So, fun fact, this is one of the few Smallville episodes I can remember seeing, and may well be the first time I ever saw the series. Other than that? Well… “Cool” wasn’t the most thrilling hour of television. It’s an episode that continues the show’s trend towards the more generic freak-of-the-week focus that defines … Continue reading
So far, Smallville has done a good job of giving me something to latch on to in each episode, but the closest I found to compelling material in “X-Ray” was the appearance of an actress who would eventually have a career, Lizzy Caplan, in the role of antagonist Tina Greer. It’s not that this was … Continue reading
In the fall of 2012, following the conclusion of the Avengers vs. X-Men event, Marvel took a new approach to their publishing line. Called Marvel Now, the new initiative saw the entire line-up at Marvel shift, with almost every book being headlined by a new creative team and relaunched with new first issues. It was … Continue reading
If you were to rewrite a few scenes a bit and squint, this episode of Smallville could actually serve as a pretty solid critique of toxic masculinity in sports. If I’m being generous, I’d say that’s what the writers were going for with “Hothead”, but honestly, I think someone just threw out the idea of … Continue reading
When I picked up Superman: Birthright at the public library a few days ago, I was almost hesitant to read it. I wondered if I could enjoy yet another Superman origin story. Seriously, how many times can you tell the story of the man of steel without it feeling overtly monotonous? I’ve read Geoff Johns’ … Continue reading
There’s nothing quite like discovering the work of a new creator in comics. Whether it’s a writer, penciller, inker, or colorist, it’s exciting to check out the work of someone you’ve never heard of, especially when there’s the chance they could end up as a new favorite. The Millarworld Annual is a great book in … Continue reading
As mentioned in the introduction to our Smallville retrospective series, superheroes have grown into a dominant force on television in the past few years. From the dark depths of Netflix’s Marvel line-up to the DC expansive presence across every network not owned by Disney, it’s a great time to be a fan of superhero media … Continue reading
It’s funny how hard Smallville goes into “freak of the week” territory with its second episode. What’s downright hilarious, then, is the fact that “Metamorphosis” was often aired with the pilot as a two-hour movie event. Sure, this episode picks up directly after the events of the pilot and carries over a few story threads, … Continue reading
You know, if the proceeding 217 episodes go down this smoothly, I’m in for a pretty good time. Smallville opens with a strong pilot, one that does all of the necessary legwork setting up an ongoing series while also serving as an enjoyable hour of television in its own right. While a few characters and … Continue reading
In an era when superhero shows seem like an inescapable part of our pop culture landscape, it can be hard to remember a time when live-action versions of such properties were few and far between. Granted, as a huge fan of superhero movies and television, I don’t really have a desire to revisit those dark … Continue reading