Superman & Lois Continues To Be The Superman We Need

 The fanboys were in a tizzy this week as it was announced that David Corenswet will play Superman in James Gunn's upcoming Superman: Legacy. People online debated whether Henry Cavill should have stayed or whether audiences will even turn out to see this newest interpretation of the Man of Steel on the big screen.  Meanwhile, on the small screen, we have continued to get a solid Kal-El for three seasons in the form of Tyler Hoechlin on Superman & Lois.

The CW series was on the rocks as to whether it would return for a fourth season. The show is CW's #1 show, but also its most expensive. With The CW cancelling shows, and knowing an integrated DC Universe was coming, I knew this series would not have a long run, but I was hoping for another season before we get a new live-action Superman in Corenswet. And then word came down from high that we will get a shortened season four with a smaller budget, and possibly losing some supporting characters because of the money constraints. No matter what, I am excited for this show to return for one more season. Since the season one episode where Clark tells his son about the struggle he faces every time he puts on that suit, and the complete control he must have every time he does, I knew the people making this series get what Superman truly is, and where the character's strengths lie. 

Season 3 gave us a great Superman story. People say the character isn't interesting because he's too powerful and perfect.  But that is what makes a good Superman tale. In this season, his wife, Lois Lane, is diagnosed with cancer.  This isn't some villain trying to take over the world or destroy Metropolis. This is something Superman can't fight.  The most powerful being in the world is helpless to save his wife. That is a good Superman fable. You give him something he can't fight, like his father having a heart attack.  You make this alien human.  And then you have a scene where his sons argue with him about using Kryptionian technology to help, but come to find out Lois and Clark have made the decision not to use it, because it wouldn't be fair to all the other millions of people who have cancer.

My favorite scene this entire season was the diner scene. Clark is frustrated with his wife being sick and comes to find out a man hit his son and pulled a gun on his wife. He walks into that diner, knowing he could kill this man with his pinkie.  But he doesn't. He barely touches him. The control Clark has to have in that moment is remarkable. 

As good as season three is, it does have a few faults for me. Lex Luthor came into the season with two episodes left.  Instead of focusing on Bruno Mannheim most of the season I thought Lex should have been brought in sooner. Although the idea of a man just trying to save his wife from cancer by using any means at his disposal was interesting. The new actor playing Jonathan Kent took some getting used too. But now I think I like this actor better than the other. As for Jordan, well, I've always thought Jordan was a little bitch, and when he started to disobey his parents, I would have taken him to the Fortress of Solitude and put him in a crystal like in Superman II until he gained some perspective. John Henry and Lana hooking up I called back in season 2, and I could care less about Kyle and Chrissy.

They brought back Bizarro in the season finale and did something interesting. The season two premiere saw a beast coming out of the ground, which I thought was Doomsday, and I thought it was too early to bring that character into the series. But the creators tricked us when under the suit was Bizarro. But now, they've almost walked that deception back, and turned Bizzaro into Doomsday. Honestly, I'm not thrilled with it. I think fighting a newly brain-washed Bizarro would have been sufficient. Plus, less costly to the budget. But that last shot of the two characters about to rumble on the moon was cool. My favorite live-action version of Doomsday is still from the Syfy series Krypton.

This season of Superman & Lois gave us a very human story. And that's what this series continues to do. It tells the tale of a man who is burdened with being the most powerful being in the world, but can't save everyone, even those closest to him. Clark is constantly being told by people what he should do but tries to continue to do what he feels is right, and protect all life, not matter how hard it is. I'm going to miss this Superman, and I can only hope James Gunn is going to give us one who, as Mark Waid once wrote, doesn't make the 'Super' more important than the 'man'.

The Flash Can't Seem To Find It's Footing

I like the character The Flash. I'm a big fan of Geoff Johns time writing the character, and one of the storylines he wrote being Flashpoint, the book this film is based on. I was also a fan of The Flash TV series, which, like a lot of TV shows, continued way longer than it should of.  Flashpoint was a way for DC Comics to do one of their patented reboots of their universe, and with the upcoming regime change at DC Studios, I expected this film to kind of do the same for the DC film universe. This movie was originally supposed to be released in 2018.  It was announced during the first season of The Flash and now being released after a nine-season run of The CW series has ended.  This film went through several writers, several directors, and a lot of personal trouble from the film's star, Ezra Miller. Some thought The Flash was never going to be released.  But now that it has, was the marathon it took to get to this finish line worth it?

The last time we saw Ezra Miller on the big screen as Flash was 2017's Justice league.  Miller was the comic relief in a film that had it's own production drama. I didn't mind Miller's character in the film, but I thought he in no way represented who Barry Allen is. Grant Gustin plays it a little closer to Barry's personality on The CW show, however, Miller's Flash entertained me, and that's the most important thing. In The Flash, Barry is supposed to have been the Flash for over two years now, and still acts like a newbie. Granted, he knows how to do a few things, but his attitude as a hero is ridiculous. Which comes to a head when he talked to Bruce about going back in time and changing reality, warning him of the consequences. In the original storyline, Barry goes back in time to save his mother in a moment of weakness, out of nowhere, but Batman just told Barry not to do it, and then five minutes later he does it. 

So Barry puts a can of tomatoes in a shopping cart, and causes a ripple effect in time that evidently made Ben Affleck turn into Michael Keaton. In the original Flashpoint story, Barry's actions cause time ripples like Kal-El's ship not landing in Kansas, or Bruce Wayne dying instead of his parents in that alley. But I'm not sure how a person gets a completely different look. I knew Keaton was put in the film just as a nostalgia cash-grab, but he just logically seems out of place. Had they knew they needed a Batman, and found Keaton's from another reality, I would have accepted that better than, "well we wanted Michael Keaton back as Batman. So we just did it."

Sasha Calle plays Kara Zor-El in this film, aka Supergirl.  Though, her look is more like Lara Lane-Kent, the multiversal daughter of Clark Kent and Lois Lane. To me, Supergirl was the standout in this film with little actual screen time. In the original Flashpoint, Kal-El's ship landed in Metropolis instead of Smallville. It killed thousands of people, and he spent his entire life as a lab rat, and never became Superman. Kara Zor-El left Krypton as a teenager, allegedly charged to look after baby Kal when they both got to Earth. In this film, Kal was intercepted by Zod, who killed him, and Kara was captured by Russians and tortured for 30 years.  So why is she still a teenager?  Also, wasn't Zod supposed to be trapped in the Phantom Zone when their ships left Krypton?  I know you can say "multiverse" as your plot hole, but at least tell us if Canon is different. Kara is also allegedly in possession of the Codex, the thing Zod was looking for in Man of Steel. The McGuffin of the entire first DCEU film, that has stll led to nothing after 10 years of stories.  

The conclusion of this film is finding out this new reality's Barry is the bad guy, or Savitar.  And basically, that is what this film comes down to for me.  This film has had a long road with multiple creatives working on it for years, and it just feels like a blend of all these ideas that never meshed. The film was at constant war with its plots and characters.  I've not only seen Flashpoint in the comics, but also I've seen it on TV and in an animated movie. This was the worst version. I've seen Barry Allen in live-action for years.  I've even seen future Barry try to fight past Barry as Savitar. And I know, a lot of general audiences didn't watch The Flash TV series, and don't have these comparisons, but I can't watch the Ben Affleck Daredevil film because the Charlie Cox version is so superior. I can't watch Val Kilmer or George Clooney as Batman because I feel they are inferior to other versions. That's the life we live as fans of properties that have been around for generations.

And as I just said above, this film just seems inferior to what it could have been. They made CGI pictures of past DC film characters, when just images from those films and series I think would have been better. Actually, put CGI characters of possible future films and let audiences see that. A Michael B. Jordan Superman project has been rumored. Show a fake version of that and let people go nuts wondering if it will ever come to fruition.  This film looked back when it should have looked forward.  The Clooney cameo was a fun, cheeky, laugh.  It was a waste of scene between Bruce and Barry where Barry tells him about all the possible multiverses out there, one of which could be describing the forthcoming DCU cinematic universe. The post credit scene with Jason Momoa could have got people excited for the upcoming Aquaman sequel, a film that needs all the good buzz it can muster, but instead it was a pointless scene that made Arthur Curry look like a drunken idiot rather than King of the Seven Seas. 

I always believe you should judge a film on what it is, and not what you want it to be.  But within this film I saw the sections where they could have done something different and chose what they chose, and thus made it a lesser film. And maybe that's because I've seen other versions and have seen what is possible with the Flash and Flashpoint. When I boil it down this film is another good idea that wasn't executed properly.  And so, it never gets a chance to reach its top speed. 

  

Superman & Lois Season 2: Bizarro Bugaloo

 As far back as I can remember Superman has been my favorite superhero.  Which is why sometimes I can judge his adaptations more harshly than some others.  When Tyler Hoechlin was announced to play Superman in the second season of Supergirl I was unfamiliar with the actor.  After seeing his first few episodes I thought he did a fine job as the Man of Steel, but not great. Plus, he seemed a little short. Then the announcement came that he was getting his own show beside his Lois Lane co-star, Elizabeth Tulloch.  Again, I wasn't thrilled with these versions of the characters, but I was happy Superman was getting some attention after Henry Cavill's portrayal left Warner Bros treating the character almost like a pariah.  

The first season of Superman & Lois was a pleasant surprise to me.  We saw Clark and Lois moving back to Smallville, being parents with teenage boys, and one even developing his own powers.  It still had that CW/Arrowverse feel to it, but with a little more in my eyes like better effects.  Plus, the series seemed to distance itself from the rest of the Arrowverse with almost no references aside from a brief appearance by David Ramsey playing John Diggle. A cameo that didn't even need to be in the episode.  I think my enjoyment from this series really owes a lot to my age.  As a Superman fan I'm now at the point in my life where I am raising my own child and juggling a work-to-family life balance.  Much like how Smallville related to me being a teenager navigating my way through the world at the same time Tom Welling's Clark Kent was.  

As I said, the first season of this Superman series left me enthusiastic about a second season, especially with the additions of John Henry Irons and his daughter; Natalie. And much like how season one tried to trick us into thinking The Stranger was Lex Luthor, the creators also tried to trick us into thinking Doomsday was coming.  And fell for it hook, line, and sinker.  I didn't like the idea of bringing in such a definitive character so early in the series, and apparently neither did the showrunners.  It was revealed that the creature giving Clark headaches was a version of the character Bizarro, that set-up this season's overall story arc.

In season two a character known as Ally Allston is looking to merge with her alternate self from another world, and bring the two worlds together, thus merging every two people into one.  But we were never told what actual consequences this would have.  Would each one be as powerful as Ally? Would someone need the pendant to have that power?  I just never truly got the big ramifications of making the two worlds one, or why Ally even wanted to do it? After she had merged, she was all-powerful.  What else does she want?  Why merge the worlds?  The idea just doesn't sit right with me.

One the other side of this season is the Lane family dealing with Lucy, who was brought into Ally's cult and believed in her to the point of turning against her family at every turn.  I was honestly disappointed when Ally turned out to be the big powerful villain Superman has to defeat in this season.  Ally started off as someone who Lois was trying to deal with to get her sister back, but then became Superman's problem, leaving Lois kind of in the dust for the rest of this season.  

Season 2 saw our supporting characters struggle as well.  Jordan was dealing with whether to tell Sarah his secret or not.  Jonathan had to accept being the powerless brother, and the Cushing's struggled to get back together as a family after Kyle's deceit. Lana, Sarah, and Chrissy also all learned about Clark's secret identity. This is a story point that doesn't sit well with me. Arrow and The Flash started to lose its luster when so many people knew the main hero's alter ego, and their homebases became very crowded.  I'm glad Sarah knows about Jordan because after many seasons of Smallville I've see the teenage hero hide his secret from his would-be-girlfriend already, and that went on for too long as is.  But Lana and Chrissy knowing I think could hurt the series in the long run as it's only a matter of time before all the main characters know Clark is Superman, which is really just Kyle at this point.

However, the real short coming of this season was the release schedule.  I count almost five breaks in twenty-five weeks for the 15-episode season. This kept me having to try and remember what was happening in the series after weeks of not having a new episode.  I think it interrupted the flow of the season, and possibly lessened my interest in the story. I also could never remember when new episodes aired. 

But don't get me wrong. This season had some great moments like the submarine save, and Lois reminding Clark that Superman isn't just about saving people, he's about giving them hope.  I'm very interested in what's to come for season 3.  What's Tal up to in the other world?  Will Clark's major exposure to sun rays affect him long-term like in Grant Morrison's All-Star Superman?  Is John Henry and John Diggle about to team-up like an 80's action movie?  And how does Aquaman feel about Superman setting up his new clubhouse in the middle of the ocean? I don't expect that last question to be answered, but it'd be cool if it did.  This season I felt wasn't as strong as its predecessor but was still solid enough to get me to watch season 3.  I just hope that as The CW and Arrowverse seems to be falling, Superman & Lois continues to fly up, up, and away.

The Problem With Doomsday

WARNING:  This post contains SPOILERS for the season 2 premiere of Superman & Lois!

I would like to think of myself as a bigger Superman fan than the average Joe.  I've been following/reading Superman comics since The Death of Superman event that started 30 years ago this November. This storyline introduced us to a villain known as Doomsday. It was later that we would find out this creature had Kryptonian origins and would be responsible for the death of The Man of Steel.  It is arguably the biggest event in comics history.  Since then, Doomsday has been used in DC Comics in many ways as the big boogie man for not only Kal-El but also other heroes in the DCU.  Doomsday has also been used in other mediums. Superman/Doomsday, Justice League Unlimited, Smallville, Krypton, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a just some of the times Doomsday has shown up on screens big and small.  But with a character like this I feel like he is a crux that some creators lean on too quickly when making a Superman story.  I was quite shocked when Zack Snyder put Doomsday in the second installment of a new Superman movie franchise.  Doomsday is a third, fourth, or even fifth film villain I believe.  It's not a second film, or even second season, villain for The Man of Tomorrow.

In the season premiere of Superman & Lois earthquakes begin to happen in Smallville.  At the end of the episode, we see a hand punch out of rock deep beneath Smallville quarry.  Wearing a greenish outfit, and given that it's buried deep in the Earth, most people assume it's none other than Doomsday himself come to take on Tyler Hoechlin's Superman for this season of The CW series.  But my question is why introduce the biggest storyline in Superman mythology, his greatest battle, in just season 2 of a TV series?  I'm assuming since this is a more seasoned Superman that he's faced most of his rogue's gallery like Metallo and Brainiac (even though Supergirl used a lot of Superman characters and storylines) but it seems he has not yet faced his own death.  

My other worry is that if we're about to get Superman vs Doomsday it will need good special effects to do it justice.  Even though I thought Doomsday was used way too soon in the DCEU, Doomsday did look good, and its battle with DC's Trinity had an epic feel.  The series Smallville brought the character of Doomsday in on season 8 of the series and was played by Sam Witer with a dual identity plot.  But every time he fought Tom Welling it just wasn't satisfying on a CW series budget.  While Superman & Lois I feel has better effects than most Arrowverse series the creators would have to blow an entire season's budget to make it the epic battle it deserves.  To be honest, my favorite version of the fight between Superman and Doomsday is in the animated film, The Death of Superman. 

 The Syfy series Krypton also brought in the character of Doomsday in its second season.  The show was a prequel set on the not-yet-destroyed planet but saw Doomsday's Kryptonian origins.  Bringing in the creature that killed Superman is kind of top-of-the-hill as far as storylines go.  Something that can kill The Last Son of Krypton is the biggest challenge.  As excited as I was to see Doomsday brought to this series, I thought they were writing themselves into a corner much too soon. When Superman fought Zod and his gang of Kryptonians in his first film, Man of Steel, I thought they started too high on the difficulty level. Metallo, Lex Luthor, Parasite; these are more Earth-based smaller villains that can start a new Superman series and then you work your way up to the bigger villains like Zod, Brainiac, Darkseid, and Doomsday.  At least Smallville waited eight years. The last few Superman interpretations can't seem to wait till year 3.  

Now, personally, I don't see Doomsday as Superman's greatest villain.  To me, that title goes to Darkseid.  He's almost as smart as Lex Luthor, and almost as strong as Doomsday.  Superman stands for hope and freedom, while Darkseid stands for fear and oppression.  But Doomsday is a force of nature that (at first appearance) doesn't think, doesn't sleep, and doesn't tire. It just destroys.  Bringing in a force of nature like that so early in a fresh Superman TV (or film) series I feel like gives you little room to one-up the stakes for what we all would hope to be many more seasons. 

Showrunner Tom Belbing has confirmed we will get a full reveal of Doomsday by episode 3 this season, but where are they going with it?  One theory I have is that they may do the full Death/Reign/Return of Superman in this series.  In the comics, Superman's death brings four other characters in to try and replace him.  The phrase "Eradicator" has been brought up in the series.  John Henry Irons a.k.a. "Steel" is already here, and we have a "Superboy" as well. If they wanted to do a version of Reign of the Supermen all they would need to bring in is the villainous "Cyborg Superman". Tackling that three-part storyline over the course of one or two seasons of TV would be something I am interested in.  However, like I've said, a good budget (and story) is needed to do it right.  I just hope the super creators realize it.

Superman & Lois has been my favorite interpretation of the character in a while.  His speech to Jordan in episode 6 last season about the responsibility he feels every time he steps out as Superman was perfect! I think the writers really get what the Man of Steel stands for, and how his relationship with Lois fits into it.  I just hope they have the next three season already planned and bringing in Doomsday is the beginning of great foes, and not the best villain Tyler Hoechlin will have in this series.

15 Hottest Super-Girls On The CW

I know it is has been a really long time since I wrote an actual blog post.  Usually I just re-post my podcast onto this site.  But every once-in-a-while a subject comes along I feel is better to list rather than do an audio version of.

A few days ago I stumbled upon an article by the website The Richest.  It was about who they thought the 15 hottest women were in The CW's DC Shared Universe.  I'm not sure how old the list was, but it listed actors and characters from the JSA, which is featured on this season's Legends of Tomorrow, so it must be recent.  However, I wondered why it didn't include actresses from Supergirl.  Sure it's a "different Earth", but we all know Kara is showing up on the 4-part crossover episodes coming up, which just happens to be Arrow's 100th episode.

In any event, as I looked over The Richest list I seemed to have a different opinion on the order of the list and who was on it.  Moira McQueen and Gideon the future computer?  Come on!  As a guy who has watched this universe grow from episode 1 of Arrow I know there have been a lot more beautiful women to cross paths with Oliver and Barry than an A.I.  

So, with that in mind I came up with my own list.  Call it sexist, or that I'm way too bored, but I figure if Maxim can come up with their own Hot 100 every year, I can do one list that's full of comic book babes!

15)Audrey Marie Anderson(Lyla Michaels)

Lyla is now married John Diggle(for the 2nd time), and they have a son(former daughter) together.  She's became the director of A.R.G.U.S. after Amanda Waller was assassinated and is one of the many women on this list I would not mess with!

14)Ciara Renee(Kendra Saunders/Hawkgirl)

As a waitress at Jitters she was a crush for Cisco Ramone, but after she learned of her past lives she has embraced her wings and her soul mate Carter Hall(minus marrying the Atom).  She's got a fierceness to her that seems animalistic.

13)Emily Bett Richards(Felicity Smoak/Overwatch)

While some people may have Felicity higher on their list I actually don't know think she is THAT hot.  What can I say, I like curves.  Plus, she's quite chatty, which is annoying for me.  And I can't forget that her romance with Oliver known as "Olicity" is what is mostly to blame for the downfall of Arrow in my opinion.

12) Melissa Benoist(Kara Danvers/Supergirl)

He's no Laura Vanderboot, but this Supergirl has that girl-next-door charm that makes a Midwestern boy like me turn smitten.  She has her annoying moments, but I'd still let her rescue me if I could call it a date.

11) Chyler Leigh(Alex Danvers)

Meet Supergirl's sister.  She's smart, formidable, and doesn't give a crap if your a billionaire Maxwell Lord(whatever happened to him?).  I like a little fight in my beauty and Alex has plenty of that.

10) Megalyn Echikunwoke(Mari McCabe/Vixen)

Just a city boy(girl), born and raised in south Detroit......Mari is more known for the 5th(and lesser known) DC show from the CW; Vixen.  It's animated on The CW Seed and the first season is only 30 minutes long, but the actress also guest starred on an episode of Arrow in season 4 to bring this character to live-action.  I was impressed, and it seems others were as well since she is now featured on Legends of Tomorrow.  Just by a different character and actress.

9)Katrina Law(Nyssa Al Ghul)

She's more likely the spear me than kiss me.  I like that in a woman.

8) Maise Richardson-Sellers(Amaya Jiwe/Vixen)

While she's only been in 2 episodes of Legends of Tomorrow Vixen seems quite the counterpart to Mari, and I'm interested in getting to know her better.  And so is Ray Palmer I think. 

7) Candice Patton(Iris West)

In season 1 of The Flash I felt like Iris was just as useless as Laurel was in season 1 of Arrow. But once she learned Barry's secret she became a better character and has grown ever since.  DC Comics even changed the ethnicity of Iris to match Candice, and then they changed it back.  Not sure what that is all about.

6) Danielle Panabaker(Kaitlin Snow/Killer Frost)

Redhead: CHECK  Intelligent:  CHECK.  Likes the cold:  CHECK.  As a guy who grew up in the snow and loves hockey I can get behind Caitlin Snow.  I seriously wasn't trying to make an innuendo as I wrote that I swear.  

5) Willa Holland(Thea Queen/Speedy)

Much like Laurel, I thought Thea was annoying until she learns who her father was and started her Jedi training.  She then became a strong female character I could see myself sparring with.  Honestly, I'm not trying to be gross. 

4) Katie Cassidy(Laurel Lance/Black Canary)

Let's just flash forward to season 4 when Laurel became comfortable with who she was.  I always felt like after being Oliver's love interest in season 1 the show runners had no idea what to do with her.  Maybe that's why they made her an alcoholic, swore to avenge her sister's death, and then eventually got killed off.  But before her murder, I enjoyed the woman Laurel had become.  Out of the game FMK, I'd do Thea, kill Felicity, and marry Laurel.  

3)Janina Gavankar(Detective McKenna Hall)

Shivakamini Somakandarkram!  Before I saw her become an iconic trophy on FX's The League I saw her as a young detective on Arrow.  She had a brief relationship with Oliver, but she was memorable enough to see why five guys would name a fantasy football trophy after this actress. Am I right?

  

2) Shantel VanSanten(Patty Spivots)

I had no idea this actress was on another show I used to watch; One Tree Hill.  Probably because she came on the show after it turned to crap and I stopped watching.  But I don't blame Patty.  She was Barry's season 2 rebound to get over Iris, before he eventually went back to Iris.  She was a little nerdy like he was, but could handle herself as a member of the CCPD.  I miss her.

1)Caity Lotz(Sara Lance/White Canary)  

Season 2 of Arrow is everyone's favorite of the series, and Sara Lance's return as the Black Canary we all know was a big part of it.  She and Oliver's relationship just made sense after their shared life experience.  A lot better than Oliver and Felicity.  It was a stupid mistake to kill her in season 3 just to give Laurel something to do, but I am glad she back into this universe.  She's the main reason I stick with Legends of Tomorrow.  Smart, mysterious, and can kick my ass in 3 seconds.  Done!

DC's TV Universe Soars Higher Than Movies

San Diego Comic-Con 2013:  DC Comics and Warner Bros announced the production of a Batman vs Superman film.  Two years later: we still have to wait another year.  This film will continue DC's Cinematic Universe that started with Man of Steel back in 2013.  However, by the time WB gets their second DC movie out starring Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman the world will have already spent four years becoming attached to Green Arrow, The Flash, the Atom, and a lot of other DC characters that aren't considered the "World's Finest."

Yesterday, a trailer dropped for the new CW series, DC's Legends of Tomorrow.  This will be the second spin-off series that takes place in the shared universe that Arrow started in 2012.  In it's third season, Arrow was joined by it's first spin-off, The Flash.  With only one season under it's belt The Flash has become enough of a hit too green-light another Arrow spin-off.  And why not?  This season, between the two shows, we were introduced to DC alumni like Atom, Black Canary, Firestorm, and Captain Cold.  This universe is expanding like the big bang, and it's only going to get bigger.

Man of Steel wasn't DC and WB's first attempt to make a shared universe.  In 2011, Green Lantern was supposed to ignite the DC Cinematic Universe, but the film was a social disaster.  As Warner Bros regrouped to try again, Marvel Studios released The Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and has enough of head start to take a multi-year nap while DC tries to catch up.  Green Lantern writer, Greg Berlanti, along with several others, turned their focus to television. In season two, Arrow introduced a young Barry Allen, which hit new ratings highs for the series.  Soon a Flash spin-off was in production.  With the success of The Flash, Berlanti has become a TV genie, and created a grand shared universe the DC films have yet to accomplish.

Last Fall, several other TV series were released with other DC characters.  NBC's Constantine has been cancelled, and while Fox's Gotham has been renewed for a second season I stopped watching after episode two.  Constantine sadly wasn't superhero-ish enough for today's audience, and who wants to watch a Batman show without Batman? Greg Berlanti has another show coming out this Fall; CBS's Supergirl.  The first extended preview did not impress me, but the second, shorter, trailer made it seem a little better.   But so far, it is said that Supergirl will not connect to The CW's Arrow-verse.

In my opinion, Marvel is succeeding in their shared universe because they are making movies everyone can enjoy.  Some people like the Captain America films, while others prefer the Iron Man trilogy.  And each Marvel film expands the mythology of the universe.  The CW's DC shows are also doing this.  Arrow has a darker, more serious, tone with a few jokes thrown in.  While The Flash has a lighter tone.  Both of these are reflective of their main characters; Oliver Queen and Barry Allen.  DC's Legends of Tomorrow will expand the Arrow-verse even more.  And 22 episodes gives us a lot more time to learn and love characters than a two hour movie.

  While I will admit these shows aren't quit the same quality of Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, or Breaking Bad, the characters and story lines are good enough to suck anyone into this universe. So the big screen can have their Dark Knight, Man of Steel, and Amazon Princess.  I'm more excited to see what Berlanti has in store for the Emerald Archer, Scarlet Speedster, and the rest of DC's B-team .  I would have loved to have see this new series be called something along the lines of "Justice Society" because I know a "Justice League" movie is already planned, but I'm itching to see a 3-episode crossover with all 3-shows that run like a big 3-hour film.  This is what shared universes are all about, and The CW is hitting their mark better than even Marvel TV.

'The Flash' Peeks At The Finish Line From The Starting Line

After months of waiting The Flash finally premiered tonight on The CW.  I've spent the last few days browsing through some of my Flash graphic novels, mostly those written by Geoff Johns.  I also hopped on YouTube to catch some clips of Grant Gustin on season 2 of Arrow, which full episodes become available on Netflix tomorrow.  I've enjoyed watching Arrow the last few years, and being that the Flash is one of my favorite superheroes I was more than psyched for tonight's pilot.

Barry Allen is a forensic assistant for the Central City Police Department.  When Barry was 11-years-old his mother was murdered and his father was convicted for it.  But Barry saw something that night; something he can't explain.  Fast forward to present day and Barry wakes up from a 9 month coma after being struck by lightening.  He has super healing and super speed, but Barry's not the only guy in town with impossible abilities.  Barry must enlist the help of his S.T.A.R. Labs cohorts to stop a man who can control the weather. 

Tonight's episode was allegedly an extended edition of the pilot.  I hope that extended part was the first five minutes, because it was the worst part about the whole episode.  Those five minutes set-up Barry's life pre-powers.  I can see why this might help someone who is not familiar with Flash, or didn't see Grant Gustin on Arrow.  However, almost everything in those minutes were either repeated or not necessary.  When I re-watch this episode I'm doing the 2-part arch on Arrow and then start with Barry waking up; like the series should have.

Now that I have my gripe out of the way; I LOVED IT!!!  Gustin played a young Barry perfectly, but I already had faith in him after his guest starring role on Arrow.  His relationship with not only Iris, but all the other characters, seemed to click.  Barry has always been a comic book character who is hopeful.  While Warner Bros is setting up all the DC films to be all the same tone I'm glad to see that show creators, Andrew Kreisberg and Greg Berlanti, know Barry is a totally different person from Oliver Queen.  Therefore we know this will be a totally different show than Arrow.

The episode is laced with Easter eggs. WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.  The most obvious is that the man who played Barry Allen on television 20 years ago,  John Wesley Shipp, is now playing Barry's dad.  As Barry and Harrison walk through S.T.A.R. Labs we see a busted cage labeled "GRODD."  This references Gorilla Grodd, a long-time villain of the Flash who is a giant, intelligent, ape.  I smell a Flash/Planet of the Apes crossover joke somewhere in there. We also meet a lot of characters from the comic book series, and being privileged to know their supposed fates, I can't wait to see it unfold.  However, the best surprise was the final scene.

A paralyzed Dr. Harrison Wells enters a room, but then walks over to a digital newspaper from ten years into the future headlining a Wayne Tech/ Queen Industries merger, but also a Flash death via 'Crisis.' In Crisis on Infinite Earths, Barry Allen sacrifices himself to save all of reality.  It's one of the most iconic moments in comic book history, and something that would not be rectified until Barry's return in Final Crisis over two decades later.  This says to me that not only will this show stay true to the Flash mythology, but that they've already got their series ending planned out should the series go ten seasons like Smallville.

The Flash pilot seems to be a great jump-start to this series.  I like the tone, the effects, and so far, the actors.  As Barry explores his powers he'll find out that he can not only phase through solid objects, but also travel through time.  This power will eventually help him solve his mother's murder.  The show's possibilities, like Barry's powers, are limitless.  Now I am only praying we get a Arrow/Flash Justice League episode(s) in a few years.  As of right now I feel like it'll be way more interesting than whatever Zach Snyder has planned.

CW's 'The Flash' Can Not Get Here Quick Enough

Being that I'm an open comic book fan I occasionally get the question every fan boy gets, "Who's you're favorite superhero?"  For any true believer it's a loaded question.  I personally kind of have a Top 5 list, with the 5th spot always rotating depending on my mood and who's writing what at that present time.  I really liked Green Lantern when Geoff Johns was writing the book, and nobody does Captain America better than Ed Brubaker.  As for my other four spots,  everyone knows I'm a rabid X-Men and Superman fan.  And because I'm a swimmer I've also always had an affinity for Aquaman.  But my 4th spot goes to The Flash.  

I've kind of always assumed my love of The Flash came from the idea that I've always been compared to him.  I was the kind of kid who couldn't sit still, even in my sleep. During my teenage years I was always rushing from one thing to the next, and in my later years of college my nickname was "Impulse".  You'll have to ask my friends Albert and Andrew about that one.  I also remember watching The Flash TV series back in the 90's starring John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen and Mark Hamill as The Trickster.

Growing up in the 1990's Wally West was The Flash so I never really knew Barry Allen.  In 2009, writer Geoff Johns brought back Barry in Flash: Rebirth (or technically Final Crisis) after a 20-year absence from comics.  Again, I never knew Barry, but I immediately grew fond of him.  Of course it's hard not to love any character Johns writes.  This last year Barry Allen appeared on an episode of Arrow and now he's getting his own spin-off on The CW this Fall.  A little over a week ago an extended trailer for the series was released, and I can't stop watching it!

The show will star Grant Gustin, who I had never seen in anything before his appearance on Arrow.  His 2-episode arc made me like Gustin as Barry, but the extended trailer has me excited to see him play The Flash.  John Wesley Shipp is even making an appearance as Barry's dad!  In Barry's origin story his father is framed for his mother's murder and Barry spends his life trying to prove his dad's innocence, which puts him in the Central City crime lab when he is struck by lightning.  

Gustin will be surrounded by an array of supporting cast.  Catlin Snow, Cisco Ramon, and Eddie Thawne are all characters appearing in the series, and all end up becoming villains in the comic books.  Relative unknown, Candice Patton, will play Iris West, Barry's future wife in the comics.  However, it appears in the series they're just friends(for now). But, if you follow The New 52(ugh) then he and Iris are just friends(for now).  Tom Cavanagh and Jesse L. Martin are the veterans who I believe will compliment this young ensemble nicely.

What really gets me excited about this series is how much it feels like The Flash.  It appears that they got the origin right; which I hope they don't give away the twist too soon in the series.  The special effects look cool, and the poses we see in the extended trailer look like they jumped right out of the comic books.  Finally, I like Grant Gustin.  Barry has this high sense of morality that makes him seem a little naive and I think Gustin plays it perfectly.  

Being that I've read quite a few Flash comic books I'm excited for where this show can go.  Eventually, Barry's friends could become his enemies, his best friend could become his wife, and SPOILER, he'll learn that his mother's death could be his fault!  But I'm getting a head of myself.  I hope they hold out that last one until at least the season 2 finale.

Now, remember, The Flash is also a spin-off of Arrow, and we can already see from the extended trailer Oliver Queen shows up for a visit, which probably won't be his last.  Given my disappointment with how Warner Bros is handling the DC cinematic universe I'm more hopeful for it's television universe.  I know their is no possibility of Barry showing up in Gotham on Fox, but if Hal Jordan popped up in Arrow or The Flash I may just have a nerd-gasm. And if you ask my friend Albert we're both praying hard for a Tom Welling visit.

If I were running The CW I would do a special airing of The Flash about a month or so before the actual Fall premiere just to get the buzz going.  But, until then, it looks like I'll just have to watch this trailer a couple dozen more times and hope that at some point we see Barry's costume pop out of his ring! Now that would definitely make me have a nerd-gasm!