Batman keeps behind his cape. At least, that's never how I saw her.