Shadow and Flame with Magik

Rocket Raccoon and Groot Volume Two Issue 3

Posted by John Klein III on August 21, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Andrade, Beaulieu - Jean-Francois, Eckleberry - Jeff, Groot, Guardians of the Galaxy, Rocket Raccoon, Young - Skottie. Leave a comment

Writer Skottie Young

Artist Filipe Andrade

Color Artist Jean-Francois Beaulieu

Letterer Jeff Eckleberry

I do like Skottie Young as a writer, this should be fun to see him on writing chores but not also on art.

Fun way to do a recap page, with Rocket explaining the story as a campfire tale. Earlier in the series Rocket and Groot are presumed dead, the Guardians put on a funeral. Kitty was there, so I now have to track down the first issue of this series. Hopefully Hastings owns several of those, as it is the first issue, I’ll find out on Saturday. In reality, they’re back in time and in space. I guess they were always in space – but are we all not in space?

Last issue, Groot is on an alien planet and becomes the prisoner of Lord Rakzoon, who is Rocket – but without the memory of Groot. This wouldn’t be so bad, but Rakzoon doesn’t recognize Groot, and his favorite thing to do is sentence folks to death.

The guards are making fun of Groot. Groot says his name, like he always do, but it doesn’t phase Lord Rakzoon. Rakzoon does recognize Groot’s language.

Rocket goes into what happened, I guess this series spins out of Rocket Raccoon 5 – thanks Jake T, the editor. I also guess that Rocket recognizes Groot now. Rocket ousted the old dictator, by tricking the inhabitants that Rocket was worst than the last guy. While explaining all of this to Groot, the guards don’t take kindly to be tricked. Rocket and Groot make short work of the guards. Rocket always has a plan.

After the guards are dealt with, the previous dictator arrives – as Rocket clearly didn’t murder the guy. He has a mouse companion and a fuzzy green guy. The previous guy’s name is Nasoj. The shrub fellow can only say “me are shrub.” The mouse’s name is Pockets.

We get the face off of Pockets v Rocket and Shrub v Groot. Pocket, is a possum, it turns out.

Nasoj tells the guards to kill all four of them, which Pocket didn’t see that coming. Oh I get it, Possum + Rocket = Pocket. Pretty clever, Young! Pocket is also known for having a plan. The four start running away.

Eventually. They locate Pocket and Shrub’s ship. Pocket doesn’t want our heroes to come with them but after a fight, Rocket takes their ship and flees. Pocket swears revenge!

Shortly after Rocket left Groot on the Desert Planet. I guess enough time has passed that the Guardians (including Star Lord Kitty Pryde) put on a funeral for Groot. In comics, I just assume that a full year has to pass before one suspects a person to be dead. That’s just me, people fall into pocket dimensions all of the time.

Those yellow captions are pretty funny!

Issue ends with the team being reunited. Rocket suspects that Quill is in the coffin.

Letters page has letters from – Chuck Lindsey / Andrew J. Shaw / Nathanael Gardiner and Hugh McPeek of Quaker City, Ohio.

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 6

Posted by John Klein III on August 20, 2016

Posted in: Lists, Review. Tagged: 2016, Adams - Art, Bendis, Guardians of the Galaxy, Isanove, Keith - Jason, Petit - Cory, Schiti - Valerio, StarKat. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith

I want all three variant covers! Especially the one by Siya Oum, that has Lockheed!

Such a great cover, I wish we could get an issue with Art Adams doing interior art, or even, if we got to see this costume within the pages.

Instead, we get Schiti doing what I can only imagine would be a costume that Kitty would have worn if she got swept up into the 90s costume designs. Lots of pouches and a big gun.

Pryde is all action, whereas Quill is in the dumps.

He’s sad as he lost an entire planet. She can’t believe he’s choosing now to have this chat, after trying to get him to open up about all of this.

Schiti treats us to a six panel grid page, he’s done it a few issues ago for great comedic effect. Here, we get to enjoy the rich characterization. Pryde asks if he likes her new outfit. He starts by saying all the things she is – a teacher, a scholar, a warrior, a Guardian – but she doesn’t know how to dress herself. I think it is a fun outfit.

Pryde counters that neither blue or Indiana Jones is working for him. She’s clearly hurt. Also, she can’t diss much of his outfit as she was wearing it, for a few issues herself. He brings that up and she mentions how, as Star Lord, she had to keep the brand going.

Pryde mentions how she has been a costume hero since she was 13 and still can’t find a look that works. Which is insane as her Excalibur Davis Blue Sweater look worked. Now, besides that look, most of her looks are simply a play on the classic X-uniform yellow and black color scheme.

Pryde took the time for this discussion to get him talking about something besides losing his planet.

I do enjoy not having alien languages translated for us.

Quill rushes in and Pryde snaps at him. She was going to go all stealth and disarm and knock them all out but he’s distracted and made this harder than it had to be. Pryde tries to pick up their previous conversation, about how he over-shot, going from Guardian to Planetary King.

Quill was under the impressions he never waned him to take the position but that was never the case. She was disappointed in him for not being Petr Quill, Star Lord, on the throne, instead he was a follower of a council, taking orders.

Quill wonders if they should run, as they are outnumbered. Pryde wonders if they should try to talk their way through, since she has more hero experienced than him – he agrees to listen to her.

In an awesome turn of events, Quill gets punched to his dumb face!

Pryde is glad Quill is knocked out, so he won’t be harping on her and her bad call. At least she wasn’t punched. Then again, if the alien tried to punch her, his fist would have gone right through her. Again, Quill really doesn’t know how to work with her. Pryde lost her gun and Quill lost a tooth.

Some ships have spotted the pair and start shooting at them.

We finally get to see what the planet looks like.

We see the prisoners and Pryde wants a gun.

Pryde wants to shut this planet down, as they are in a concentration camp! Which, naturally, upsets her and wants to free all of the prisoners. Pryde is on the warpath.

I like her getting all intense and rightfully so. She rarely gets to unleash and these aliens deserve her wrath.

In an amazing sequence, Pryde tricks one ship to explode another.

With her phasing power, she takes out another ship. Quill, meanwhile, tells the aliens to flee.

Quill runs into that giant green alien and gets knocked out again.

Planet Moord, Home Planet of the Brotherhood of the Badoon. Issue ends with Quill waking up inside an arena, on a planet that hates him.

Next issue features Thing, which looks fun.

. . .

The Top Ten Comics of 2016 are –

Guardians of the Galaxy 6
Guardians of the Galaxy 5
Guardians of the Galaxy 4
Doctor Strange 4
Worst X-Man Ever 1
Howard the Duck 4
Howard the Duck 3
Extraordinary X-Men 6
Extraordinary X-Men 5
Extraordinary X-Men 7

Those are also the first ten comics I bought in 2016.

X-Men : Worst X-Man Ever 1

Posted by John Klein III on August 19, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Bemis - Max, Cowles - Clayton, Redmond - Ruth, Walsh - MIchael, Worst X-Man Ever. 1 Comment

Words Max Bemis

Pencil & Inks Michael Walsh

Colors Ruth Redmond

Letters VC’s Clayton Cowles

This is a fun little issue, Marvel Database isn’t doing a great job of keeping up with the cast list of the other issues but as far as I can see, Kitty is only in this first issue. If I’m wrong, please let me know.

Issue opens with Bailey and a friend of his are trying to see which girls are in Bailey’s league. Turns out, not that many young ladies are in his league. Or rather, he isn’t in any of their leagues. Poor Bailey feels like an outcast. He’s pretty normal of a kid, he likes video game, he’s average at most things he does.

One day, his parents it him down. They reveal that they are mutants – this excites Bailey as this means he could be a mutant. I do like this approach, a teenager who embraces the aspect of becoming a mutant.

They go to the Xavier Institute to get Bailey tested. Beast is going to administer the tests. Bailey is all types of happy to be meeting Avenger and X-Man, Hank McCoy. After the tests, Beats informs Bailey that he does have an active X-Gene. That’s the good news.

The bad news is, Bailey has the ability to explode on demand. Bailey thinks this means he has relatively the same powers as Gambit but he’s his own playing cards. It is much worst, he can only use his power once – and then it is gone, as he would be too. It isn’t like Nova, who can explode and mysteriously reforms his body.

Bailey is a mutant but one with a power he can never use. He can attend the school, but he’s back to just being a nobody at this school. Poor kid was excited, this has to be the worst case scenario.

As the family walks away, things get worst.

With a page turn, a giant Sentinel steps on Bailey’s parents! It is one of those shocking splash pages but also, a complete shock. I had to turn back the page and flip again, to fully comprehend this situation.

Look at Kitty phasing through the wall in the second row panel. She’ll make a proper appearance later.

We get a fast ball special!

Poor Bailey, as the battle continues, he can only cry and hold his head.

A month later, Jubilee decides to check in on Bailey. He hasn’t left a dorm, so he’s an outcast among outcasts. He agrees to be shown around the school.

So far, this could have all been in continuity, or at least, possibly. Since Kitty is a student, it clearly can’t be a present story and costumes and such imply that this is a fun out-of-continuity miniseries. That really is the way to handle this. Jubilee does state that Kitty is available now that she broke up with Colossus.

Jubilee introduces Bailey to Forge, who is working on a suit of armor for Bailey. Sort of like Doug wearing Warlock so that he can fight.

Issue ends with the school being under attack and Forge and Jubliee head off to confront the intruders. Bailey is going to take the armor out for a spin.

Such a fun issue, with a narly page turn.

Top Five Kitty Pryde Speeches

Posted by John Klein III on August 18, 2016

Posted in: Lists, Websites. Tagged: CSBG. Leave a comment

Brian Cronin of Comics Should Be Good fame really out did himself.

Previously, he made a list of all the times Kitty Pryde has made a speech.

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2014/12/13/drawing-crazy-patterns-kitty-pryde-gives-an-impassioned-speech/

This time, he made a list of Kitty Pryde’s Top Five List –

http://goodcomics.comicbookresources.com/2016/08/10/top-five-kitty-pryde-speeches/

Not only did he make the list, he gave me a special shout out in the article! Which after the week I had when this article came out, I really could use the smile seeing my name on his incredible blog.

His list is –

Honorable Mentions

Excalibur 34

Excalibur 34

Mekanix 5

Top Five

5. Astonishing X-Men 22

4. All New X-Men 13

All New X-Men 13

3. New Mutants 45

2. Marvel Graphic Novel 5 “God Loves Man Kills”

1. Uncanny X-Men 210

Uncanny X-Men 210

I really need to do reviews of these issues that I haven’t gotten around to it.

Oh man, I thought I had reviewed the bulk of these posts but I must have had the same thought that I have now, that I have to get to reviewing these other issues.

This is a pretty great list. Not great is how many Anti-Shadowcat peeps out there who make up the bulk of the comments of that thread.

All New X-Men 13

Posted by John Klein III on August 17, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: All New, Bendis, Immonen - Stuart, Petit - Cory, Von Grawbadger. 1 Comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Stuart Immonen

Inker Wade von Grawbadger

Colorist Rain Beredo

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Dated August 2013

We start reviewing the comics I got for Christmas 2014!

This issue is known for Kitty Pryde’s response to Havok’s speech in Uncanny Avengers Volume One Issue 5, but we’ll get that.

Issue opens with Jean Grey going full Phoenix in a room with Mystique, Wolverine and Scott.

Six hours ago. (Revenge style!) The team isn’t talking after running into the Uncanny Avengers and that Angel left the team for Cyclops’ side. Bobby is more upset about Angel leaving the team. Jean and Scott are not upset about it. Hank is sure that Warren will come back. He will take a while and a crossover but he will do it. They’ll lose Cyclops by then, but these things happen. Bobby is also confused as he didn’t know Scott even had a brother.

Scott is confused by what one has to do with the other. Bobby wants to know if he even knows any of his teammates. Wolverine admits that no one ever knows anyone, it makes life exciting.

Wolverine calls Jean, Jeannie, which confuses her. Wolverine wants her to try to cloak their presence, once they are on the ground. Jean asks Kitty if she can do that. Wolverine calls her, Professor Kitty, which she doesn’t care for. Wolverine, not that great with the ladies.

Kitty tells Jean how to do that. Bobby tries to help out by saying he can make everyone feel cold.

Resilient International, Seattle. Where Mystique stole a lot of Tony Stark’s money. Wolverine explains some of his powers to the Original Four. Wolverine smells Mystique and Sabretooth.

Kitty encourages Jean as she concentrates on keeping them invisible to the naked eye.

Wolverine keeps calling Scott, Slim, he doesn’t care for that either. Scott points out that Sabretooth should be able to know that Wolverine is coming for him. Jean loses concentration and the soldiers notice them. They think that the X-Men are back at the scene of the crime. They start firing on them.

Iceman creates an ice shield. The soldiers can’t decide if they should call Maria Hill or Pepper Potts. Kitty gives Bobby a compliment. Scott can’t believe that flatscans just open fire. The X-Men take off in their plane.

Mystique and Sabretooth are listening to Havok’s silly speech. This is the speech, which is referenced here and one more time before Kitty responds to it. The final page of this issue has the speech properly reprinted. Which is nice that Rick Remender and Oliver Coipel was able to put the entire speech on one page.

Essentially, Havok doesn’t want to be called, mutant (the M-Word) as it represents everything that he hates.

Mystique and Sabretooth don’t seem that impress. Lady Mastermind wants to know what the entire plan is. Mystique can’t believe that Xavier is dead. I wonder if Bendis knows that he has married the two of them, at this point. She can’t believe mutants are not farther along in life.

Mystique has gathered all of the cash into the middle of the room as her meeting starts. The first to arrive is the new Silver Samurai. He is the main henchman for the new Madame Hydra. I don’t recognize her. It isn’t Viper.

Mystique wants to buy Madripoor.

The X-Men are listening to Havok’s M-Word speech. Wolverine knew the speech occurred. Scott can’t believe that, in one day, that he held a press conference AND found the All New X-Men. Hank and Bobby don’t understand that M-Word is a bad word.

I really like when the X-Men are bathed in red light.

Scott tries to reassure Jean. Scott knows she will learn that trick. Jean retells that she knows her future, which is her own dumb fault.

Hank wants to know if, mutant, is a derogatory word. Bobby makes the point that any word can sound like a bad word if is said right. Hank wants to know what the professor thinks. I do like how earnest Hank calls Kitty, professor. He really needs that leader.

Kitty is so good at spur of the moment speeches.

Kitty tells the teenagers that she is Jewish. She doesn’t have a Jewish name, she doesn’t look or sound Jewish – whatever that means, she says. The same goes for her mutation, she can walk the Earth and no one would ever know she was a mutant, much less a Jewish mutant.

Kitty recounts a tale of when she was 13 (so a few months prior to Uncanny X-Men 129) and had a huge crush on a boy. The boy saw a rabbi and made the worst anti-Semitic comment ever, and she was devastated. While the boy was laughing, she told him she was Jewish and that shut him up. By the time she got home, she was super proud of being Jewish and standing up for her people. She is very open about being both Mutant and Jewish. If someone is going to be foolish enough to have a problem with either ‘category,’ she wants to know right up front.

The scene ends on the perfect note of Bobby being surprised that she is Jewish. Bobby Drake, is a real listener.

Over at the meeting. Madame Hydra doesn’t own Madripoor but she is the ruling class. Mystique wants to be the de facto leader of the island nation.

Outside and to the right, the X-Men are planning their next move. Wolverine smells Hydra, Bobby notices they look like green Nazis, which is what they essentially are.

Kitty asks Jean to read the room’s thoughts. Jean reveals that Mystique wants to buy Madripoor, Bobby doesn’t know what that is. A bit much on the Bobby side of things but that is okay, he dials way back later.

Wolverine wants to go in with only Kitty, Jean tells him that Sabretooth knows they are here.

The teenagers do not listen and come with. Wolverine fights Sabretooth. Bobby goes after Silver Samurai. Madame Hydra is upset with Mystique for the apparent betrayal. Kitty undoes Madame Hydra.

The fun thing is that Lady Mastermind sees Jean Grey. She creates an illusion of her father, the original Mastermind, and Jean freaks out.

Issue ends the way it started, with Jean going full Phoenix.

This was such a great issue. I can’t believe, in this modern era of comics, that Bendis went after a fellow writer, for something the writer wrote.

The Avengers titles, as Uncanny Avengers falls under that franchise, had this to say about Kitty’s speech.

Which is pretty irritating. Does Kitty get a rebuttal? No.

Extraordinary X-Men 7

Posted by John Klein III on August 16, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Caramagna - Joe, Extraordinary X-Men, Ibanez - Victor, Lemire - Jeff, Magik, Ramos - Jay David. Leave a comment

Writer Jeff Lemire

Artist Victor Ibanez

Color Artist Jay David Ramos

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Issue opens with Jean and Storm inside Kurt’s head. Of course, it looks like his old German town, Winzeldorf, Germany. Jean is taking this mission to debut a new costume – as her priorities are completely right and she is the worst. Of course, the villagers are chasing Kurt. Jean should fit right in.

Storm tries to fight the mob, but her powers don’t work. Jean’s powers work, so that she can show off and try to appear better than Storm. Inside his head, we see the world collapsing upon itself. Outside, Jean and Storm are clearly in pain and Forge isn’t happy with Kurt, who is cowering in the corner – not saying anything.

Weirdworld. Sunfire has been keeping the fires burning, so that he can protect his fellow Asian mutants. The Anti-Mutant bigot rallies have swept through Japan and the rest of Asia. Sunfire is exhausted, he’s been keeping the fire wall up for a week, as Weirdworld has inhabitants that one doesn’t want to encounter.

Magik has heard enough from this traitor and plans on ending the fool. I wonder what Sunfire did that got her so mad?

Ibanez does draw a pretty great Magik!

Iceman and the other horrible member of the team, Colossus, tries to keep Magik away from Sunfire. Sunfire is one of those characters that I know his history but don’t really have much reading experience with.

Apparently, Sunfire is up there with Cyclops, in terms of villains of mutantkind.

Some warrior ghosts, I guess, arrive. Old Man Logan believes he’s getting too old for this – Iceman is already tired of hearing him say that. I could go for some more of that, as who doesn’t love Roger Murtaugh?

One of the ghosts takes out Colossus and Magik and I try to give two shits about it.

X-Haven. Inside Kurt’s mind. Jean and Storm are heading towards a pirate ship. Everything is upside down. Caramagna should have put the words upside down too, that’s a missed opportunity – but Caramagna is one of the best so I’m sure there is a reason. Probably that it is more convenient for the reader. Inconvenient is one of those words I can never spell, even though, at a law office – it is one of the words I type the most. Been that way since I worked at Northern Arizona University – Yuma Campus. Gosh, that was ten years ago.

Kurt is in full Errol Fynn mode. Jean and Storm follow Kurt off the ship. Now they are heading towards a giant Cyclops.

Weirdworld. Magik, for appearance’s sake, defends Colossus. They are powered by weak magic and the source is close. Magik teleports to the source.

She sees an old man sorcerer. He knows she is from Limbo. Magik confront him for all of the mutants he has taken captive. I thought they are just prisoners and not dead souls, at this point. He goes all crazy on her, claiming he sees her future.

Magik straight stabs the old sorcerer with her soulsword, as she doesn’t give a fuck. As he dies, he hints that a war is coming and the lattice will break. Which I had to look that word up, it seems to mean wood being crisscrossed and in a square pattern.

So that’s going to fall and it is super intimidating.

Kingdoms will fall and Sapna will be no help. So she’s going to be a bigger character in this title. That makes sense as she’s clearly going to be the breakout star of this title.

Magik teleports back, with the rest of the Asian mutants. Once she killed the sorcerer, the ghosts disappeared. Poor Magik, she’s clearly upset about killing the old man, but not that upset.

Cerebra will take Sunfire and the other refugees and Magik is going to teleport the team back to X-Haven.

Old Man Logan says that Sunfire will come with the team. Sunfire says that Old Man Logan use to look better. So Old Man Logan’s existence must still be a close secret.

They teleport back and the students are glad to see them, as Kurt isn’t doing so well.

At the Giant Cyclops, Jean and Storm crawl into his ruby quartz visor. IT is the old school 80s visor. They have to hurry as a wave of Sentinels are on their way.

They are back in the village, but now they see that mutants are being pushed into the woods. The M-Pox riots started in Europe, only a few weeks ago. This is a current memory. One of mutants promises to leave Germany, as long as they are allowed to escape.

Kurt shows up to fight the lousy European flatscans. All of Germany is under his protection. The one mutant wants to show Kurt what happens in the deep woods.

It is a disgusting mass grave, ya’ll! Fucking humans.

The disgust snaps Storm and Jean out of Kurt’s head. Jean heads over to comfort Kurt, who is finally not taking in scripture. So that’s an improvement.

Issue ends with Jean hugging Kurt, as the team watches. They are that type of group.

Not a bad issue, next issue begins . . . Apocalypse Wars!

Big Brother 18 : Episode 25 – August 14, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 15, 2016

Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: Big Brother. Leave a comment

What actually went down before the Double Eviction episode? Who won HoH? Who will be nominated?

At dinner earlier, my wife told me she already knew who the HoH was, who was nominated and who is going home this week. She didn’t give me names but dman, that sounds like the house guests don’t have much to do until Thursday’s episode.

Day 58, Double Eviction Night.

Michele tries to explain her comment about Nicole’s deal attempt. Nicole straightens out the situation. There are only three ladies left – Natalie, Nicole and Michelle.

24 Hours Before Eviction. Natalie gets real with Zakiyah. Natalie essentially blows up Paulie’s romantic game.

Day 48. Paulie tells a sunbathing Natalie to put her booty away. She was looking pretty great out there.

Zakiyah talks to Paulie about what Natalie said. Of course, Paulie spins everything around. Paulie wants to get rid of Natalie, for sure. Natalie has an awkward conversation with James about all the things Paulie says to her about her. Oh man, she needs to get Paulie out of the house before Paulie gets Natalie out of there. So James has an even more awkward conversation with Paulie. Paulie, again, spins that around. Paulie is a flirt.

Whoa! Paulie confronts Natalie about her implants! Natalie, the class act that she is, just slays him with kindness. Paulie does not hide the fact that he was extremely rude to Natalie once he is confronted. Looks like the entire house was in the room so now they all know what type of douche bag Paulie is. He needs to go home! Zakiyah tells Natalie and Michelle what Paulie said. Natalie heads up to the HoH and confronts Paulie. Oh man, has Paulie ever sexually harass a woman? It sure sounds like the defense that a douche would say.

Aw, Natalie loves James! She said Paulie was being dishonest and lying to which Paulie says she shouldn’t use those words without clear evidence. Which is mind blowing as she had JUST given him like six examples! Once Natalie leaves, Bridgette says he was being rude. He shoots her down. Paul knows that PP needs to come to an end. I wouldn’t mind Paulie leaving.

90 Minutes Before Eviction.

James confronts Paulie about how James is going to send Zakiyah home. He did it with Corey and Nicole in the room. Paulie is not pleased, James is going with Natalie and Bridgette’s plan. He’s standing with his gal. Paulie is so upset but it is the house vote. Paulie immediately goes straight to Paul who has to lie about the plan. Paulie is so self-destructing as he goes back to the four and confronts them. The house is turning on Paulie! Why didn’t Corey veto his own nominations and nominate Paulie?

Oh wow, Paulie is apologizing to James, this must have been Pre-HoH, right?

Good for Paul and Victor for keeping things light. Paulie is no longer trusting his alliance.

HoH. Hollywoods Squirrels. Game show, where two compete at a time. Winner picks the next two players.

Round One – Michelle v James – James wins!
Round Two – Paul v Nicole – Paul wins!
Round Three – Natalie v Victor – Victor wins! (boo!)
Round Four – Paulie v Paul – Paul wins! (yay!)
Round Five – James v Victor (by default) – Victor wins!
Round Six – Paul v Victor – Victor is HoH!

Apparently Benny Squirrel has been at most of these competitions. I haven’t noticed.

Victor is HoH again! That’s twice since coming back. That’s some great opportunities to settle some scores. Will he nominate Paulie? We haven’t really gotten his take on the whole fight situation.

Victor has a meeting with PP. Paulie really wants two of the three gals to be nominated. Paulie leaves and Paul gets to do some real talk. Victor hasn’t forgotten that Paulie back doored him out of the house. Here’s hoping Victor isn’t planning the same move and misses! They make sure James is down with the plan, looks like Corey may be the pawn. Wait, was Paulie in the room? They must have meant Corey and Nicole.

America’s Care Package.

The box hits Natalie right on the head!!! Nicole won it!?! Is she beloved? She has some hair ties. She is super safe! She gets to wear a costume, like she did in her previous season. Maybe that’s why people voted her. She broke the unitard curse! She has a safety cone for a hat!

James tells Natalie what the plan is, she’s super excited about Paulie being a target. They have the votes to get Paulie out of the house.

This episode is packed! I’m loving it!

Nominations.

Victor has nominated . . . Paulie and Corey! The eees!

Victor has opted to not do any poems. Victor is going after big targets.

I sincerely hope that Paulie doesn’t win Veto!

Is Paulie really Corey’s best friend in the house? Poor Nicole.

oh man, Paulie is way crying!

Zingbot is coming back and he has a huge announcement! oh man, if you know anyone who has ever been tempted to watch this show but has held back, give them this episode and the next one! I started my BB Fandom late season BB7 and have been hooked ever since. It can happen!

This is too great not to share –

Thanks Quagmire for creating it. (if he did, if not, thanks for posting it!)

http://survivorsucks.yuku.com/topic/128034/Flirty-Spy-Doing-girls-LastSpyStanding?page=64

Tumblr user, burn-to-gold, had a great post summarizing how truly horrible Paulie is.

burn-to-gold.tumblr.com/post/148958060582/i-just-have-something-to-say

I couldn’t have written it better!

Special thanks to Tumblr user, natalienugrotti, to the below great gifs.

I was looking for images of Natalie in that orange top but the above one is the best I could find.

Big Brother 18 : Episode 24 – August 11, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 14, 2016

Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: BB18, Big Brother. Leave a comment

Who goes home, Zakiyah or Michelle? Does either one of them have a Round Trip Ticket? Who else goes home? Double Eviction Night, ya’ll!

Julie Chen hints that the last 24 hours has been super interesting.

Day 56. The Spy Girls want Michelle to stay. They are by the pool. They see how in charge Paulie is.

All I know is that one never wants to win the first HoH of Double Eviction night. You don’t benefit from it, at all.

PP Talk. Paul wants to get rid of a threat, whereas Paulie wants to get Natalie out – the jerk!

Michelle is talking to James and Natalie, trying to get him to cancel votes to keep Zakiyah.

Michelle, Spy Girls and James talks to Paul – they all want Paul to be on Team Meech. Paul is willing to end Friendship with Paulie.

Speeches.

Zakiyah only shoutouts to her mother and Julie Chen. Seems relaxed. Michelle seems super nervous, she tries to blowup Paulie’s game. Natalie looks great! What did he say to Natalie!?! I’m sure they’ll air it on Sunday. What a jerk!

James is going to cancel Paul and Corey votes. So does that mean Zakiyah will be staying?

Votes.

Paulie – Michelle
Natalie – ZakiyahNicole – Michelle
James – Zakiyah
Bridgette – Zakiyah

Zakiyah is going home!

They are dressed for a physical competition.

Paulie is going to miss her.

Julie Chen has an awkward gathering people together to open the envelope. Zakiyah has a one way ticket to Jury.

Zingbot is in the crowd! I’ll totally vote for him for President!

HoH Competition.

It is a quiz, so why are people dressed for physical? Oh for the Veto / Balls competition, most likely. They have to answer More or Less questions regarding to statistics for this season.

Question One – How long was Glenn in the game? More than 20 hours. Paulie and Bridgette are out. Glad Paulie is out
Question Two – Perfect Shot competition, how many points were scored. More than a hundred. Corey was the only one who got it right! Shame he won’t see any of his family members, I believe he gets a basket.

Who is Corey even going to nominate? Production seems bored with Nicole and Corey too. At least they got Zakiyah out of the house.

Premarin, who the fuck is forcing women to have sex while they are going through menopause? Let these ladies fucking go through their last major change without having to touch that old dick. Cripes!

Nominations.

Nicole ran to pee, oh Nicole. She must have been really telling Corey who to nominate. Looks like Corey is really taking suggestions. I take it, he hasn’t really game yet. The quiz went a lot faster than Production thought so we’re getting more of this moment of Corey not knowing who to nominate.

Corey has nominated . . . Bridgette and Michelle! I wouldn’t really miss either of them.

Veto Players.

Paul, Nicole and James were chosen by random draw.

Veto Competition.

They did bring back the balls. They have to find three clocks.

Bridgette found her first clock, as did Nicole – Michelle too! James as well and Paul, I don’t think they have found so many so fast.

Nicole got a second one, Corey found one and two. Paul found a second one.

I like Bridgette just dumping balls.

Corey found his third and Nicole found her third one, Corey won it! So he should keep the nominations.

Nicole, Corey and PP just had a very brief chat wherein Nicole said “let’s just get her out of here” and Paulie made a hand gesture like “fuck yeah.”

Jamie Foxx is doing Verizon commercials? Did he get a divorce or have a child he has to support? I guess I don’t remember the last thing I heard he was in. I’m not the biggest Jamie Foxx fan, he was great on Living Color and Booty Call. I don’t even remember him in I Know What You Did Last Summer. I want to watch Collateral, as a Michael Mann fan but I also haven’t seem Miami Vice either. That second one, seemed super missable – even with Michael Mann being there. He was good in Dreamgirls and I don’t remember him in Jarheads either. Was he in Valentine’s Day? Maybe he just doesn’t leave an impression with me. I do remember him in Due Date. He was one of the better characters in Horrible Bosses. I’ve forgotten he was in Amazing Spider-Man 2, I should rewatch that.

Speeches to Corey.

Bridgette is congratulating Corey and his win. She takes the time to mention Frank, so she has to go. Michelle expects that she is going home.

Corey is not using the Veto. That was fast.

Speeches to House.

Bridgette has a target and will go after that person. Michelle is happy that she blew up Paulie’s game and calls out Nicole being a snake. So I imagine Michelle is going home. So PP end up getting what they wanted.

Votes.

Natalie – Michelle (after spending all week trying to save her – looking great in that orange top)
Paulie – Bridgette
Nicole – Bridgette
Victor – Bridgette (so awkward as he nominated Michelle earlieBrir in the week)
James – Bridgette
It is official, Bridgette is going homePaul – Bridgette (it is Paul’s mother’s birthday!)

Natalie loyal to the end! Bridgette was probably safe until she mentioned Frank’s name. Bridgette seems a tad shock.

Nicole confronts Michelle and Michelle starts to cry immediately! Paul flipping shouts at Michelle to suck it up! I do feel like it is time for doing such things. She needs to stop crying over everything. We can hear Michelle crying and Julie Chen tells her to take a breath.

Bridgette has a one way ticket to Jury! Bridgette is confused why she is going to Jury as she has a bad knee (from stupid Frank’s antics) and Michelle is tearing up games so I’m a tad confused too. I suppose that the house suspects they can get rid of Michelle at any time! Which is true.

Feels like a lackluster double eviction, which most are.

America’s Case Package is Super Safety, whoever gets it, has to wear a costume. Shame Natalie already got the first one.

Sunday – New HoH and who is Nominated – Plus what went down before this episode
Wednesday – Veto
Thursday – Eviction
Friday – we get another all new special episode. Hmmmm

Michelle is confused why she isn’t going home.

Episode ends with Paul telling Michelle not to be a “Dee Hay” whatever that is. Dick Head, is my best guest.

Goodbye Spy Girls!

Big Brother 18 : Episode 23 – August 10, 2016

Posted by John Klein III on August 13, 2016

Posted in: Reality Television. Tagged: BB18, Big Brother. Leave a comment

Who wins Veto, will they use it on Zakiyah or Michelle?

Sorry about the long delay in Big Brother posts, we buried my sister-in-law on Thursday and we didn’t feel much like the antics of Big Brother. Now it is 10pm on Friday night and I doubt we’ll do both episodes tonight. If we do, I imagine you’ll see Friday’s episode has part of this post. Let’s see what happens!

Day 52, Nomination Ceremony. Michelle is not sure how she upset Victor, which I like how Victor played into her emotional state. This gives Zakiyah the chance to play everything super chill and relaxed. Michelle is being the worst super fan. Everyone else can’t help but laugh at Michelle, as she’s becoming a cartoon.

Nicole repeated Zach’s “fruit loop dingus” something I would have called her from day one.

Michelle is confused why Paulie isn’t a nominee as he was the one that back doored Victor. Michelle is trying to talk this through, but she’s doing it with Paulie in the room.

Paul tells Victor that Zakiyah needs to go as she doesn’t care that she is a nominee.

Zakiyah talks to Paulie if she is playing it all wrong, being Joe Chill – but not the one that killed the Waynes. She doesn’t trust Paulie but she will bone him. Zakiyah talks to Paulie about their showmance, she is confused by her nomination as Paulie should have tried to protect her with Victor’s nominations.

PP game talk. Paul mentions how Zakiyah has to go but Paulie is quick to start blowing up Michelle’s day. Looks like we are getting our first disagreement between PP. Paul has to know that if it is the Final Three with Paulie and Zakiyah, that might not go Paul’s way.

Paulie and James talk about who should go home. I feel sort of bad, the dames are not really the focus, only as a concept. It is the Paulie show. He wants James to cancel two votes for Zakiyah to go home. James doesn’t really want to rock the boat.

Veto Players.

Victor – Nicole
Michelle – James (he’s excited)
Zakiyah – Houseguest Choice – Paulie (like an idiot)

Veto Competition.

Beach / Lifeguard style. Production found a way to put the ladies in bikinis. Hide & Go Veto. They get to wreck the house.

Even Natalie is in a bikini!

Two minutes to hide Veto cards.

Nicole isn’t really in a bikini, more of a modest bathing suit.

Michelle hid her card first. She hid hers in an old costume of hers.
Victor is second. He hid his in Bridgette’s dufflebag.
Nicole is third. She hid hers in the popcorn machine.
Zakiyah is fourth. Hid hers by the coffee table.
James is fifth. He placed it in a comforter. He already started messing up the house.
Paulie is sixth, and hides his inside the dining table.

Michelle didn’t find anyone on her first try. Victor doesn’t find any. Zakiyah doesn’t find any. James wastes no time in hiding his even more and makes a giant mess on top of his card. He is just purposely making a giant mess. Production must love James and this challenge. He naturally doesn’t find one. Paulie is the first to see the disaster, no one is impress with James. He doesn’t find one. For some reason, Nicole is going last. She finds Victor’s! Good for her!

26 minutes have passed.

I would be checking to make sure my card is still in place.

Nicole has found Zakiyah’s! She did well in this challenge during her own season.

1 Hour, 14 Minutes into the competition.

James finds Michelle’s!

2 Hours, 51 Minutes.

I’m not sure who Victor found. My wife informs me this took eight hours and ten minutes.

Paulie has been tempted to find his own card to end this.

4 Hours, 6 Minutes.

4 Hours, 47 Minutes – Victor found the last one. I must have messed one.

First Card – Nicole – Victor’s card
Second Card – Nicole – Zakiyah’s card
Third Card – James – Michelle’s card
Fourth Card – Victor – James’ card
Fifth Card – Victor – Nicole’s card

Paulie won the Power of Veto! I imagine that means Zakiyah is safe.

The house is trashed!

Paulie reveals his Veto card, they are all impress with his hiding place.

PP Talk. Paul doesn’t want Paulie to use the Veto. Paulie wants Zakiyah to stick around.

Paul tells Zakiyah that he may not use the Veto on her.

Paulie talks to James about not using the Veto but tells James about how Paul and Victor may have a side deal. James offers up his option of cancelling two votes. Paulie didn’t even try that hard.

Speeches were unconvincing as Paulie didn’t use the Veto.

Friday’s Episode is Double Eviction!

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 5

Posted by John Klein III on August 12, 2016

Posted in: Review. Tagged: 2016, Adams - Art, Bendis, Guardians of the Galaxy, Isanove, Keith - Jason, Petit - Cory, Schiti - Valerio, StarKat. Leave a comment

Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Artist Valerio Schiti

Color Artist Richard Isanove

Letterer VC’s Cory Petit

Cover by Arthur Adams & Jason Keith

Spartax. The capital city will probably never be the same again, after Hala’s visit.

Yotat is monologuing. The Guardians are knocked out. Their fight with Hala has required that they take a little nap.

Quill finally wakes up first, asking that Yotat not kill his friends. It is the least he can do. Quill asks Yotat to wait to kill them, until after Spartax is safe. Grudge matches can wait, after all.

Yotat points out how Spartax, supposedly a big deal in the universe, should have had neighboring planets coming to aid them, by now. No one respects Spartax, with Quill on the throne.

Quill really wasn’t begging, he was distracting. Agent Venom attacks from behind while Rocket has a new gun to try out.

That is a great top panel, the team having their second wind. Quill is trying to help Drax up, but Drax doesn’t want the help. Pryde isn’t impressed with Drax turning down help.

Rocket checks in on Groot, who is in little pieces. Drax punches Yotat, to his dumb face!

Quill starts trying to help the survivors. One lady isn’t pleased that her king allowed this nonsense to happen. Pryde tries to defend him but the couple runs away. Drax continues punching. Grimm is helping children get to safety. Good ol’ Grimm!

Yotat, is good at taking a beating but has had enough and turns the tables on Drax.

Luckily, Drax is on the same team with Grimm (who I really enjoy reading about on a monthly basis) as Grimm punches Yotat off his feet. Drax gets in on the handicap match.

Quill and Pryde are happy to see reinforcements are on their way.

Agent Venom takes away Yotat’s weapon.

Now that they have a pause, Quill wants to know Yotat’s story so Pryde indulges. I do want more Quill-less stories of the missing eight months.

Knowhere. The Edge of the Universe. Located Inside the Decapitated Head of a Celestial. Three Months Ago. Kitty Pryde Narrated Flashback. Historically, she is an unreliable narrator. (I’m not so sure about that).

They were there to get supplies and show Grimm what it is like to be a Guardian.

Pryde has been forced to take showers with steam instead of water, which probably makes sense on a ragtag ship. Grimm sort of likes the steam, Pryde can understand.

Pryde calls Yotat a gangster. He’s fine with trafficking of lower species as long as he gets a cut. Yotat is trying to choke out a nice green person but Pryde phases the person to safety.

Back to the Present. Drax side kicks Yotat. I see Groot standing there, so maybe he lost pieces but isn’t completely in pieces. Grimm wants his turn but Rocket pulls seniority. I do like a main villain that the entire team needs to work together to take out, instead of a group of villains versus a group of heroes. Easier to focus, I suppose.

Back to the Flashback. We are introduced to the Knowhere Corps. I recognize Moon Dragon, Micronaut’s Bug and Cosmo the Dog. The green lady and bald guy, I need to be told who they are. I like how Moon Dragon’s costume upgrade is that her shoulders are covered – somehow.

The Knowhere Corps take over the fight and arrest Yotat. Moon Dragon, who is wearing a brown cape, invites the Guardians to dinner.

Grimm refers to the Knowhere Corps as “space cops” which apparently, he must be doing a lot lately as Rocket says he doesn’t need to prefix everything with “space.” Yotat swears to get his revenge on Drax and his friends.

Pryde wishes she let Drax finish off Yotat, as he is clearly a horrible person.

Flashback Over. Grimm gives us all a “It’s Clobbering Time!!!” and Drax joins in with a sweet kick. Drax isn’t a fan of the sweet catchphrase. Grimm promises that the battlecry will grow on Drax.

The Royal Guard, finally, arrives to get Quill to safety. Quill can’t believe that they wait until two threats are taken care of, before getting him off the battlefield. Quill wants Yotat to be arrested, and he wants Hala to be arrested too.

Quill and Pryde turn to where Hala should be, still stuck in the ground, but she’s no longer there. Few have survived being phased through the ground. I know Thor was able to do it. Quill wants Hala found, and now!

We catch up with Hala, who is dragging her body through the city, leaving so much blood behind her.

Quill and Pryde find Gamora, who Pryde has so much respect for. I can’t wait to get scenes of these two dames together!

Quill demands a medic for Gamora.

Later. Gamora wakes up in a hospital room, with baby tree Groot at her bedside. I like these two together.

Quill is being told that he is no longer going to be President. He doesn’t quite pick up on that, so Pryde has to explain it to him. I guess that means we are never going to get Queen Pryde, like I always wanted. I do like Quill calling them jerks.

Pryde phases Quill and herself through the wall, outside and to the ground. I don’t like how the green consult hates on Pryde, screw that jerk!

Look how happy the team is in that middle panel! Gosh, I really do enjoy this creative team and this entire team! I miss enjoying a monthly title like this.

Grimm makes an awesome Hichhiker’s Guide to the Universe, but he’s the only Earth person who gets the reference. I like to think that Pryde got it. Thompson and Quill don’t get the reference, they don’t read.

The Negative Zone. We’re Full Circle. It’s Just Rock-Solid Storytelling. The Brood Queen took no effort in having Spartax denounce their king. Annihilus is very impress.

The Guardians are back to being outlaws.

Next issue promises to focus on Pryde and Quill! Which makes me pretty happy!

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Big Brother 18 : Episode 25 – August 14, 2016

Big Brother 18 : Episode 24 – August 11, 2016

Big Brother 18 : Episode 23 – August 10, 2016

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume Four Issue 5

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