Category: Comic books & superheroes

What I’ll be watching, fall 2013 SFTV

To follow up on recent posts about genre entertainment, here’s my tentative viewing schedule for this coming fall. Even if half of the new television shows fail this season, there’s still more than enough to keep fans busy!

Sundays

Mondays

  • 6:00 to 10:30 p.m.: The “Vanished Lands: Vistel’s Circus,” Gene D.’s fantasy campaign (using the Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game), alternating with Jason E.R.’s “Star Wars: Dark Times” miniseries (using Savage Worlds)
  • 10:00 p.m., Fox: Almost Human (robot cop, new) 11/4
  • 9:00 p.m., SyFy: Defiance (postapocalyptic drama) ** June 2014
  • 9:00 p.m., Fox: Sleepy Hollow (paranormal procedural, new) 9/16 ***
  • 10:00 p.m., ABC: Castle (mystery) *** 9/23
  • 10:00 p.m., SyFy: Warehouse 13 (supernatural conspiracy) ** ending 2014
  • Other genre: Beauty and the Beast (remake)

Tuesdays

  • 7:30 p.m., Cartoon: The Looney Tunes Show (animated comedy, currently airing) ***
  • 8:00 p.m., ABC: Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (comic book procedural, new) 9/24
  • 9:00 p.m., CW: Tomorrow People (metahuman melodrama, new) 10/9?
  • 10:00 p.m., CBS: Person of Interest (technothriller) *** 9/24
  • 10:00 p.m., History: Top Shot (marksmanship, summer) ***
  • Other genre: Fangasm, Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle (PBS, 10/15), How Sherlock Changed the World (PBS, 11/19 or 11/26?), The Originals, Ravenswood, The Voice
Disney's live-action superhero TV show
Marvel’s (and Whedon’s) Agents of SHIELD

Wednesdays

  • ~7:00 to 9:00 p.m.: Weekly historical weapons class in Burlington, Mass.
  • 8:00 p.m., NBC: Revolution (postapocalyptic drama) ** 9/25
  • 8:00 p.m., CW: Arrow (superhero drama) *** 10/9
  • 9:00 p.m., PBS: Death in Paradise (mystery) ***
  • 9:00 p.m., CW: Tomorrow People (metahuman melodrama, new) 10/9?
  • 10:00 p.m., USA: Psych (comedic sleuths) *** 12/15
  • Other genre: American Horror Story, Archer, Bitchin’ Kitchen, Ironside, Kung-Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Man vs. Food Nation), Superheroes (PBS, 10/15), Supernatural

 Thursdays

  • 7:30 p.m., Nickelodeon: Dragons: Defenders of Berk (animated fantasy) *** 9/19
  • 9:00 p.m., USA: White Collar (sleuth/caper) *** 10/17
  • 10:00 p.m., CBS: Elementary (Holmes in NYC) *** 9/26
  • Other genre: The Big Bang Theory, Covert Affairs, Once Upon a Time in Reign, Wonderland, The Vampire Diaries

Fridays

  • 7:00 p.m., Avatar: the Legend of Korra (animated fantasy) *** 9/13
  • 9:00 p.m., SyFy: Continuum (time travel) ** 2014
  • 9:00 p.m., NBC: Grimm (supernatural procedural) *** 10/25
  • 9:00 p.m., PBS: The Hollow Crown (Shakespeare; new miniseries) 9/20
  • 10:00 p.m., Starz: Da Vinci’s Demons (historical fantasy) ** 2014
  • Other genre: Dracula, Haven, The Hunters, Merlin, The Neighbors, Lost Girl, Nikita

Saturdays

  • 10:00 a.m., Cartoon: Beware the Batman (animated heroes, currently airing) ***
  • 10:30 a.m., Nickelodeon: Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles (animated heroes) *** late Sept.
  • 11:00 a.m., CW: Phantom Gourmet/NECN: TV Diner (local food, currently airing) ***
  • 8:00 p.m., BBC America: Doctor Who (time travel) *** 11/23
  • 9:00 p.m., BBC America: Orphan Black (clone conspiracy) **** 4/2013
  • 10:00 p.m., BBC America: Atlantis (fantasy, new) 11/23?
  • 11:00 p.m., VH1 Classic: That Metal Show (talk) ***
  • Other genre: Copper, The Graham Norton Show, The Nerdist, Metalocalypse, Monsters vs. Aliens, Teen Titans Go!

Genre TV for summer and fall of 2013

This past summer was much better for genre television than for movies. Thanks in part to counterprogramming by cable channels, there was a wider range of decent content on the small screen. The fall TV season is equally promising. (Note: Some of the articles linked to below contain “spoilers.”)

Top picks

My favorite TV shows of the past several months include the History Channel’s bloody Vikings, SyFy’s time-travel/dystopian Continuum, and BBC America’s clone thriller Orphan Black, which I’m not alone in considering as the best genre show of the year. They’ve been enough to keep my DVR filled and to keep me from wanting Netflix.

BBC America's Orphan Black
I know I’ve said it before, but this is the best new SFTV show of 2013 so far.

Janice and I have been getting our Doctor Who fix with Doctor Who Confidential, and the transition from Matt Smith to Peter Capaldi was one of the bigger genre news items of the past few months. We’ll see if Arrow can follow up a surprisingly strong first season (learning from Smallville‘s mistakes) with its introduction of the Flash.

B-listers

Shows that got bumped to my “B” list include the postapocalyptic Defiance and Revolution and bodice-ripping potboilers such as Starz’s Da Vinci’s Demons and The White Queen (and the upcoming Reign and Shakespearean Hollow Crown). While all these shows have decent casts, strong production values, and arc-driven storylines, the quality of the writing still varies significantly.

I haven’t been watching various Doctor Who alumni on BBC America’s Broadchurch, but PBS’s Silk has been OK, We’ll see whether Starz’s pirate swashbuckler Black Sails or BBC’s Atlantis (from the creators of Merlin) can match Spartacus or Magic City for period drama.

More mysteries

Janice and I have also been watching PBS’s Masterpiece. Of the mysteries, I still prefer the original Inspector Morse and sequel/spinoff Inspector Lewis to the prequel Endeavor. After the darkly riveting Bletchley Circle and reruns of the superlative Jeremy Brett version of Sherlock Holmes, we’re waiting on the return of Foyle’s War, Sherlock, and Elementary.

I’m looking forward to the return of Castle and White Collar (despite their dips toward soap) and the prescient Person of Interest, as well as the bittersweet series finales of the fun Psych and Warehouse 13. I’m afraid the new Ironside will run into the same difficulties as the recent attempted remake of Kojak.

Paranormal prodedurals

Speaking of paranormal activities, there’s also the Buffyesque Grimm, which I prefer to other fairytale-themed shows (including Dracula and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland). Da Vinci’s Demons has had a frothy mix of history and pre-steampunk conspiracies.

I don’t know where Sleepy Hollow will fit in this subgenre. New procedurals include Joss Whedon’s return to TV with Marvel’s Agents of Shield and robot/cop partners on Almost Human.

In other new shows, Believe could be good, and it has some of the X-Files/Fringe vibe. Tomorrow People and Star Crossed are more responses to the rise of metahuman melodramas, but whether they will be more like Heroes, which started strong but ended badly, or the underrated Alphas is yet to be seen.

Food, glorious food!

For reality shows, we’ve watched “food porn” such as Phantom Gourmet and TV Diner, as well as occasional shows on the Food Network and Travel Channel. We’ve also watched Top Shot All-Stars, American Ninja Warrior, and some documentaries. However, I’ve avoided the current wave of shows exploiting geekdom.

Animation nation

I’m still pleased with the Seinfeld-style antics on The Looney Tunes Show, franchise continuations Dragons: Riders of Berk and Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles, and atmospheric newcomer Beware the Batman. Disney/Marvel may dominate live-action, but its Avengers Assemble and Hulk and the Agents of SMASH aren’t animation I’d recommend.

This fall, I’m looking forward to Avatar: the Legend of Korra and more DC Nation shorts. Younger audiences might appreciate Kung-Fu Panda: Lgends of Awesomeness, Monsters vs. Aliens, Teen Titans Go, SheZow, and Rabbids Invasion. Note that most of these are now computer-based rather than 2-D cell animation.

Coming soon: Game transitions and more movie musings….

Boston Comic Con 2013 report

On Saturday, 3 August 2013, I went to the Boston Comic Con, which had been postponed and relocated because of the marathon bombings this past spring. David I.S. had hoped to attend it. The convention was crowded but worthwhile.

BCC 2013 wallpaper
Superheroes visit Boston

I got to the Seaport World Trade Center by 9:30 a.m., and the lines to get in were already around the block. Advance ticket holders like me, Beruk A., and Thomas K.Y. & Kai-Yin H. ended up waiting an hour or more, while those who bought their tickets that day, such as Sara F., didn’t have to wait as long. I hope that the organizers will have more people working admissions next year.

As with last year’s con, which I attended with Janice, it was great to see a diverse range of fans of all ages, races, and genders. Even though the site was bigger than the Hynes Convention Center, which was originally supposed to host the show, the crowds likely exceeded the expected attendance of 15,000 by a significant percentage.

Although it’s too bad that Dave and Janice weren’t along, it was nice to be at the con with a group. I ran into several people I know, including a co-worker and folks from Bedrock Comics, Newbury Comics, and New England Comics.

Readers looking for back issues could find excellent deals on trade paperbacks and graphic novels, and toy collectors had many booths to choose from. There were also several vendors specializing in arts and crafts, if fewer of fan-made films, costume accessories, or tabletop role-playing games.

Getting beyond the dealers’ area were some celebrities and the artists’ alley. Although Walking Dead and Hobbit fans were eager for autographs, we focused on the latter this year. We also didn’t get to any panels or the film festival because of staggered arrivals and the crowds.

I was glad to see comics greats such as Neal Adams, Colleen Doran, Mike Mignola, George Perez, Don Rosa, and Tim Sale. Even though I had met several of them before, we were happy to chat with the likes of David Petersen, Joe Quinones, and Daixong. I bought sketchbooks from some of these artists.

Of course, there were lots of fans and exhibitors in costume. DC and Marvel Comics characters were well-represented, as were anime and videogame properties. There were also some steampunk cosplayers and impressive homemade garb. I didn’t wear a costume because of comfort, but I always appreciate those who make the effort.

I’ve already been to a few local genre entertainment events so far this year, including the Watch City Festival and Creation Star Trek convention. For next year’s Boston Comic Con, I’ll have to plan more carefully to account for the crowds, and I hope that friends will again join me.

In the coming months, I look forward to the Rhode Island Comic Con and the Super MegaFest, as well as possibly the New York Comic Con! Coming soon: Other genre news and reviews, food outings, and game updates….

A weekend with the Westchester crew

This past weekend, Janice and I hosted Damon F.P. and Carlo R., two friends of mine since high school. They arrived from New York’s Westchester County on Friday, 19 July 2013. Janice made chicken enchilada casserole for dinner.

After a pancake breakfast on Saturday, we went into town for sightseeing. We stopped by the Outside the Box festival on the Boston Common and at Government Center. We also browsed at Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market before a satisfying lunch at Cantina Italiana in the North End, Boston’s Little Italy.

Fraters
Damon, Gene, and Carlo at Faneuil Hall, July 2013

Everyone was tired from the hot, humid weather, so we had gelato at Caffé Paradiso before heading back out to the suburbs (we avoided most of the crowds for the Yankees-Red Sox game). I showed the guys my office, and we had a salad dinner. We also touched base with other high school and college friends, including Steve M., Ron J.K., and Steve M.R.

It was great to chat about old times, relationships, politics and religion, and recent and upcoming genre entertainment. Carlo and I co-wrote The Zarkonian Bomb, a movie script, back in the early 1980s, so he was interested in the current “Vortex: Terra’s Pride” space opera game. Unfortunately, the guys didn’t get to meet any of the local role-players.

Speaking of genre entertainment, we watched the latest episodes of time-travel drama Continuum, the new and surprisingly strong animated Beware the Batman, and conspiracy show Zero Hour. Looking back, we rewatched Back to the Future and episodes of Star Trek: the Next Generation and Teen Titans. We didn’t get to the theater to see supernatural buddy-cop flick R.I.P.D.

On Sunday morning, Janice did her regular volunteering stint at the animal shelter. Damon and Carlo attended a Tridentine (Latin) mass at Mary Immaculate of Lourdes, a Roman Catholic Church in Newton. Janice made sloppy Joes for lunch, and the guys left at midafternoon.

After a year of no houseguests, we’re making up for lost time, with David I.S. & Sandra K., Byron V.O., and now Damon and Carlo! In two weeks, I’ll be seeing Stuart C.G., Ron, and Dave around the Boston Comic Con.

San Diego Comic-Con 2013 observations

In between other things this past weekend, I caught a bit of the online coverage of this year’s San Diego Comic Con, especially the following highlights.

Disney/Marvel showcased Agents of SHIELD (Joss Whedon’s upcoming TV show), The Wolverine and continuity-patching X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Thor 2: the Dark World (with a hilarious Tim Hiddleston in character as Loki). A little further out are espionage-flavored Captain America 2: Winter Soldier, likely blockbuster Avengers 2: Age of Ultron, and Guardians of the Galaxy, at whose panel Doctor Who‘s Karen Gillan revealed she had shaved her head.

X-Men cast, past and present
X-Men: Days of Future Past reunited cast members across eras

Warner Bros/DC had panels on the 20th anniversary of the excellent Batman: the Animated Series and the successful CW series Arrow. It also announced the title of live-action movie Superman/Batman, as well as Justice League: Flashpoint and War, which bring DC Comics’ “new 52” to animation. I’ve already blogged on how I’d approach the DC universe.

I’m not sure that Age of Ultron, which Whedon said won’t be based on comic book storylines involving Hank Pym, or the adversarial Superman/Batman, which draws from Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns, are good ideas. As much as I’ve enjoyed the latest wave of superhero adaptations, I’d like to see more variety, such as female-led movies, flicks that don’t rehash different origins in a formulaic way, and less tinkering to follow current trends.

There were panels for several of my favorite shows, including Doctor Who (which is celebrating its 50th anniversary), the potentially ending Psych, and the darkly fun Grimm. Conspiratorial Person of Interest has proven to be prescient, and I’ve been touting the underrated clone drama Orphan Black as the best new genre TV show this past year.

I also look forward to Season 2 of the animated steampunk/fantasy Avatar: Legend of Korra and Season 3 of the BBC’s Sherlock. Of the upcoming TV shows previewed in San Diego, I’m looking forward Almost Human the most.

Hollywood continued its domination of Comic Con, with previews of upcoming movies, including Godzilla and Veronica Mars. There was some comic book news, but it was overshadowed by other media. Of course, there were lots of fans in costume.

I’ve been to a number of genre entertainment events already this year, and I look forward to the Boston Comic Con, Super MegaFest, the Rhode Island Comic Con, and possibly the New York Comic Con!