Justice League/Power Rangers #2

Beginning right where the first issue ended, Justice League/Power Rangers #2 has the Rangers confronting several other members of the Justice League and believing them to be Zedd's monsters before everyone realizes they're all on the same side. All the while, Zedd himself ends up meeting with Braniac who form an alliance so as to destroy Angel Grove. Having the great things from both franchises, you get to see the Rangers using their Zords to fight heroes like Green Lantern and Cyborg as the DC heroes use their powers to defend themselves like Flash phasing through and subduing some of them. The scenes involving Zedd and Braniac are the most fun as you get to see Zedd use his own bombs to grow himself when he lands in one of Braniac's shrunken cities, and when they form their alliance this foreshadows what could happen to the Rangers' home at the beginning. One of the problems so far is that a bit of the dialogue feels a bit off, though that could just be me getting used to two wildly different franchises meeting each other. Over all: 99%
Top list so far:
1. Deadpool Killustrated
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
3. Civil War: Choosing Sides Vol. 1 #1
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2
7. An Innocent Guy
8. Batman: The Killing Joke
9. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
10. Batman: The Long Halloween
11. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2016 Annual #1
12. Justice League/Power Rangers #1
13. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
14. Crisis on Infinite Earths
15. Justice League/Power Rangers #2
16. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
17. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
18. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
19. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
20. The Dark Knight Returns
21. Old Man Logan
22. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
23. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
24. The Comic Cavalcade: Archives Volume 1
25. Civil War
26. The New Mutants #98

Pop Culture Guy episode 23: Revised Overall Ratings of 2016 Films

Logan

Hugh Jackman plays Wolverine, the role that made him famous, one last time after 17 years and nine movies in Logan. Logan is a very deep look into a world where there are barely any mutants left in the world, Professor Xavier is unable to fully control his powers due to neurological problem, and Logan's healing factor barely working and dying due to his adamantium skeleton poisoning him. Wanting to initially live in peace, Wolverine and Xavier must help a young girl, actually a female clone of Logan, escape from a group that wants to use her and other child mutants as weapons. Seeing as this would be Jackman's last time as Logan and the last film with Wolverine for a long while, it's only fitting that the film had to be rated R. It's a very visceral film that feels less like a typical superhero film but more something akin to a drama about a dying man wanting to do something meaningful in his life. The performances that both Jackman and Patrick Stewart, as Xavier, give out are just as award worthy as any other Oscar nominated performance. This film is both fun and emotional, especially in how it ends when compared to many superhero films that have been made recently. One of the best things about this film is newcomer Dafne Keen's performance as Laura, the young clone of Logan known as X-23, who brings a depth of vulnerability and rage one does not usually expect from such a young girl. Even if it doesn't, Logan is so different and so emotional that it should be considered for numerous Oscar nominations. Over all: 100%
2017 top list so far:
1. Logan
2. The Lego Batman Movie
3. Split

Pop Culture Guy episode 22: Rogue One review

The Lego Batman Movie

The first spinoff to 2014s The Lego Movie, The Lego Batman Movie is a Deadpool like take of the Batman mythos. It references and makes fun of the many things that are related to Batman since his introduction back in 1939 and points out the many crazy, weird, and silly ideas and moments from the past such as the silly 1960s villains or that Robin's suit is too colorful compared to Batman's.Will Arnett voices the Lego version of the Dark Knight and Zach Galifianakis voices the Joker who wants Batman to admit he is his greatest enemy. The film isn't just about Batman references as there are a whole slew of references to other franchises, that the best way to describe it is a nerd's wet dream. At one point Joker teams up with Sauron, Daleks, King Kong, the Wicked Witch of the West, Gremlins, and many other villains from other franchises. One negative thing about this film is that there are some few moments that can feel to childish for older audiences and can drag sometimes. Also a lot of the time the same conversations are often repeated throughout the film which can be annoying. But even with that, Lego Batman is a fun, amazing film that revels in the Dark Knight's best and worst moments. Over all: 98%
2017 top list so far:
1. The Lego Batman Movie
2. Split

Old Man Logan

My first comic book with either Wolverine or any of the other X-Men as the main character, Old Man Logan is a very interesting story that's part Western, Post-Apocalypse, and superhero. Taking place in the future of an alternative universe wherein all of the villains banded together to defeat all the superheroes and have turned all of America into a desolate wasteland divided up by various super villains, with Logan no longer wanting to fight and just asking for a normal life before everything goes bad. With the same writing and artistic team as Civil War, there are some similarities with each other though the artwork is more of an improvement than their previous collaboration. The story is very fascinating, well told, and serious, though can be too dark for its own sake when it handles certain subjects. The moment when Logan tells his story of what got him to quit being a superhero was really shocking and the part when he finally decides to pop his claws out after so many years felt very enlightening. In all, Old Man Logan is well told but has too many untold stories throughout every page and I like to think of it as The Dark Knight Returns of the Marvel Comics due to similar beats. Although I've always wanted to read this story, the upcoming release of Logan is what finally made me read it as it takes inspiration from this comic. Over all: 91%
Top list so far:
1. Deadpool Killustrated
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #6
3. Civil War: Choosing Sides Vol. 1 #1
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #4
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #2
7. An Innocent Guy
8. Batman: The Killing Joke
9. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #1
10. Batman: The Long Halloween
11. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers 2016 Annual #1
12. Justice League/Power Rangers #1
13. Deadpool Kills the Marvel Universe
14. Crisis on Infinite Earths
15. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5
16. Star Trek/Planet of the Apes: The Primate Directive
17. Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2
18. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1
19. The Dark Knight Returns
20. Old Man Logan
21. Cartoon Network Super Secret Crisis War
22. Marvel Masterworks: The Avengers Vol. 1
23. The Comic Cavalcade: Archives Volume 1
24. Civil War
25. The New Mutants #98

Pop Culture Guy episode 21: The History of Pasta