Superheros - animated series review

Two new animated superhero cartoons premiered this Fall. One is an updated/modern version of Marvel's Avengers team, and the other an adaptation of DC's Young Justice comics.

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is loosely connected to their live-action movie counterparts. Many of the characters' looks and updated origins in the movies are shared within the cartoon, including Tony Stark/Robert Downey Jr.'s persona, Nick Fury looking like Samuel L. Jackson, and Bruce Banner is living in Canada in hiding (lol). Whoever does Tony Stark's voice does an awesome impression of RDJ though. I applaud that casting decision.

The show is just entertaining enough that I keep coming back each week to watch it. The character designs, while very stylized, are fun and a fresh look. Jan/Wasp has to be my favorite of the bunch, with Tony Stark 2nd (though I'm not a fan of the IronMan suit design). I still can't take Hawkeye's outfit seriously. While I can live with the purple, I think it's the mask that kills it for me.

Jan and Tony are easily my favorite character so far, due to them just simply being the most entertaining. 75% of all the comic relief comes from those two alone. Hulk and Thor are awesome just become all problems are fixed via muscles and fists. I'm still trying to figure out Hank, though I guess him being slightly bipolar and socially awkward is the whole point. Unfortunately Steve's personality has fallen flat thus far, and he really hasn't stepped up to center stage yet, seeming more to hang around in the background and angst.

Plot-wise is thin at best, but I wasn't expecting anything deep (not for a Disney cartoon atleast). Villains are easily defeated (not much suspense), continuity is somewhat sporadic, and character development + themes are thin to almost non-existent. The only real entertainment comes from character interaction, and just waiting for new characters to appear. (apparently there will be a lot) I'm curious to see if any of the X-men or other mutants will be making an appearance, as many of them were/are on the Avengers roster. Spider-man too.

Rating: 7/10


Young Justice, DC's young superhero team, premiered last night. Apparently it's loosely based off the comics, but I'll admit I'm not familiar much with DC comics. My knowledge of characters only comes from movies and the previous Justice League tv show. So beyond what I've read on wikipedia, I don't know much about this young team.

First thought, WOW. The animation/character designs are AMAZING! Where have they been hiding this animation team, and why can't there be more shows like this? Most american cartoons now have a very stylized/geometic look to them, which (beyond a few shows) I'm not a fan of. YJ's characters have a higher animated realistic look to them, which I've missed in TV shows. Beyond the designs, the animation is NICE. Amazingly well done fight scenes and character movement.

Second thought, after watching just the hour pilot, I'm already attached to these characters, and dying to see more. Dialogue and banter isn't forced or dumbed down. While Wally is the most chatty of the four, Robin actually has some lines that made me laugh out loud. Aqualad is fairly quiet and awkward. Apparently he'll be the leader, so I'm curious to see how well he'll step up into that role. Right now Robin's naturally leading, being the strategic brains of the group.

SuperBoy is so bipolar, it's amazing and I love it. Granted, the poor boy should be rather confused, given his origins. He's got the most growing to do, as he's really never interacted with people before, and really has no idea of the limits of his powers.

With still more characters to be introduced (Artemis, Miss Martian and the return of Speedy), plus a huge cast of Justice League members and villains, I'm super excited for this show. Why is it continuing in January!? D:

Though, can a DC fan explain this to me - why were there two Green Lanterns that showed up in the end? I'm assuming one was Hal Jordan and the other John Stewart (the only two GLs I know), but I didn't realize they teamed up at the same time...?

Along side the show, a comic series is on its way, which I can guarantee I'll be jumping aboard. Too bad that isn't starting until Jan. too....

Rating: 10/10

Zombies

Starting this writing-blog thing over again. I will defeat inactivity!! Rawr!


So today's topic: Zombies.

I watched AMC's new series The Walking Dead last night. I'll admit I originally watched it due to all the hype I'd heard. I like zombies. The undead are awesome. However, zombie flicks I'm not such a fan of. I don't particularly like live-action gore, and in my opinion, once you've seen one zombie film, you've seen them all.

Seriously, it's hard to be original with zombies. Someone dies, the come back to 'life' partially decomposed, and then limp around town eating other live people, occasionally infecting others. Why do zombies always eat living people? Zombies will attach just about anything that moves, yet not a single zombie is shown gnawing on his fellow undead. It can't be a cannibalism thing, since they are/were technically people. A friend of mine joked that zombies must not like the taste of other zombies. "Would YOU want to put a zombie in YOUR mouth??"

If zombies ate each other, then surviving the undead invasion would be a hell of a lot easier.

Someone needs to create a zombie race where head-shots do not, in fact, stop them. Why head shots? They're dead. They moan, drool, and flop around until they find something to eat. Clearly, nothing is going on upstairs. Killing zombies via brain damage must be just for viewer/player satisfaction. Shooting them anywhere would be just too easy, and nothing is more awesome then blowing something's head off.

But seriously, there needs to be a zombie race where the only way to kill them would be via wood chipper or meat grinder. Nothing left to get back up. Now THAT would be a challenge.

Due to the popularity of the Zombie Apocalypse theme, I believe that should one ever happen, it would not be the end of the world. There are far too many zombie fanatics, video-game gurus, and shot gun wielding rednecks in America for the zombies to pose a major threat. Someone scream "Zombie!" and a hoard of baseball bats and crowbars would descend upon the risen deceased.

But that's just my opinion.


P.s. AMC's The Walking Dead was actually really good, and I shall tune in again next week. I applaud the amazing special effects, make up and shot composition. A lot more story and a lot less mindless action/gore.