Eh, the brand didn't look right to begin with.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 7:45:38 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

I hope that wasn't too much of a spoiler.

One of my favorite moments in the episode, incidentally - the scene where Boscha and her friends are mixing up people's faces for fun - and the last person they do it too already has a "mixed-up" face, so they give him a "normal" one, to his utter horror.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 7:28:34 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

Well that's ominous...
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 5:58:55 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

I'm going to miss Kevin Conroy. My favorite Batman.
Thanks for the great episode review!
Excavating Company
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 8:46:01 am EST from 180.191.198.97

hanks for another good review, Matthew. (And wait until you find out the real reason for the branding....)
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 7:24:13 am EST from 70.176.217.135

Ah, the body-swap story. As classic as it is cliched.

Watched "Once Upon a Swap" which really confirms how much the writers love playing around with old tropes. I've seen my fair share of this kind of plot, heck I think the Disney Afternoon did it with 99% of their shows. So instead of giving the usual, "I didn't know your life was so difficult, I'll try to be more understanding in the future" message, they instead said, "Yeah, everyone's life is a mess and no one knows what they're doing." Which is some refreshingly honest storytelling.

One thing I really liked about the episode is that each problem the swapped characters got themselves into isn't something the original would have an easy time dealing with themselves. Luz would still be a social pariah among the teens, King would still be a captive to the world's craziest Cat Café, and Eda would still be on the run from the authorities. Heck, I even love that they don't even fix their problems by applying whatever lessons they might've learned from the swap. Instead just magicking everyone else with a, "Have fun dealing with the headache we just went through!"

Some little things I noticed: with Amity's more in-depth look last episode it seems like Boscha will be taking over as the alpha queen bee of awful. So...is the branding standard for the Emperor's Coven, or is that just a pacification method for the unruly? Either way, branding doesn't really have the best connotations attached to it and a design that intricate stuck to someone unwilling can't be good. It's just common aesthetics.

Favorite Lines:

Eda: Well, there's only one thing to do when friends can't see eye-to-eye.
Luz: Hug each other till we pass out?
King: Fight to the death!
Eda: Pfft. No. Body Swap!
King:...Are you sure you don't shoot venom?
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Sun, Nov 13, 2022 3:37:32 am EST from 64.85.245.77

I was so disappointed that Kevin made his live-action debut in the CWverse of "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and his character solely existed to prop up Ruby Rose's Batgirl.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Sat, Nov 12, 2022 7:02:19 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

B - Yes, that's the one.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Sat, Nov 12, 2022 6:53:10 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

"Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?"

I was shocked to see the news this morning. I grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series.

I thought he might reprise his role in more films, including live-action as older Batman.
B
B
posted @ Sat, Nov 12, 2022 12:10:06 pm EST from 74.74.246.146

I'm sorry to hear about Kevin Conroy's passing as well. (He got to provide Batman's voice again a couple of years ago, incidentally,for a Scooby-Doo series that had the gang teaming up with various real and fictional celebrities - the same episode, by the way [SPOILER] also had Mark Hamill doing the Joker's voice again [/SPOILER].)
Todd Jensen
posted @ Fri, Nov 11, 2022 6:38:38 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

Yeah, a terrible, terrible loss.

Would've been cool if he had shown up on one of Greg's works. Helped bridge the gap between Batman and Gargoyles. Plus he was a really talented performer.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Fri, Nov 11, 2022 4:19:35 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

https://www.dc.com/blog/2022/11/11/kevin-conroy-preeminent-voice-of-batman-passes-away-at-age-66?linkId=189232885&linkId=189234578

Holy moly, this one hurts...

A good friend gave me this for my birthday earlier this year. I had hoped, one day, to thank Kevin for it in person. While that will no longer be possible, I think it really demonstrates what a generous, thoughtful, considerate man he was. I can think of no better tribute than to let him speak in his own words - about what his most famous role has meant to him, and the millions of fans it allowed him to touch over the years:

https://www.cameo.com/recipient/62b7b003946e8ea5fb965484?from_share_sheet=1&utm_campaign=video_share_to_copy
Masterdramon - [kmc12009 at mymail dot pomona dot edu]
"Inside of every demon is a rainbow." - Charlie Morningstar
posted @ Fri, Nov 11, 2022 12:09:34 pm EST from 98.150.138.224

And it had the Necronomicon in the children's section, of all places.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Thu, Nov 10, 2022 7:55:54 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

Oh the library had a lot of great gags, my favorite was the encyclopspedia and demon decimal system.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Wed, Nov 9, 2022 7:52:46 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

Thanks for the latest episode review, Matthew. I agree that this episode definitely provides us with a deeper look into Amity. (I recall the part about her reading to small children; it definitely showed that there was more to her below the surface, even if she tried passing it off as for "extra credit").

One detail I now recall was the weird card catalogues. I wonder whether a lot of the younger audience would have been wondering what those were; card catalogues have been supplanted by computer catalogues for quite some time. I can't even remember when I last saw a card catalogue in a library; certainly not for years. (Though it does seem natural that the Boiling Isles, with a relatively low tech-level - though it's got magical versions of smartphones, at least - would have those rather than computer catalogues.) [SPOILER] We later on find out that the local public library in Luz's home town back on Earth does still have card catalogues, though. [/SPOILER]

One of my favorite pranks was when they removed the "Non" from "Non-Fiction", resulting in a thoroughly unsettled librarian.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Wed, Nov 9, 2022 7:32:25 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

And it's all thanks to the books at my local library.

Watched "Lost in Language" today which gives us a fun magical library adventure, misadventures in babysitting and another deeper look into Amity.

It really doesn't surprise me that Luz likes the all-loving protagonists that are all about friendship speeches and turning former enemies into allies. What does surprise me is that Amity may not be all that far off if her taste in literature is anything to go by.

What I like about this episode is that it's not just another case of "jerk character who has a secret sensitive side", but rather we get to see the cycle of how things can get worse thanks to her siblings. Emira and Edric annoy her with their blasé, troublemaking attitude, which just causes her double down on her aloof, unpleasant attitude. Which just encourages them to play pranks on her and the whole thing starts again.

We saw hints of Amity's insecurities but framing that around Luz to the point that she feels she's bullied is an interesting choice. It reminds me of the last episode where it was confirmed that she and Willow were once friends. Amity may have become the star pupil and part of the popular crowd; but that doesn't mean she hasn't lost that insecurity from her youth. In a way, Luz, Willow and Amity aren't so different in that regard.

Eda and King's little side quest with the Bat Queen's babies was fun, but every time I saw those kids I was reminded of the very upsetting-looking bat from Charlie the Unicorn.

Favorite Line:

King: Rivals are meant to be annihilated, not befriended. Now keep reading. I've sucked into your awful fandom.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Wed, Nov 9, 2022 7:21:49 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

And it probably saved them needing to come up with character designs for Wally's "non-super" circle of friends.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Wed, Nov 9, 2022 8:40:32 am EST from 70.176.217.135

That would make sense in Wally's case especially, Greg, given that he and Artemis were supposed to be out of 'the life' at that point, unless the intention was that he wasn't as past it as he convinced himself he was and his friendships at college were shallow.
B
B
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 10:48:30 pm EST from 74.74.246.146

Maybe he had two services.
Greg Weisman
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 7:36:52 pm EST from 70.227.91.143

[SPOILER] Maybe there's the theory that it's easier to keep your double life a secret if you have few acquaintances outside the super-hero life. [/SPOILER]
Todd Jensen
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 6:48:10 pm EST from 70.176.217.135

[SPOILER] That's something I noticed, sometimes I wonder just how many friends or close acquaintances the heroes have that aren't connected to their life of a superhero. Or even if any of them have any friends separate from the life. [/SPOILER]
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 4:06:21 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

[SPOILER] It seems like no friends of Wally who weren't connected to the superhero world were invited to the funeral. [/SPOILER]
B
B
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 2:47:19 pm EST from 74.74.246.146

Voted!

[SPOILER] Never mind the heroes. Imagine how embarrassing that must be for QB. Actually, I was thinking just yesterday that it was odd Batman had never taken a sample of her pheromones and synthesized an antidote.

Honestly, I'd be quite happy if she got killed off. She's not only a murderer but also, if she's ever had relations with someone under her thrall, a rapist. With a power that's a bit three decades ago. [/SPOILER]
B
B
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 10:46:42 am EST from 74.74.246.146

And so concludes the last issue of the Targets series. Here are some quick thoughts on "Last Rights."

[SPOILER] Once again I've been overthinking some things. The faked out deaths were mental projections by M'gann and they were holograms generated by Halo. Just blood patches and workarounds for Queen Bee's pheromone controls. I wonder how hard the heroes kicked themselves when they realized that a strong enough scent could overpower her superpowers. Got to be embarrassing for her, that's for sure.

And so the game of chess between both sides continues. With losses and victories for both. There's a bit more kryptonite out there attached to a psychotic super villain and Luthor is still out there with his image mostly clean. But the crisis has been averted, the day is saved and just maybe Match will be able to find some measure of peace among his brothers in the future. I also like how Kaldur specifically worded that Perdita is family to the heroes, unintentionally putting her under the "nuclear option." The Light has pressed their luck with her enough times that the heroes managing to get to Luthor without him seeing it coming shows that the issue with Vlatava might finally be put to rest.

The variant cover featuring Wally unfortunately turned out to be just a quick memorial to him via a flashback. Also feels a bit like course correction given that an episode of season 3 fell on his birthday and nothing was done with that. As sweet as the dedication was, it still feels a little hollow. Doing one last honoring to a character we won't see again for a series that once more was screwed over by executive problems. [/SPOILER]

And so Young Justice concludes once more. And honestly? I don't know how to feel about this. On the one hand the comic did provide a strong conclusion. On the other, knowing that we may not get back to this any time soon is disheartening.

I wish Greg and the team the best of luck in all future endeavors, whether they be related to Young Justice or not. I hope to hear the cast return to these roles that they have mastered for all these years. And I pray to God that those immortal words, "Never the end" are more true than you or I know.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Tue, Nov 8, 2022 3:27:10 am EST from 64.85.245.77

And we've got the last issue of "Targets" out tomorrow. Going to be quite a day.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 5:57:13 pm EST from 64.85.245.77

I filled mine out last week and got the alert it'd been received yesterday!
Karrin Blue
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 12:43:46 pm EST from 72.10.127.194

Jurgan> Most definitely will.
B
B
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 12:30:34 pm EST from 74.74.246.146

Sent mine off as well.
Todd Jensen
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 8:14:25 am EST from 70.176.217.135

Second!
Just dropped my ballot off the other day.
Matthew
Ain't nothing crazy 'bout me but my brain!
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 1:33:56 am EST from 64.85.245.77

First!

All Americans in the room, make sure you vote this week!
Jurgan - [jurgan6 at yahoo dot com]
posted @ Mon, Nov 7, 2022 12:54:00 am EST from 98.48.118.192