Pop Culture Guy episode 40: Thor Ragnarok and Justice League reviews

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3

The third issue of Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II is so far the weakest part of either of the two crossovers. Mainly due to the sudden competitive nature between Raphael and Damian and the sudden fight between them that just feels like padding. Its still a good comic, however, and even if it doesn't have a lot of action going on it does show Batman, Leonardo, and Splinter spying on Bane to see what he's up to. The ending is very memorable as it has all the heroes surrounded by Bane, Bebop and Rocksteady, Stockman, and Foot soldiers enhanced by both Venom and the Ooze. My one problem with this is how over the top large Bane looks compared to many of the characters, as he looks to cartoonish. The last pages of the issue also has a mini preview of the upcoming The Terrifics and while it looks good, there is too much dialogue going on. Over all: 82%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
4. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
6. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Pop Culture Guy episode 39: Top 10 2017 TV Moments

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2

Starting with Batman gaining information from Ra's al Ghul and a fight between Don and Robin against Mr. Freeze and ending with Bane taking over the Turtles' Manhattan and demanding more of his Venom formula be duplicated by Baxter Stockman, Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2 is as fun as the first issue was emotional. Unlike the first crossover, this has appearances by characters that weren't shown like Batgirl and Bebop and Rocksteady which adds more awesome. The fact that it took place a week after the first issue shows how seriously the story takes itself especially when we see Bane controlling all aspects of the Foot and the Turtles unable to defeat them. My favorite moment is definitely how amazed Don is at Freeze's tech and Robin calling him a fanboy. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
4. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
5. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1

The first of a six part series of comics that is a sequel to the first crossover between Batman and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Up until the last pages, the comic tells two different stories that deal with what Batman and the Turtles are dealing with in their own universes, with Batman finding a Lazarus Pit under Gotham being used by Bane and the Turtles fighting different factions of the Foot that split up after Shredder was put in prison. The artwork is just like the first crossover and is as great, though one thing I didn't like about it then that this comic still has is that it's too dark and not very bright. To see Bane enhanced by both his super strength formula and the waters of the Pit is an amazing sight, especially when he faces the Foot at the end. Something that will be probably a recurring theme throughout the six issues is Donatello's inferiority to his brothers due to being saved by them in a fight and wanting Batman's help in fighting better. As a first issue this is really good and since this is a followup we don't have to worry about taking more time for the two teams to work together like the first time. Over all: 98%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
3. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
4. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Top 10 2017 Series and Season Finales

Series Finales:
1. Samurai Jack
2. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
3. Liv and Maddie
4. 24: Legacy
5. Sleepy Hollow
6. The Sinner
7. The Mindy Project
8. Girl Meets World
9. Making History
10. Bones
Honorable Mentions:
Grimm
The Strain
Bates Motel
Pretty Little Liars
Downward Dog

Season Finales:
1. Doctor Who series 10 finale-The Doctor Falls
2. The Good Place first season finale-Michael's Gambit
3. Stranger Things second season finale-Chapter Nine: The Gate
4. The Flash third season finale-Finish Line
5. Feud: Bette and Joan finale-You Mean All This Time We Could Have Been Friends
6. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fourth season finale-World's End
7. 13 Reasons Why first season finale-Tape 7, Side A
8. Legion first season finale-Chapter 8
9. Legends of Tomorrow second season finale-Aruba
10. Arrow fifth season finale-Lian Yu
Honorable Mentions:
The Walking Dead seventh season finale-The First Day of the Rest of Your Life
American Horror Story: Cult finale-Great Again
Trollhunters second season finale-In the Hall of the Gump-Gumm King
Supernatural 12th season finale-All Along the Watchtower
Timeless first season finale-The Red Scare
Supergirl second season finale-Nevertheless, She Persisted
The Big Bang Theory tenth season finale-The Long Distance Dissonance
Preacher second season finale-The End of the Road
Big Mouth first season finale-The Pornscape
The Defenders first season finale-The Defenders
Gotham third season finale-Heavydirtysoul
Better Call Saul third season finale-Lantern
Rick and Morty third season finale-The Rickchurian Mortydate
Fear the Walking Dead third season finale-Sleigh Ride
Wrecked second season finale-Nerd Speak
Castlevania first season finale-Monument
The Fosters fourth season finale-Until Tomorrow
Dragon Ball Super Season Two: Golden Frieza finale-The Earth Explodes
The Last Man on Earth third season finale-Nature's Horchata
Lucifer second season finale-The Good, the Bad, and the Crispy
How to Get Away with Murder third season finale-Wes
Iron Fist first season finale-Dragon Plays with Fire
Steven Universe fourth season finale-I Am My Mom
Chicago Fire fifth season finale-My Miracle
The Amazing World of Gumball fifth season finale-The News

Top 10 New Shows and Season Premieres of 2017

New Shows:
1. The Tick
2. Mindhunter
3. Secret History of Comics
4. Making History
5. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
6. Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later
7. Feud
8. The Defenders
9. Star Trek: Discovery
10. The Punisher
Honorable Mentions:
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Great News
Trial & Error
Legion
The Opposition with Jordan Keppler
Ozark
Runaways
Castlevania
Me, Myself & I
The Good Doctor
Blood Drive
Santa Clarita Diet
Happy!
Riverdale
13 Reasons Why
Law & Order: True Crime
The Orville
Class
24: Legacy
Victoria
I'm Sorry
Hooten & the Lady
SEAL Team
Downward Dog
Famous in Love
Tangled: The Series
Dragon Ball Super
Ghosted
The Son
Salvation
Iron Fist
Time After Time
Taken
Powerless
Emerald City
Inhumans
APB
The Blacklist: Redemption
Will
Training Day
Raven's Home
Imaginary Mary
Somewhere Between
Hotel Transylvania: The Series
The Gifted
Young Sheldon
Future Man
Big Mouth
Freedom Fighters: The Ray
The Sinner

Season Premieres:
1. Rick and Morty third season premiere-The Rickshank Rickdemption
2. The Flash fourth season premiere-The Flash Reborn
3. Preacher second season premiere-On the Road
4. Stranger Things second season premiere-Chapter One: MADMAX
5. Doctor Who series 10 premiere-The Pilot
6. The Walking Dead eighth season premiere-Mercy
7. The Good Place second season premiere-Everything Is Great!
8. Family Guy 16th season premiere-Emmy-Winning Episode
9. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fifth season premiere-Orientation
10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine fifth season premiere-The Big House Pt. 1
Honorable Mentions:
American Horror Story: Cult-Election Night
Supergirl third season premiere-Girl of Steel
Fear the Walking Dead third season premiere-Eye of the Beholder
Gotham fourth season premiere-Pax Penguina
Will & Grace ninth season premiere-11 Years Later
The Fosters fifth season premiere-Resist
Arrow sixth season premiere-Fallout
NCIS 15th season premiere-House Divided
Supernatural 13th season premiere-Lost and Found
The Simpsons 29th season premiere-The Serfsons
Blue Bloods eighth season premiere-Cutting Losses
Angie Tribeca third season premiere-Welcome Back, Blotter
Wrecked second season premiere-Ransom
Riverdale second season premiere-Chapter Fourteen: A Kiss Before Dying
Legends of Tomorrow third season premiere-Aruba-Con
Voltron: Legendary Defender third season premiere-Changing of the Guard
Mystery Science Theater 3000 eleventh season premiere-Reptilicus
Stuck in the Middle third season premiere-Stuck at Christmas - The Movie
Power Rangers Ninja Steel-Return of the Prism
Baskets second season premiere-Freaks
We Bare Bears third season premiere-Grizzly the Movie

Top 10 2017 Film Moments

1. The Captain America PSA post credit scene in Spider-Man: Homecoming.
2. Luke throwing away the lightsaber at the beginning of Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
3. The opening car chase from Baby Driver.
4. Immigrant Song fight sequences at the beginning and end of Thor: Ragnarok.
5. Stan Lee's cameo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
6. Hugh Jackman's, Patrick Stewart's, and Dafne Keen's performances in Logan.
7. The cinematography by Roger Deakins in Blade Runner 2049.
8. The premiere of The Room in The Disaster Artist.
9. Andy Serkis's performance in War for the Planet of the Apes.
10. The No Man's Land action sequence from Wonder Woman.
Honorable Mentions:
James McAvoy's performance in Split.
Joker's villain roll calls at the beginning and end of The Lego Batman Movie.
Bill Skarsgard's performance as Pennywise in It.
The ending of Dunkirk.
Jackie Chan's performance in The Foreigner.
King Kong's introduction in Kong: Skull Island.
Final fight sequence in Justice League.
Opening fight sequence from John Wick: Chapter 2.
The Rangers suiting up and the following action sequence in Saban's Power Rangers.
Anthony Hopkins throughout Transformers: The Last Knight.
Storming Poppy Land in Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
The end of The Shape of Water.
De la Cruz's motives revealed in Coco.
Figuring out how the lie detector works in Professor Marston and the Wonder Women.
Michael Fassbender's performance in Alien: Covenant.
Remote controlled car chase from The Fate of the Furious.
The bank robbing sequence in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.
Gaston vs Beast in Beauty and the Beast 2017.

Revised Overall Ratings of 2017 Films

1. The Disaster Artist-100%
2. Baby Driver-100%
3. It-100%
4. Coco-99%
5. The Shape of Water-97%
6. Thor: Ragnarok-97%
7. Star Wars: The Last Jedi-94%
8. Wonder Woman-92%
9. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2-92%
10. Logan-92%
11. Spider-Man: Homecoming-92%
12. Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman-90%
13. Blade Runner 2049-89%
14. Dunkirk-89%
15. War for the Planet of the Apes-89%
16. Alien: Covenant-82%
17. John Wick: Chapter 2-81%
18. The Lego Batman Movie-80%
19. Saban's Power Rangers-80%
20. The Foreigner-78%
21. Justice League-70%
22. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales-69%
23. Kong: Skull Island-68%
24. Split-68%
25. Kingsman: The Golden Circle-65%
26. The Fate of the Furious-64%
27. Beauty and the Beast 2017-62%
28. Transformers: The Last Knight-60%

Most Anticipated 2018 Films

Order of release:
1. The Commuter- Liam Neeson action film set inside a train.
2. The Leisure Seeker- Elderly couple escape their mundane life through a cross-country journey.
3. Winchester- Based on the supposed true story about the haunting of the Winchester founder's widow.
4. The 15:17 to Paris- Clint Eastwood directs the actual heroes involved in a terrorist attack in a train to Paris.
5. Black Panther- The solo film debut of Marvel's and the world's first black superhero.
6. Early Man- Stop-motion animated film set during the dawn of time.
7. Game Night- A group of friends who regularly meet for game night get caught up in an actual murder mystery.
8. Annihilation- Scientists and soldiers study a zone that has been quarantined due to environmental disasters and must contend with various entities.
9. Every Day- A young girl falls in love with a spirit that inhabits different bodies everyday.
10. Red Sparrow- Jennifer Lawrence stars as a Russian spy who may or may not change loyalties.
11. Death Wish- Remake of the 1974 vigilante thriller with Bruce Willis and directed by Eli Roth.
12. The Upside- Remake of the 2011 French film The Intouchables about a wealthy paraplegic getting help from a former criminal.
13. Thoroughbreds- Two former friends try to do whatever they can to solve their problems no matter how deadly the cost.
14. The Strangers: Prey at Night- Sequel to The Strangers that sees a family being stalked by killers.
15. Tomb Raider- Reboot of the Lara Croft film series with Alicia Vikander based on the video game series.
16. Flower- Zoey Deutch stars as a teen who forms a bond with her mentally unstable stepbrother.
17. Pacific Rim Uprising- Sequel to the original Pacific Rim that sees bigger monsters and bigger robots.
18. Isle of Dogs- Wes Anderson's 2nd stop-motion animated film about a boy searching for his dog in Japan.
19. Unsane Steven Soderbergh directs Claire Foy as a woman forced into an insane asylum where she confronts her greatest fear.
20. Midnight Sun- Young girl with a deadly sensitivity to the sun tries to make a relationship work with a guy she has a crush on.
21. Ready Player One Steven Spielberg directs a dystopian science-fiction that is devoted to the idea of easter eggs and references.
22. A Quiet Place- John Krasinski directs and costars with his wife, Emily Blunt, in a thriller where they have to stay silent to avoid monsters.
23. The New Mutants- Set in the X-Men universe, this sees a group of young mutants who learn to use their powers to escape a facility that is holding them.
24. Rampage- Dwayne Johnson stars in the video game adaptation about giant animal monsters attacking cities.
25. Truth or Dare- College students are haunted by ghosts after playing a supernatural version of Truth or Dare.
26. Avengers: Infinity War- The Avengers have to reunite to fight Thanos and his forces.
27. Slender Man- Based on an internet legend about a disturbing figure who goes after children.
28. Solo: A Star Wars Story- Spinoff in the Star Wars franchise about a younger Han Solo.
29. Deadpool 2- Sequel to 2016s Deadpool that sees the Merc with a Mouth teaming up with Cable.
30. Ocean's 8- Spinoff to the Ocean's trilogy that sees Danny Ocean's sister teaming up with other criminals for a big heist.
31. Incredible's 2- Long awaited sequel to the 2004 original that sees the family dealing with Jack-Jack's powers.
32. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom- Sequel to 2015's Jurassic World that sees the island in danger of being destroyed and the attempt to save the dinosaurs that live in it.
33. Sicario 2: Soldado- Sequel to 2015's Sicario that deals with the continuing fight against drug cartels.
34. The Purge: The Island- Prequel to the Purge franchise that looks at the very first night of the Purge.
35. Ant-Man and the Wasp- Sequel to 2015's Ant-Man wherein Ant-Man teams up with the new Wasp.
36. The Nun- Spinoff to the Conjuring franchise set in 1950s Romania about the death of a Nun.
37. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation- The third Hotel Transylvania film that sees the main characters going on a cruise vacation.
38. Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again- Follow up to 2008's Mamma Mia! that looks at Donna's past and Sophie dealing with her death as she is pregnant.
39. Mission: Impossible 6- The sixth Mission: Impossible film sees Henry Cavill as the main villain.
40. The Predator- Shane Black directs this reboot set between the second film and Predators.
41. The Happytime Murders- Murder mystery with puppets.
42. The House with a Clock in Its Wall- Eli Roth directs a fantasy horror based on a children's book with Jack Black and Cate Blanchett.
43. A Star Is Born- Musical film with Bradley Cooper in his directorial debut and Lady Gaga in her first lead role.
44. Venom- Sony's first attempt in making their own cinematic universe centering on the Marvel antihero.
45. First Man- Biographical drama about Neil Armstrong and how he became the first man on the moon.
46. X-Men: Dark Phoenix- Set in the '90s as the X-Men face off against an alien threat that leads to Jean Grey turning into the Phoenix.
47. Holmes and Watson- Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly star as comedic versions of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson.
48. The Grinch- Third adaptation of Dr. Seuss's classic story.
49. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald- Sequel to 2016's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that sees Johnny Depp's Grindelwald facing off against Jude Law's Dumbledore.
50. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It-Ralph 2- Sequel to 2012's Wreck-It-Ralph that sees Ralph travel through the internet.
51. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse- Sony's animated take on the various Spider-Men across the multiverse.
52. Aquaman- The first Aquaman solo film set in the DCEU.
53. Bumblebee: The Movie- The first spinoff from the Transformers film series and a prequel to the films centering on the Autobot in 1987.
54. Mary Poppins Returns- Emily Blunt succeeds Julie Andrews in this sequel to the 1964 original.
55. Bohemian Rhapsody- Biographical film about Queen and its most famous member, Freddy Mercury.

Top 10 Most Anticipated
1. Avengers: Infinity War- The culmination of 10 years is brought into what may be one of Marvel's most epic films.
2. Incredibles 2- Sequel to one of the best and most stylish superhero films ever made.
3. Deadpool 2- More Ryan Reynolds, more crude humor, and more fourth wall breaks.
4. First Man- The story of how we got the first man on the moon.
5. Bohemian Rhapsody- Bio on one of the greatest bands of all time named after their best song ever.
6. The New Mutants- A more horror based take on the superhero genre.
7. Venom- Interested in how this will be handled without Marvel's involvement.
8. Black Panther- The first MCU film of the year leading up to Infinity War.
9. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse- Sony's take on the Marvel multiverse that has Miles Morales in the lead and will have other versions of Spider-Man.
10. X-Men: Dark Phoenix- The first X-Men movie that will deal with alien forces instead of the usual mutant rights.

Top 10 Most Anticipated New Shows Of 2018

1. Krypton
2. Cloak & Dagger
3. Black Lightning
4. The Alienist
5. 9-1-1
6. Good Girls
7. Lost in Space
8. Unsolved
9. Instinct
10. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Honorable Mention:
Total Drama Daycare

Top 10 2017 TV Moments

1. The Doctor's regeneration throughout the series 10 finale and Christmas special on Doctor Who.
2. Eleven's origins and lone episode on Stranger Things.
3. Pickle Rick in Rick and Morty.
4. Rick and Alexandria being saved in the season 7 finale from The Walking Dead.
5. Aubrey Plaza's performance in Legion.
6. Crisis on Earth X crossover throughout the Arrowverse.
7. Coulson turning into Ghost Rider in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
8. Eleanor figuring out the truth in the first season finale of The Good Place.
9. Punisher disfiguring Russo in the first season finale of The Punisher.
10. Kai's defeat in American Horror Story: Cult.
Honorable Mentions:
Sheldon proposing to Amy in The Big Bang Theory.
Kellyanne Conway Pennywise parody in Saturday Night Live.
Final fight in The Defenders.
Neil Patrick Harris's performance in A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Constantine's appearance in Legends of Tomorrow.
Rebecca's acceptance of her mental illness in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Jimmy Kimmel's emotional monologue about his son.
Gibbs and McGee's escape in the season finale of NCIS.
Lady Gaga's Super Bowl performance.
Grundy's resurrection in Gotham.
Aku's defeat in Samurai Jack.
Musical crossover with The Flash and Supergirl.
MacGyver and Hawaii Five-O crossover.
Using the church as a sanctuary in The Fosters.
The first use of the Iron Fist in Iron Fist.
Commander Raydor's death in Major Crimes.
Allison Janney's West Wing parody on Full Frontal with Samantha Bee.
The Strucker siblings' first use of their powers together in The Gifted.
Freeing then fighting the golden dragon in the premiere of Ducktales.
Police massacre by the Saint of Killers in the second season premiere of Preacher.