Communication is key in any relationship, no matter how unconventional and complicated the connection may be. In tonight’s episode of Cloak & Dagger, “Call/Response”, Tandy and Tyrone finally get to talk privately about their experiences dealing with their new powers.
Aubrey Joseph & Olivia Holt (Freeform/Alfonso Bresciani)
Tandy (Olivia Holt) and Tyrone’s (Aubrey Joseph) confessing conversation is intertwined throughout the episode, as we watch their individual yin-yang relationships, getting close to someone. One relationship flourishes, while the other ends way too soon. Yet another opposite-themed story that this show thrives on.
We also get to learn a little about the Wild Red Hawks, a true slice of New Orleans life. The intricate beadwork of their Mardi Gras costumes is remarkable and interesting. It also gives us an introduction to the article of clothing that Tyrone will use as his namesake. This is definitely something I’m more interested in seeing more of in future episodes.
Aubrey Joseph (Freeform/Alfonso Bresciani)
Corporate scumbags Roxxon Corporation will do anything to keep the secrets of the night of the oil rig explosion under wraps. Tandy teams with her mother’s slimy but sweet adulterous lawyer boyfriend to take down the business. Their endgame is similar. Greg (Gary Weeks) simply wants to get the money that Melissa (Andrea Roth) is entitled to, but Tandy also wants to know what was happened that night that gave her and Tyrone their powers. What caused that power surge? Was it really just the storm, or is there something more?
Racial profiling is touched on lightly. Tyrone has expressed that, though he comes from a wealthy family, his race holds him down. “I’m a young black man in the south. They see me, they see a thug.” He tells Tandy that’s why she’s so good at conning people; they trust her. This show, and the Marvel story in general, has broken these stereotypes, and I’m curious as to how this topic will come into play in their future.
Suicide is another taboo topic discussed tonight, and Tandy makes an attempt. Her glowing dagger appears when, as she says, “shit hits the fan.” Will her dagger save her from herself?
Olivia Holt (Freeform/Alfonso Bresciani)
The two seem to be gaining some understanding and control of their lives and their powers. With this, what will they do in order to gain the information they’re both seeking?
The CW superhero shows have all wrapped their latest seasons. We have been recapping SUPERGIRL, THE FLASH, and ARROW weekly through the year. Now that the seasons have concluded, which show had the strongest season?
After six seasons on air, ARROW is showing signs of weakness. The show made a curious choice to take the focus off of Green Arrow. Shifting the story of the crusading vigilante to a new father drama really did not work. This may have been the season that puts ARROW at the bottom slot of the Arrowverse.
None of the characters have especially compelling storylines. Oliver, the titular Green Arrow, didn’t even get much action. The character spent too much time being a struggling mayor, and the title ‘ARROW’ felt like a misnomer. Diggle and Felicity get lost in Oliver’s generic storyline. The side characters were mostly given rehashes of their initial struggles. There really wasn’t a single hero that could hold the season on their shoulders.
ARROW also suffered from a severe lack of a strong villain. Even with a gaggle of baddies, none of them were all that fearsome. Black Siren and Vigilante, two returning villains, were rendered toothless, as the show turned them into more heroic heroes. Even Cayden James, the potentially biggest bad, was turned into a semi-bad dad before his demise. Diaz, meanwhile, failed to take his place as a truly intimidating figure. There was no villain that gave ARROW a good reason to fight for.
The closest ARROW came to a strong story arc was with the two Team Arrow conflicts. The rift between Oliver and the various sidekicks was a great way to cause variety. However, once that rift happened, it quickly became stale. It’s as if ARROW knew this inter-team struggle was the closest thing to an exciting conflict for its characters. The Team Arrow Civil War started good, but didn’t last.
This season was truly disappointing. As the first and flagship CW superhero show, ARROW should’ve been stronger. Unfortunately, the series had neither an active hero, nor a strong antagonist. For a season that promised going “back to basics,” this season felt more like an example of everything currently wrong with the show. Too many metas, too much soap opera drama… will ARROW ever go back to form? Or are the days of the great Green Arrow gone?
Popcorn Frights Film Festivals returns to South Florida for its 4th year of unleashing terror on the pristine shores of the sunshine state and this year is no different with movies like Anna and the Apocalypse, a new Puppet Master, and Boogeyman Pop from Blumhouse.
“This summer will see a fury of cinematic terror
unlike Florida has ever seen!” – Popcorn Frights
Last year I reported about the Popcorn Frights festival for the first time, and I’m still talking about some of the great films curated by founders Igor Shetyrenberg and Marc Ferman. The festival last year featured Mayhem, the office-based action film directed by Joe Lynch who was also a guest. Dozens of horror films played throughout the six-day festival. And the press release for the first wave of announcements for the 2018 season already looks impressive. To add to the atmosphere, the festival takes place in its new home at Savor Cinema, a state-of-the-art theater that used to be a church.
Below are just a few of the films coming to the festival this summer.
Puppet Master: The Little Reich
During a road trip to a convention for the 30th Anniversary of the infamous Toulon Murders, a comic book nerd, his new girlfriend and his best friend come face to face with a set of sadistic Nazi puppets. All hell breaks loose when a strange force animates the puppets at the convention, setting them on a bloody killing spree that’s motivated by an evil as old as time.
Boogeyman Pop
In this striking Blumhouse production set over the course of one summer weekend, a bat-wielding, masked killer in a rusted-out black Cadillac weaves in and out of three interlocking stories awash in sex, drugs, punk rock, black magic, and broken homes.
Anna And The Apocalypse
In this gleeful genre-mashing holiday horror musical a zombie apocalypse threatens a sleepy town at Christmas forcing Anna and her high school friends to fight, sing, and slash their way to survival with a fast-spreading undead horde in relentless pursuit.
St. Agatha
Horror film impresario Darren Lynn Bousman (Saw II, III and IV) brings to life his latest nightmare, a period piece concerning a troubled woman running from her past who finds herself kept hostage by a coven of vicious nuns.
Wolfman’s Got Nards
A heartfelt documentary exploring the power of one of the strangest, scariest, and most iconic kids films to ever grace the silver screen — The Monster Squad — and its 30-year impact on its rabid fan base, the cast and crew, and the future of horror comedies.
HavanaDarkness – WORLD PREMIERE!
Touted as the first English language horror film to be shot in Cuba! Traveling to Havana, Cuba, to investigate the origins of a mysterious manuscript supposedly written by acclaimed American novelist, Ernest Hemingway, three friends are thrust into a terrifying game of cat and mouse when they find themselves trapped inside an abandoned building nestled in the center of the country’s vibrant capital.
Horror Classics!
Perhaps the most exciting announcement so far, at least for slasher horror fans like me, is the event featuring Chuck Russell, director of Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors which includes screenings of the film and Russell’s other classic, The Blob (1988).
Boundaries is the perfect blend of a carefully crafted narrative with terrific performances, giving the audience perspective on pain that is authentic and lasting.
Writer/director Shana Feste sets out to showcase the imperfections which are becoming all too common in today’s modern family and how a lack of parental love can be damaging. Boundaries focuses on the origins of our demons and how they don’t necessarily come from a bottle. Sometimes the worst enemy we face is the inner turmoil inside our heads.
Vera Farmiga and Christopher Plummer
The film centers around the exploits of the Jaconi family. Laura (Vera Farmiga) is a complete mess. She’s starving for companionship and will compromise what she wants in the hopes of her latest boyfriend morphing into Prince Charming. Laura fosters numerous dogs and cats because she’s craving affection. Her son Henry (Lewis MacDougall) is quite the artist but has an unusual habit of drawing people naked (even if he hasn’t witnessed it firsthand). The combination of previous behavior choices and his odd habit are enough to get him expelled from school.
Needing to send her son to private school and lacking the funds to do so, Laura reaches out to Henry’s father, Leonard (Bobby Cannavale). Leonard suggests Laura call her father, Jack (Christopher Plummer), which she is hesitant to do. Eventually, she gives in and calls him only to find that he’s been kicked out of his retirement home due to illicit activities, such as selling pot to his neighbors. They come to an agreement where Laura will get the money she needs to send Henry to a private school in return for her driving Jack to California so he can live with Laura’s sister, JoJo (Kristen Schaal). They all hop into Laura’s sedan and begin a trek that they will never forget.
Christopher Plummer and Lewis MacDougall
Feste’s narrative is well-constructed and provides audience members with insight into what ails the Jaconi family. When Laura was growing up, Jack was more wrapped up in who his next buyer would be rather than raising his daughter probably, and the effects of Laura’s childhood left her emotionally stunted. She seems incapable of having a healthy relationship and is drawn to the wrong types of men. Leonard’s slick-talking ways were enough to woo her and cause their marriage to implode after the birth of Henry. With every broken relationship, Laura becomes more and more emotionally shut-off which indeed rubs off on Henry. Jack realizes what is happening but is at a loss for how to make things right. So he avoids the issue by continuing to build his successful drug business. JoJo has managed to stay relatively sane, but that’s because she never expected much from her dad.
Boundaries has tremendous chemistry which is the driving force behind its beautiful performances. Seeing Farmiga and Plummer go at each other was such a joy. The intensity of those exchanges allows the audience to immerse themselves in these deeply personal moments. Farmiga’s character feels like her life is adrift as she crashes into one catastrophe after another, and she doesn’t know how to get back on track.
Cannavale and Farmiga are also electric on screen. Leonard realizes that there is still a tiny spark between them and seeks to capitalize on that. Laura is incredibly vulnerable and dismisses the constant hints from her ex-husband that he’s terrible for her. This conflict leads Laura with a decision to make regarding her feelings for her ex and ultimately raises the questions of whether Jack can step up to be the father she needs. It all culminates in a thrilling moment, wherein Plummer unleashes one of the best lines of the film.
Sara Mishara’s cinematography is effective and uses numerous two-shots that frames specific scenes in such a way that they have a familial tone. Michael Penn’s music too has a pop feel to it but it melds well into the film. Overall, Boundaries is a compelling film which brings to light the importance of family and the lasting harm stemming from a lack of love. Feste isn’t trying to make any statements in the film but does show that how we act towards someone impacts that person’s perception and future down the road.
In the wake of Solo underperforming, Lucasfilm denies the Star Wars spin-offs are being cancelled. In fact, the studio says more films are in development.
It seems fans may yet see more of the galaxy far far away. We might even get more Star Wars spin offs. That is, assuming the recent talk is nothing more than rumours.
Since its release last month, Solo: A Star Wars Story has been disappointing, to say the least. The film’s box office is low, and the reviews are mixed. Word on the street is that all spin-offs were scrapped in response to Solo‘s poor reception.
According to ABC News, these reports of cancellation are not true. Yesterday, Lucasfilm called them “speculative at best” and “inaccurate.” The studio says there are “multiple” Star Wars films in the pipeline. However, they have yet to be officially announced.
Thanks to J.J. Abrams, Episode IX is coming to theatres in 2019. Director Rian Johnson has plans for a trilogy in the next few years. Details are scarce on this project, but we know it won’t have any connection to the main series. None of the current Star Wars leads will appear in Johnson’s films.
The real question is what becomes of the other spin-offs. James Mangold is set to direct a movie about Boba Fett. There’s an Obi-Wan Kenobi project in the works. This would have Ewan McGregor reprising his role from the prequels. There’s also a television series with Jon Favreau producing.
It remains to be seen what the other movies will be. There is hope we might get to see Donald Glover in a Lando Calrissian feature. Only time will tell.
DC Comics will begin selling “100-page giant comics” exclusively at Walmart starting July 1.
“Available for $4.99, each 100-page anthology features all-new stories written exclusively for these books by some of DC’s top creative talents,” reads the official press release. “Each title will also include additional story arcs drawn from fan-favorite DC eras such as the New 52, Rebirth and the New Age of DC Heroes.”
The four initial titles starting July 1 are: Superman Giant (written by Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Tom Derenick), Teen Titans Giant (written by Dan Jurgens with art by Scot Eaton), Batman Giant(written by Jimmy Palmiotti with art by Patrick “Patch” Zircher), and Justice League of America Giant (written by Tim Seeley with art by Rick Leonardi and Steve Buccellato). “Beginning in August, the Superman and Justice League of America titles will arrive in week one of each month, with the second pair, Batman and Teen Titans, arriving approximately two weeks later.”
In September, writers Tom King and Brian Michael Bendis will take over and begin 12-part stories in Superman Giant and Batman Giant, respectively.
“We are extraordinarily excited about working with Walmart to expand the reach of our books,” said DC Publisher Dan DiDio. “These new monthly books combine new and accessible stories with reprints of classic comic series. It’s a great way for new readers to get into comics and follow the characters they’ve grown to love in TV and film.”
We caught up with Aaron Haaland, owner of A Comic Shop in Winter Park, FL, to see how he feels about the deal as a retailer:
“I wish we could get 100 pages for $4.99,” said Haaland. “The comic shop locator website better be in each issue, since we subsidize most of the content by ordering it nonreturnable at a retail price of 20 pages for $3.99.
I want to know if we’ll get to sell the new King and Bendis stories as collections when they’re done.”
Get the full rundown on the four initial titles below, and sound off with your thoughts in the comments!
SUPERMAN GIANT #1
SUPERMAN GIANT #1 features chapter one of the two-part “Endurance,” an original story written by Jimmy Palmiotti (HARLEY QUINN, ACTION COMICS) with art by Tom Derenick (HARLEY QUINN, CYBORG, BATMAN/SUPERMAN). The Daily Planet sends Clark Kent to Tornado Alley to do a story on the area, but when the storm hits, it turns out that this mild-mannered reporter is more helpful as Superman.
The issue also includes:
THE TERRIFICS #1 (2018) – From this year’s New Age of Heroes and born of the events of DC’s hit series DARK NIGHTS: METAL.Mr. Terrific, Metamorpho, Plastic Man and Phantom Girl are a team of heroes bound together by fate and united by the spirit of exploration and discovery. Together these heroes plumb the depths of the fantastic to learn what it means to become family.
GREEN LANTERN #1(2005) – Written by best-selling writer Geoff Johns with art by Ethan Van Sciver and Carlos Pacheco, this first chapter launches the fan-favorite three-part story “No Fear,” in which Hal Jordan makes his return to the DC Universe as the Green Lantern, casting the light of justice on the darkest corners of Space Sector 2814.
SUPERMAN/BATMAN #1 (2003) – The iconic fan-favorite story arc, “Public Enemies,” returns, courtesy of writer Jeph Loeb, with artists Ed McGuinness and Tim Sale. Batman and Superman unite when President Lex Luthor accuses the Man of Steel of a crime against humanity and assembles a top-secret team of powerhouse heroes to bring Superman in by any means necessary.
September’s SUPERMAN GIANT #3 features Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King’s first return to the Man of Steel since his poignant and heartfelt tribute story, “For Tomorrow,” in the pages of ACTION COMICS #1000. Together with DC Master Class artist Andy Kubert, this powerhouse team will take readers on a new 12-part adventure titled “Up in the Sky!” When a little girl is kidnapped and taken from Earth, Superman embarks on a galaxy-spanning mission to find the perpetrators…but has to decide what lengths he will go to in order to save one life!
TEEN TITANS GIANT #1
In this original six-part Teen Titans story by Dan Jurgens with art by Scot Eaton, Wayne Faucher and Jim Charalampidis, the Teen Titans’ pizza dinner is interrupted by the introduction of a new villain, the Disruptor. Teaming up with the Fearsome Five and working as an agent of H.I.V.E., he had one mission: kill the Teen Titans! The battle spills onto the streets of San Francisco, putting its citizens at risk, while H.I.V.E. uses this distraction to begin their plan for world conquest!
Additional issue #1 stories include:
SUPER SONS #1 (2017) – From DC’s smash-hit Rebirth event, writer Peter J. Tomasi and artist Jorge Jimenez reintroduce the sons of Superman and Batman, Jonathan Kent and Damian Wayne, in part one of “When I Grow Up.” As Robin, Damian’s more than ready to take his place at the heroes’ table and has zero plans to wait his turn. And he’s dragging Superman’s son along for the trip, whether Jon likes it or not!
SIDEWAYS #1 (2018) – Also from the New Age of Heroes, this story written by Dan DiDio with art by Kenneth Rocafort introduces fans to high schooler Derek James who, during the events of DARK NIGHTS: METAL, has acquired powers from the Dark Multiverse and stepped into the role of superhero! But when cracks begin to appear in the space-time continuum, he soon learns that with that much power comes even greater liability!
TEEN TITANS #1 (2003) – Written by best-selling author Geoff Johns with art by Mike McKone. Cyborg, Raven, Starfire and Beast Boy welcome in a new roster of young heroes to train to defend humanity—Wonder Girl, Impulse and a Superboy who’s been cloned from Superman’s DNA!
BATMAN GIANT #1
Batman is on the case of a missing girl in “One More Chance,” an all-new story by writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Patrick “Patch” Zircher. Batman is the world’s greatest detective, but what happens when the trail in his newest case leads him back to a place from his past that he never expected to revisit?
BATMAN GIANT #1 also includes:
BATMAN #608 (2002) – Written by Jeph Loeb with art by comics icon Jim Lee, issue #608 kicks off “Batman: Hush,” one of the most popular storylines in the Dark Knight’s fabled history. When Batman sets out to unmask the mystery character wreaking havoc in his life, he teams up with an unexpected ally (Catwoman) and finds himself facing off against not only his deadliest foes, but some of the toughest characters in the DC Universe, including Poison Ivy, Killer Croc and even Superman!
NIGHTWING #1 (2011) – From DC’s New 52, this story by writer Kyle Higgins and artist Eddy Barrows debuted a new look for Dick Grayson as he dives into a tale of murder, mystery and superhuman evil against the backdrop of Haley’s Circus, the place that started him on his path from acrobat to orphan to sidekick and ultimately superhero!
HARLEY QUINN #1 (2011) – Also from the New 52, writer Jimmy Palmiotti and artist Amanda Conner break Harley Quinn out of The Joker’s shadow with all the force of a giant mallet!
Beginning with BATMAN GIANT #3 in September, superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis makes his DC debut on the Dark Knight with a 12-part story, “Universe.” Batman’s run-in with the Riddler leads the Caped Crusader into a mystery that spans the globe!
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA GIANT #1
Justice League member Wonder Woman is spotlighted in “The Conversion,” an all-new story from NIGHTWING writer Tim Seeley and artists Rick Leonardi and Steve Buccellato. In this single-issue story, Wonder Woman comes face to face with Ares, god of war—who sees her as a promising new recruit!
JUSTICE LEAGUE GIANT #1 also includes:
JUSTICE LEAGUE #1 (2011) – From the incomparable team of writer Geoff Johns and artist Jim Lee comes this version of the League from the New 52. In this alternative spin on the union of Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, the Flash, Aquaman and Cyborg, superheroes are a strange and new phenomenon. The mysterious Batman discovers a dark evil that requires him to unite these reluctant heroes to protect Earth from a cosmic-level threat!
THE FLASH #1 (2011) – In this New 52 version of the Fastest Man Alive, writer Brian Buccellato and artist Francis Manapul introduce Barry Allen to a villain who not only can be everywhere at once, but is also a close friend of the Scarlet Speedster!
AQUAMAN #1 (2011) – Award-winning writer Geoff Johns and dynamic artist Ivan Reis team up on this story from the New 52! Aquaman has given up the throne of Atlantis, but the sea still has plans for Arthur Curry as a broken race of undersea creatures, the Trench, emerges from the ocean depths, bent on destroying the surface world!
In issue #2, Seeley teams up with artists Felipe Watanabe and Chris Sotomayor on “Mother’s Day,” a stand-alone story where Wonder Woman returns to Paradise Island for the first time since her exile, only to find that the Amazons – and Queen Hippolyta – have been abducted by Echidna, the mythological Mother of Monsters, with a brood of unstoppable beasts as children!
Issue #3 begins another original 12-part Wonder Woman story by HARLEY QUINN co-writers Amanda Conner and Jimmy Palmiotti called “Come Back to Me.” When Steve Trevor’s plane crashes on an island outside of time itself, it’s up to Wonder Woman to rescue him from this mysterious land, full of monsters, dinosaurs and some very surprising citizens.
Writer Brian Michael Bendis will begin a 12-part Batman story in September, while Tom King will begin a 12-part Superman story the same month.
The stories will be part of the upcoming “100-page giant comics” that DC is selling exclusively through Walmart, as announced this morning. It’s a role-reversal for the two writers, as King’s been writing Batman for almost 50 issues, and Bendis very recently made his DC Comics debut writing Superman.
King teams up with artist Andy Kubert, while Bendis’ partner is as-yet-unknown. Also unknown is whether or not these stories are in-canon.
About Tom King’s Superman:
September’s SUPERMAN GIANT #3 features Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King’s first return to the Man of Steel since his poignant and heartfelt tribute story, “For Tomorrow,” in the pages of ACTION COMICS #1000. Together with DC Master Class artist Andy Kubert, this powerhouse team will take readers on a new 12-part adventure titled “Up in the Sky!” When a little girl is kidnapped and taken from Earth, Superman embarks on a galaxy-spanning mission to find the perpetrators…but has to decide what lengths he will go to in order to save one life!
About Bendis’ Batman:
Beginning with BATMAN GIANT #3 in September, superstar writer Brian Michael Bendis makes his DC debut on the Dark Knight with a 12-part story, “Universe.” Batman’s run-in with the Riddler leads the Caped Crusader into a mystery that spans the globe!
Bendis’ first Batman comic is a huge deal, so it’s a little questionable why DC is choosing to release it in Walmarts instead of in local comic shops.
This is a developing story; not much else is known at this time. Keep it tuned to Monkeys Fighting Robots for updates!
Are you excited about Bendis on Batman and King on Superman? Sound off in the comments!
Rick Remender and Wes Craig’s punk rock masterpiece of violence goes into overdrive heading into a break. Deadly Class #35 is so loaded up with chaos and drama, it’s impossible to take your eyes off of it.
***SPOILERS LIE AHEAD***
After gaining the upper hand on his arch-nemesis, Viktor, Marcus declares his new mission of forgiveness. There are a lot of monsters littering and bordering King’s Dominion, but Marcus has found a way to rise above and live for something other than revenge.
Remender puts his cast through a real rough go of it in this arc. Our new students have firmly planted themselves amongst the best characters in the series. They all have considerable baggage and trauma with them now as well.
Wes Craig has been putting on a stellar show, especially with the brutal action sequences. Every crunch of bone and slice of skin is felt by the reader. There aren’t many comics on the shelf that can be this violent and gorgeous at the same time.
We’ve been growing along with these characters for thirty-five issues now and nothing has come close to feeling stale. Jordan Boyd has been the perfect colorist to make Craig’s art explode off the page and infest your brain with high-octane comic porn.
Deadly Class #35 is absolutely loaded with memorable iconography. Marcus and Maria leaving Viktor behind, Helmut holding Petra in the alley, Helmut and Marcus standing over Petra’s grave. Every few pages there’s a bombshell that’ll be burned into the skull of every Deadly Class fan.
Remender, Craig, and Boyd are one of the best creative trios in comic books today. They keep upping the ante and catching us off-guard even when we see something coming.
Deadly Class is among the elite ongoing comic book series. This spectacular thirty-fifth issue is a true testament to how addicting and well-crafted this title can be.
If you’re not reading Deadly Class, you’re doing yourself a major disservice.
ABC is bringing back tv’s current #1 Series without its star Roseanne Barr. According to The Hollywood Reporter, ABC and executive producer Tom Werner hammered out a straight to series 10 episode order with the spotlight being placed on Dan (John Goodman) and the rest of the Conner clan. ABC provided The Hollywood Reporter with a summary of where this new series is headed –
The Conner family who, after a sudden turn of events, are forced to face the daily struggles of life in Lanford in a way they never have before.
Sara Gilbert and John Goodman
Werner and Barr came to an agreement allowing the show to continue provided she doesn’t benefit financially or has creative control. Sources have told The Hollywood Reporter the controversial comedian retains the rights to the character Rosanne Conner and any future reboots or spinoffs beyond ‘The Conners’. Barr released this statement –
“I regret the circumstances that have caused me to be removed from Roseanne. I agreed to the settlement in order that 200 jobs of beloved cast and crew could be saved, and I wish the best for everyone involved”
Werner added –
“We are grateful to have reached this agreement to keep our team working as we continue to explore stories of the Conner family.”
‘The Conners’ will star John Goodman, Laurie Metcalf, Sara Gilbert, Lecy Goranson and Michael Fishman, with additional cast members slated to be added at a later date. It’s not entirely shocking that a reboot is happening because ABC was on the hook to pay the cast for an 11th season even after the circumstances leading to its abrupt cancelation. The return of Roseanne indeed struck a nerve at it generated high ratings and thrived off of timely writing reflective of struggles plaguing working class America. Can this show survive without its star? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment below.
The clever Jack Rogers finds a way in Mark Waid’s final issue of Captain America.
Review: Captain America #704 written by Mark Waid with art by Leonard Romero – The Kree Skull War
The issue opens with the launch of the Kree Skull War. A cosmically infused Skull begins to lay waste to this futuristic Kree-America while Jack Rogers interrogates the Kree General who’s been secretly making Super Soldier Spies out of the Human Race from the remains of Steve Rogers.
The Red Skull, who has basically become “one” with the cosmic cube, single handedly takes down the Kree, the Americans, and any Sleeper Agent Super Soldiers. While Skull is on his rampage, Jack figures out that the serum used to create these soldiers is actually poisonous to the Kree. This is why they needed the humans in the first place.So after Jack rips the information from the Generals mind, the government takes back their country and freedom from the Kree by destroying their laboratories, facilities, and even their soldiers with bullets, bombs, and gas mixed with the Super Soldier Serum.
This left only one big problem: Skull! In order to save his son, Jack was willing to go into servitude for the Red Skull. He felt like he didn’t have a choice. He’d eventually be hunted by his own people for freeing one of the worst people in human history. But as he takes Skull’s hand to show allegiance, the clever Rogers realizes that Skull IS the cosmic cube now and wishes the Red Skull away as well as a cure to the serum, and release from Kree rule.
While I’m not as happy with the ending as I am the entire arc, this issue ends Waid’s run by showing us all the core values that make Captain America who he is without the character present in this issue or arc. Waid showed us the importance of the character, what he stands for, and did it all against one of his most hated and feared villains. Waid showed us all the legacy that will always come with Captain America for years to come.
Jack Rogers was not a fighter in the sense of fists, shields, and boots on the ground. But Jack shared his Grandfather’s very same will, determination, and true grit to fight for what is right and just in this world. Waid was able to stay true to the main foundation of a beloved character without ever once incorporating him back into the story. That takes skill, insight into the character, and years of practice. This is only a small portion of what makes Waid such a great writer.
Honestly, you need to pick up this run of Captain America as it comes out in trade. If you’ve been reading this current arc, you need this issue. The art style, as well as the color scheme, makes you feel like you’re reading a comic from the 60’s and 70’s, which is totally by design by this creative team to make it feel like classic Cap. The lettering and wording was spaced out perfectly and didn’t make the issue seem tiring or exhausting to read. Together with the layout, storytelling, and art, this creative team takes the reader back to Caps roots and shows us the true symbol he is within our country and our culture.Thank you Waid and Romero for a great run and I’m excited to see what you both have in store for us in the future.
