The 6 Best Little Sisters in Pop Culture

My little sister’s birthday was last week, and I’m still having a hard time believing that she’s in her mid-20s. It helps that we live several states apart and only see each other on the major holidays. But still, come on, world! Cut me some slack! There’s no way she’s that old now. Regardless of age, I still love her, and the best way I know how to show love these days is with a List of Six dedicated to her.

This also qualifies as her birthday present.

“Happy Birthday to you…”

I did a similar list a few years ago for my brother around his birthday. But in researching this list, I discovered that brothers are a much bigger deal in pop culture than sisters. His list was all about awesome brother teams, like Mario and Luigi, but that sort of thing apparently doesn’t exist very often in pop culture when it comes to sister siblings. What’s up with that? Besides the obvious gender inequality inherent in all of fiction.

Still, I ain’t buying her a real present. So here’s a list of the 6 coolest little sisters in pop culture!

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The Teen Titans Return in July!

We all knew it was going to happen eventually, but I didn’t realize how closely it would follow the current, horrid Teen Titans series. Either way, the Teen Titans are coming back from cancellation with a new #1 issue by writer Will Pfeifer and artist Kenneth Rocafort! The roster isn’t going to change, keeping Red Robin, Wonder Girl, Raven, Beast Boy and Bunker!

The new Teen Titans are just the old Teen Titans

Newsarama made the reveal today, posting the cover and an interview with Pfeifer. Most recently, he’s been writing a few issues of Red Hood and the Outlaws. Beyond that, he hasn’t been in comics for a few years now. That’s not a good sign, as far as I’m concerned. But maybe he has some good ideas in store.

From the interview, it looks like Pfeifer is kind of going to keep things the way they are. The Titans are going to be heroes and fight bad guys. Though Pfiefer does claim that he’ll be focusing on them more as teenagers. That’s a good sign as far as I’m concerned, and it was the No. 1 thing missing from Scott Lobdell’s series. The key to a really good Teen Titans comic, in my opinion, is a focus on the characters as teenagers first, superheroes second. Just because they wear colorful costumes doesn’t mean they have to be in those costumes all the time.

Pfeifer had this to say about the series:

The fact that these characters are actual teens (and we’re going to be writing them like actual teens, too) opens up a whole world of possibilities. I mentioned before how they’re going to screw things up from time to time, and though that has some serious implications, it’s also a way to put some genuine comedy into the book. Plus, the Titans haven’t been heroes for too long, which means they’re not burned out or jaded by the (insane) pressures of the superheroic life. They’re actually having fun themselves – well, sometimes – and I want that to come across in the comic.

I find it very interesting that Teen Titans is starting over with a new #1 issue. This is a tactic that Marvel does a lot, but DC hasn’t done it since the start of the New 52. This is a new gimmick for DC. And I really, really, really think it has to do with washing off the stink of Lobdell’s run. That comic was just horrendous. Clearly, though, Pfeifer is going to keep the same cast and tell the same stories. So what other reason could DC have for starting with a new #1 than trying to lure back readers that Lobdell scared off?

Of course, Pfeifer doesn’t put it like that.

Putting the #1 on the cover of our first issue accomplished a couple of things: First of all, it draws attention to the book. There are so many comic books competing for the readers’ attention now – not just with other books but with video games, TV and that little thing called “the internet” – that anything we can do to lure some eyes to our cover is something I’m all far. But even more importantly, that #1 lets the reader know that this isn’t just a continuation of the other series. Yes, the Titans are the same heroes, and no, we’re not going to kick things off with a year of origin stories, but we are heading in a new direction and exploring some new themes.

If you’ve been reading the book, by all means, keep reading it. (Please – I have a daughter who’s going to need braces soon!) But if you haven’t been reading Teen Titans, give this version a shot. I don’t think there’s another book on the shelves quite like it.

I am always willing to give a series like this one a shot. So consider me on board, and definitely keep reading the in depth reviews that will continue with the new creative team.

Maybe, just maybe, we’ll get an enjoyable Teen Titans comic in the New 52.

Also, why is Beast Boy suddenly green again? Another sign that DC are trying to correct their mistakes?

Leonardo is the Best Ninja Turtle

If you need any more proof that Leonardo was the best Ninja Turtle, look no further than these badass new movie posters. Leo’s katana blade looks righteous.

It’s a slow news day, and these babies popped up on the Interwebs as a helpful reminder that Leonardo is the best turtle. I even like his new look the best out of all of the Turtles in the new movie, which comes out on Aug. 8. Though I’m not sure what to make of Johnny Knoxville being brought in at the last minute to dub over his lines. Why Johnny Knoxville of all people?

You can see the rest of the posters after the jump!

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Everything Wrong With Thor: The Dark World!

I love’em, you love’em, let’s check out Everything Wrong with Thor: The Dark World!

I hope this means we’ll be getting the EWW for Captain America: The Winter Soldier soon. Probably in time for the DVD release. This was another solid, silly entry. Though if I’m being completely honest, I think the guys at Cinema Sins have really started reaching with the past few episodes. I think success is going to their head, and they feel compelled to really stretch these things out and mock as much as they can, even when its not really mockable. That “Next time, let’s start with the big one” line was just a joke from Fandrell, not a legitimate suggestion in military tactics.

It took more than 10 minutes to cover more than 100 things they thought were wrong with Thor: The Dark World. When they started, there were only a few dozen things wrong with The Avengers, and they did that under three minutes.

They’re getting too big!

Robin Watch: A Challenger Appears

It would appear that a new contender for the position of Robin appeared in this week’s Detective Comics #30 – at least as far as Newarama is concerned. They’re usually pretty cool, so I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt and put Annette Aguila on my radar as a potential Robin candidate. Any development in DC’s search for the next Robin is worth noting in my returning column, Robin Watch!

(Though if I were more clever with puns, I probably should have called it ‘Bird Watching’.)

Batman isn’t going to be a solo act forever. A new Boy or Girl Wonder is on the way, and I’m dying to find out who it’s going to be. Could it be Annie Aguila? What does she have going for her?

According to Detective Comics #30, she might just be a motocross badass.

Favors yellow, green and red coloring, eh?

The creative team of Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato have jumped from their time on Flash to take over Detective Comics, and their first issue introduces Aguila and her mother Elena. Newsarama seems to think Annie Aguila might be a contender for Robin, considering how DC is hyping up the issue. She’s 18, seems pretty tough, and has some spectacular motorcycling skills. Her mother is also in a bit of danger by the end of the issue.

Manapul and Buccellato were a bit coy about her chances as Robin when Newarama asked them about her.

Could she be a contender? Maybe! Join me after the jump to examine some of the clues.

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