Author: dtm666

I ramble about things.

Since We’re On The (Sailor) Moonshine…

Since we’re riding on the Sailor Moonshine this week, I guess it would be a good time to mention that Crave (the Canadian streaming service from Bell) has the original Sailor Moon anime… only it’s the newer English dub rather than the one from the 90s when everyone sounded older and for some reason, Luna had a British accent. That is actually the one big thing that I have to adjust to when watching this newer dub because Luna doesn’t have that and it’s hard to visualize her English take without it.

So I’ve been watching bits and pieces of this thing… jumping back and forth, here and there… there’s about two-hundred episodes of this thing and most of it is filler. I guess that’s why I prefer the newer Crystal version in that regard; when it comes to the major story bits, it’s a lot more condensed and little character moments mean something. Meanwhile, there are so many filler episodes between major plotpoints that it feels like we’re repeating the same gags over and over.

That said, I’m actually enjoying jumping into this old show. There’s an element of humor that Crystal was lacking, though I’ll admit that it’s easy to think of Rei in this anime as a totally different character from the Rei featured in other shows. And yes, Usagi cries quite a bit and yes, they find many ways of making the most out of a cheap one-note gag… but if I’m going to be bare, two hundred episodes of vintage Sailor Moon anime doesn’t feature as much as crying as a single season of Star Trek: Discovery. At the very least, I’m being somewhat entertained here.

That is all for now, kids.

Later.

The Bitter Taste Of Sour Mead – Catching Up With The Third Season Of Picard (Part 1)

(Note: This was written before the ninth episode of Picard came into being… except the last line.)

I haven’t been talking about the new Picard season as of late and quite honestly, I haven’t had much to say. A few episodes have come and gone since then. There’s only a couple episodes left on this run, so I suppose it’s about time we get back on track and share some brief thoughts on what has aired so far.

Obviously, there’d be spoilers. And I’m also going all over the place here and there, but if that doesn’t bother you, by all means, read on…

Continue reading “The Bitter Taste Of Sour Mead – Catching Up With The Third Season Of Picard (Part 1)”

COMIC REVIEW – The Power Of Shazam (1994, DC Graphic Novel)

Written and Illustrated by Jerry Ordway

To the best of my recollection, this is the only Shazam I’ve read that features the closest thing to what can be considered the original take on the Captain Marvel character. I may have read a few issues of the subsequent series that resulted from the success of this series, but my only exposure to the Marvel family would’ve been guest spots in other comic books and maybe that one cartoon from the days when a cartoon based on a comic book was about as much of the norm as a superhero film would be today.

For all intents and purposes, The Power Of Shazam is the then-modern day origin story of how young Billy Batson was chosen by the wizard Shazam to become the mighty hero Captain Marvel. Those who are only familiar with the modern-day version with the whole family thing will find this to be a much different. This is the story of Billy Batson trying to find his place in the world… all the while having to deal with a new power set given to him by an ancient wizard while also dealing with a villain with ties to the wizard and Billy as well.

A reviewer by the name of Tom Knapp had compared The Power Of Shazam to one of those old-timey Saturday Morning serials from the 1930s and that’s a viewpoint I would agree with wholeheartedly. Not just in terms of imagining the world of Fawcett City as a typical metropolis (no pun intended) of the 1930s, complete with all the visual stylings, dressings, and lingo of the day – only way you could have taken this over the top was to print the story in black and white – but also in terms of its wholesomeness. Despite being written during contemporary times, this is a story where the line between heroes and villains are clearly defined, there’s no mixed message to be found here, and there’s an ending to a story that may lead to other stories, but is nonetheless an ending to this story.

There’s no question that Jerry Ordway put together a compelling piece of work that pays homage and tribute to the character and his lore. While it is clearly a sampler of things to come, it also serves very nicely as its own piece of work. Ordway also puts in time with the painted interior art, which is exceptional stuff, indeed.

The Power Of Shazam is an excellent read indeed and for whatever it’s worth, it’s one of the strongest Shazam stories ever conceived. If you’re going to read just one of these things, make it this one.