Recap: Avengers EMH (Micro-Episode 4) "HYDRA Lives"

And now, Micro-Episode 4, sequel to Micro-Episode 1, because numbers are lies.

It's alive! It's alive!

No Post Today...

...as you may have noticed.

Sorry; pesky old "real life" reared its head again.

Sketchbook: Various S-Shields

One of my biggest comic-related peeves (a nitpicky one, I'll admit) is when an artist (usually a guest artist) draws a really crappy chest shield on Superman. I don't know if it's the penciler, inker, lack of skill, lack of time, whatever. It still bugs me, and I can't help it.

To wit, last year, I sketched a a bunch of the various logos for my future reference, and yours too, now.

Behold!

Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes Archive

Assembled we are strong; Forever fight as one.

From Avengers: EMH to Avengers Assemble
From Avengers: EMH to Avengers Assemble, Part 2

Micro-Episodes
01: "Iron Man is Born!"
02: "The Coming of the Hulk"
03: "The Man in the Ant Hill"
04: "HYDRA Lives"
05: "Thor the Mighty"
06: "Behold, the Mandroids!"
07: "Hulk Versus the World"
08: "The Siege of Asgard"
09: "Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D."
10: "This Monster, This Hero" 
11: "My Brother, My Enemy"
12: "The Isle of Silence"
13: "Enter the Whirlwind"
14: "Meet Captain America"
15: "The Red Skull Strikes!"
16: "If This Be Doomsday!"
17: "Welcome to Wakanda"
18: "Lo, There Shall Come a Conqueror"
19: "Beware the Widow's Bite"
20: "The Big House"

Season 1
Episode 01: "Breakout, Part 1"
- Recap
Episode 02: "Breakout, Part 2"
- Recap
"Breakout"
- Review
Episode 03: "Iron Man is Born!"
- Recap
- Review 
Episode 04: "Thor the Mighty"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 05: "Hulk vs the World"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 06: "Meet Captain America"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 07: "The Man in the Ant Hill"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 08: "Some Assembly Required"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 09: "Living Legend"
- Recap
- Review
Episode 10: "Everything is Wonderful"
- Recap
- Review 
Episode 11: "Panther's Quest"
- Recap
- Review 
Episode 12: "Gamma World, Part 1"
- Recap
Episode 13: "Gamma World Part 2"
- Recap
- "Gamma World" Review
Episode 14: "Masters of Evil"
- Recap
- Review

Episode 22: "Ultron-5"
- Recap

Episode 23: "The Ultron Imperative"
- Recap

Review: "Ultron 5" & "The Ultron Imperative"

Season 2
Episode 05: "To Steal an Ant-Man!"
Episode 06: "Michael Korvac"
- Recap
- Review

Dear Internet...

I've put this off long enough. In case you're not up on the news recently, there have been rape threats going around the Internet. They've been aimed at female writers, critics, and fans, among others. Threatening to rape any woman for any reason is immoral, illegal, hurtful, harassment, and something that YOU SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE TOLD NOT TO DO.

It sickens me that there's people out there who apparently need to be told that.

To everyone else sickened by these recent events, please do what you can to raise awareness. This has gone on for more than long enough already.

But to all the stains on humanity who have been sending rape threats to these assorted women, I have this to say: Go take a long walk off a short pier. Life is far too short to have to put up with you.

Recap: Avengers EMH (Micro-Episode 1) "Iron Man is Born!"

Hokay. So.

Before Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes debuted on TV, Marvel came out with a crapton of online "Micro-Episodes", which acted like prequels to the events of the series. The thing is, you need to watch all of the Micro-Episodes to understand the two-part premiere "Breakout". The solution? Assemble the Micro-Episodes into full episodes and air them on TV... after they already aired the two-part premiere. Way to confuse everyone by airing the must-watch prequels after the events they set up. I'd expect that from DC Nation, but not from you, Marvel.

The numbering is a bit odd, too. Iron Man's story, for example, is told in Micro-Episodes 1, 4, 6, and 9. The production codes make more sense, but the airing order is still weird. But that's beside the point. On with the Recap!

Just the one Avenger, really.

From Batman TBATB to Beware the Batman

They couldn’t be any more different, but they’re both rather good series. But how did we go from the light-and-zany TBATB to the gritty BTB? Let’s take a look.

Batman: Beware the Brave and the Bold

No Sketch Today

Due to difficulties with scanning drawings while said scanner is traveling from a dorm to a house, the will be no Sketchbook post today. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Ranting & Rambling: Cartoon Network vs. DC Nation

Ah, the DC Nation time slot on Cartoon Network. Many people love it, including myself. Unfortunately, it seems as though the list of DC Nation fans does not include Cartoon Network. Indeed, it seems as though Cartoon Network is doing everything they can to screw over their DC cartoons. Why is this happening? Who’s behind it? How do we know that it’s not just some bad luck?

There’s been a lot of speculation as to the reasoning, a lot of arguing, a lot of blind rage, but I’m going to try my best to figure out what’s going on. I may not be 100% accurate, but I have done my research; what I present here is as accurate as I can find, having searched for official interviews with show creators (like Greg Weisman of Young Justice), viewing figures, officially released statements, etc.

Join me, as we look into the ongoing battle between Cartoon Network and DC Nation.

Round 2... fight!

Recap: Beware the Batman "Attraction"

Today, we’re returning to Beware the Batman, which is a major relief for me. Not only have I grown to adore this show, but I need a break from the show that leads people to find my blog by typing “she hulk farting”. Let us begin this much overdue Recap.

I missed you. Did you miss me?

The theme song plays, first of all. The whole thing. As an aside, I went ahead and repeated it multiple times upon viewing this episode. It really is that nice to get some kind of theme before a show. After literally months of dealing with the no-theme crap intros that Marvel gives us these days, this was a breath of fresh air. It was tangible bliss.

Enough gushing over the theme. It’s been so long that you may be asking yourself, “What the heck was happening in this show, again?” Well, you can always check out my past Recaps, but here’s the Previously On summary:

Last time Magpie appeared, she wanted Batman’s utility belt. But may also have set her sights a bit lower…

On with the episode!

Sketchbook: Alan Moore's Toybox

Alan's Moore's Top 10 is an absolutely brilliant piece of work. Simply put, it takes place in a city where insurance salesmen, police officers, and even homeless men have secret identities.

Anyway, one of the protagonists, ToyBox, uses a box full of weaponized Franken-toys as a cop. And she's awesome.

Sketchbook: Spectre, New 52

Yep. It's the New 52 version of the Golden Age Spirit of Vengeance.

Drawn in mid-2013 (estimated).

Here's a question: Why isn't the Spectre on Earth-2 with all the other Golden Age heroes?
Think about it.

Review: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "Stranger in a Strange Land"

I have little to say about the majority of this episode. Dr. Strange, though he looks like he needs a shower, is a nice guest hero, and HRG of Heroes does a nice job voicing him. The plot’s not bad either; it’s your basic “apprentice saves the master” tale, and it’s not too bad. There’s a few hiccups, like when A-Bomb is apparently too dumb to realize that just setting up a couple boxes does not automatically give you the ability to teleport someone between them.

I also have to bring it up again: A-Bomb wanted to pull a rabbit out of a hat, so Hulk called in someone who rewrites reality every time he burps. A-Bomb doesn’t want to be a Level 20 Wizard, he wants to learn Prestidigitation. Overkill.

I predicted the ending, too. As I recorded commentary to incorporate into my Recap and Review, I mused that it would be interesting to point the magic mirror at the Leader, or Doctor Doom to create a good counterpart for them.

Finally, to be fair to Red Hulk’s skepticism, all the magic in the Marvel Universe can be explained by technology. Teleportation magic can just be wormholes, fire dimensions can be lava planets, etc. However… Red Hulk was not only changed into a Wendigo by a magical curse, but he’s been to the home of the Norse Gods. So forget what I said to defend Rulk's skepticism.

All in all, not a bad episode from those details alone.

HOWEVER...

Recap: Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. "Stranger in a Strange Land"

Well, back to Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. This week, Doctor Strange appears for the second time in the Marvel Animated Universe in an episode titled “Stranger in a Strange Land.” Well, the title may have taken five seconds to come up with, but let’s hope they spent more time and effort on the actual episode.

Let's grok this shlock.

Review: "Eclipse" Issue 1

Reviewing this was a bit of an eye opener for me.

Look out, Eclipse! The villain got ahold of Pym Particles!

FYI: Updates for April, 2014

Hello, internet. What a March.

Can you believe that the NewtCave is already about one year old? Well, I consider my Captain Atom Character Study last June to be the grand premiere (and the anniversary date), but construction began around this time last year. I forget the exact date. I don’t really have much to say about that, but I thought it was worth brining up before the important news.

As I have mentioned before, I’m in the process of finishing up college. As I near the end of my final semester, certain priorities have to, well, take priority. Like actually graduating. As such, I’m afraid that the NewtCave will be going on a temporary semi-hiatus. By that, I mean that a lot of the posts this April will be minor things, like sketches, rants, and such. I plan to post a recap or two, but expect a bit of a reduced output for at least the next month.

Just to nip any rumors or doubt in the bud, THE NEWTCAVE IS NOT ENDING. Not by a long shot.

As I prepare to venture into the real world, I will also be hopefully starting a few non-NewtCave projects with the hopes of producing something that can actually support me economically. You know, so I can make a living. You know, so I can pay my student loans back. And maybe also afford food. As such, the slimmed-down NewtCave may continue for a while, I don’t know how long, but expect a few special things along the way to make up for it somewhat; a 4th of July special, a NewtCave 1st anniversary special, etc.

…Well, that’s about it. Time to work on essays and study for finals

Review: Superman: TAS "Mxyzpixilated"

This episode is a classic, for multiple reasons. Yeah, this from the guy who unapologetically trashed the Impossible Man.

Recap: Superman: TAS "Mxyzpixilated"

I’d like to take this opportunity to analyze the beautiful creations of the greatest artist of all time: Rob Liefeld.

I mean, the man is an absolute genius who has given us more and better characters and classic artwork than any other person working in the industry. The man graces paper with his pencils, and he smells like freshly baked cookies. He can count to infinity backwards, and can turn pollution into rainbows. And the man looks darn spiffy in some Levi jeans.

Jack Kirby was a hack compared to this god of artistry.

Also, I’m sure I don’t need to say this, but…

April Fools!

Today, we’re really going to venture into Superman: the Animated Series. Like the time I reviewed an episode of Batman: TAS, I don’t feel the need to go into much background of the show. This show is pure, unadulterated Superman. This is the Superman everyone knows. So let’s see how Superman deals with someone who seems to celebrate April Fools’ Day all year ‘round.

Don't mess with the "S"!