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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 4/24/21

What a finale to The Falcon and the Winter Soldier! I loved it, loved every part of it, from the character twists to the new costume reveals to pretty much everything! Expect a nice big review/thoughts roundup on the series on Wednesday! Until then, comics!

Comic Book of the Week goes to Way of X #1 for taking a deep dive into life on Krakoa, unlike any other X-Men comic since the new era began. I had my hesitations about this series, but the first issue delivered a lot of what I want!

Team Teleport!

Meanwhile, this week also saw the release of the new Mortal Kombat movie! I found it simultaneously cool and dumb. I’m mildly satisfied as a MK fan. And with my new Nintendo Switch, I splurged and bought Pokemon Shield. When the game was released, I was confident I would never get the chance to play. But here I am, me and my Grookey! It’s fine so far.

Also, I read this week’s issue of Spider-Woman but didn’t review it for timing reasons. But there are some fun character developments that make me want to pick this series back up again!

Comic Reviews: Justice League #60, Nightwing #79, Power Rangers #6, S.W.OR.D. #5 and Way of X #1.

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Hench-Sized Comic Book Reviews – 3/20/21

Good news, everybody! I have been vaccinated! Or at least I got my first shot! Movie theaters are reopening and I want to be as safe as possible when I go to see Godzilla vs. Kong on the big screen! That sounds incredibly selfish of me. Anyway, somebody said something about comic books?

Comic Book of the Week goes to Nightwing #78! I’ve decided to give it a try and it was nice. Nothing spectacular, but such was this week in comics in general.

Nightwing is back! With a dog now!

Meanwhile, I very much enjoyed the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier! Great starting point, great introduction to the characters and hopefully the launch of another fun show! The next bunch of weeks should be a hoot!

Comic Reviews: Iron Man #7, Justice League #59, Nightwing #78, S.W.O.R.D. #4 and Thor #13.

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Some Maniac Has Decided to Bring Back the Original Robin Costume

A crime has been committed against fashion! Through a flashback in Batman #104, released today, we can clearly see that Dick Grayson’s original Robin costume has been added back to continuity. Short shorts, bare legs and pixie boots included!

Oh those accursed skinny chicken legs!

Oh what a horror! What a shame! Why must we suffer like this? The New 52 brought on a much cooler, more modern take on Robin’s original costume. It’s a little busy, but it works! And surely it’s better than Robin ever wearing that original 1940s get-up, right?

I get that nostalgia is strong in comic fandom, but come on! Can’t we all agree that the original Robin costume went a long way towards turning the character into the laughing stock he is with the mainstream public? Can’t we all recognize that that costume belongs in the past where it was created?

Robin deserves better than to be reminded of the worst fashion choice in the history of comics, no matter how classic it might be.

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We’re Getting a Robin Video Game (Among Others)!

Holy guacamole! I wasn’t sure how I was going to share the various DC FanDome trailers we’re going to get today. Do I flood my blog with trailers? Do I space them out over the next few days so that I can digest them all? Well there’s no point in holding onto this one because I’m freaking out.

Gotham Knights is the next game in the Arkhamverse series and it will focus on the Bat-Family: Nightwing, Red Hood, Batgirl and Robin! I’m getting a Robin video game!

This is beyond my wildest dreams. I love the Arkham games, and Batman is great…but a game that focuses on the Bat-Family instead?! A game where Robin and the former Robins (and Batgirl) are the stars? Where you get to play as all of them throughout the game?!

Here’s some gameplay footage from an early build of the game! It’s got two-player co-op!!!

I am salivating. This is a dream come true. I was so prepared for another game where Arkham Batman fights the Joker. But a game where Robin and the Family have to take on the Court of Owls?! Are you kidding me?!

Somebody pinch me.

Now all I need is confirmation of Tim Drake as Robin and not Damian. He looks short and young in the trailer, but he’s taller, seems older and is dressed as Red Robin in the gameplay footage (though is called just “Robin” in the HUD). Could Red Robin just be a skin? Alternate costumes seems like a pretty common thing in these games.

UPDATE: Robin has been confirmed as Tim Drake!

Here’s the flavor text for all of the characters:

  • Batgirl, also known as Barbara Gordon, is a determined fighter and a skilled hacker. As the daughter of deceased Gotham commissioner, Jim Gordon, she had helped Batman as Oracle in the past. Now, after years of recovery and preparation, she is ready to step into her new role, wielding her melee tonfa, and harnessing her training in kickboxing, capoeira and jiu-jitsu.
  • Nightwing is Dick Grayson, the first Robin, who was Batman’s protégé before becoming a hero in his own right. He’s a natural leader and the eldest and wisest member of the Batman Family. Nightwing’s mastery in acrobatics is complemented by his expertise use of his signature dual Escrima Sticks, making him proficient at taking out enemies.
  • Red Hood, formerly known as Jason Todd, is an intense and volatile anti-hero, which stems from his death and forced resurrection by one of Batman’s most dangerous foes. Red Hood has trouble keeping his temper in check but will not hesitate to step into the line of fire when a friend is threatened. His training has given him peak human strength and proficiency in multiple combat techniques with all manner of weapons – both traditional and high-tech.
  • Robin is Tim Drake, the young prodigy and genius of the team, who is a master of deductive reasoning. As a true believer in Batman’s mission, he is motivated by the conviction that Gotham City needs protecting and hopes to be the type of hero Batman personified. An expert fighter armed with his collapsible quarterstaff and skilled in a variety of stealth techniques, Robin also possesses a background in combined psychological warfare and behavioral sciences.

Anyway, game is due out in 2021. Looks like this might be my Playstation 5 upgrade game.

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How About Some DC Trailers for Once?

I’m not just all about the Marvel, people! I like DC stuff too! At least when they deliver good stuff! For example, I’m pretty excited by this trailer for the second season of Titans. I enjoyed the first season, especially all the awesome, live action Robin stuff. Season 2 seems to be taking us closer to Nightwing!

And, thankfully, we’ve got a Bruce Wayne for Dick Grayson to bounce off of. It was really frustrating when all of Dick Grayson’s seminal moments growing up were alone instead of with Bruce/Batman.

The new season starts on Sept. 6 — my birthday!

There’s also a new trailer for the Joker movie. I am less excited about this one.

As I’ve mentioned plenty of times before, I just don’t care about the Joker. And a movie about the Joker without Batman? I dunno…Granted, I’ll go see it opening day, because that’s the sort of person I am. But this trailer isn’t getting me too excited. Seems like just a crazy movie about a guy going crazy who happens to be the Joker.

But we’ll see! Maybe it’ll be really good. Joker arrives in theaters on Oct. 4.

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