Batgirl #51 Preview

Always awesome seeing Steph be a badass, but I’m still counting the days until we get to see her huck a Gooperang again. 😛 Anyway, here’re the preview pages for Batgirl #51.

• After the events of issue #50, Barbara Gordon is at a crossroads in her life—will new horizons beckon her away from her home in Burnside?

http://www.craveonline.com/entertainment/981139-exclusive-preview-batgirl-51

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #4 Review #PoisonIvyLeague (WARNING – SPOILERS AHEAD)

Well, I’m sure, after last time I reviewed Poison Ivy, that everyone was wondering what I’d think of this issue. Would I like it, would I hate it, would it further the problems of the last one or recover from them? Well, let’s not waste any time and dive into Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #4 to find out.

So, right off the top, I do need to make mention of the fact that, yes, Poison Ivy apparently kills someone. However, this issue, it didn’t bother me NEARLY as much. In fact, I actually thought it worked perfectly within her personality. The details are kinda spoiler heavy, though, so I’m gonna write this in white within brackets. If you don’t wanna know what happened, don’t read it, but if you do, highlight the whole thing to find out. [Okay, so long story short, Pam finds out that Victor in the lab was the one who stole her notes, was the murderer all along, and used Pam’s research to try and create his own human/plant hybrids. The thing is, there was only ONE successful test subject, who was able to call out through the Green to Ivy for help. All of the others, who numbered in the dozens, maybe HUNDREDS, of fetuses? Not so lucky. Between that and the fact that Victor was going to threaten her and her children, Pam lost it, destroyed the lab, and damned near took herself, Catwoman, Darshan, and the girl with it in a rage, though it’s implied she killed Victor as the lab was brought down around him.] Suffice to say, after that? I don’t blame Pam for killing him. It’s something I wouldn’t expect Batman or Superman to do, but that’s strictly because they’re the people that don’t cross that line except in the most extreme of circumstances, because they’re the ones who HAVE to maintain that line between justice and vengeance, to show we don’t have to go down that road. To see Pam cross the line because someone did something so horrific? Not that big a big deal to me. Hell, I might’ve killed that guy, and I’m someone who values all life!

Other than that, the issue is relatively solid. I will say that, while I feel like Catwoman could’ve been used a bit better, seeing her and Darshan play off each other and show one another up back and forth was kinda fun. One minor nitpick: Because Clay Mann is doing Trinity for DC Rebirth, he had to take off early, and while those that replaced him are all good (or even great in the case of Ethan Van Sciver), they didn’t necessarily gel together that great at points in this issue. I guess the only other problem is that the murder mystery is over, but we’ve still got two issues left, so other than an insane amount of just throwing everything at us, I’m not sure where we go from here. I’m kinda hoping for/expecting a Gotham City Sirens reunion by the end, and the giant plant monster that’s been teased, but how it all ties together? I don’t know. But in terms of this issue on its own and judged by its own merits? Can’t complain too much.

 

Anyway, that’s all I had to say about this one. Big improvement in my eyes over last issue. Let’s hope it keeps up for the last two issues. Until then, lemme know what you think in the comments, and I’ll see you back here for issue 5. Ja né!

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #4 Preview

At this point, I’m just hoping they can go one issue without killing anyone. Also, gotta admit, this IS kinda making me wish we could get a new Sirens book. Anyway, here are the preview pages for Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #4!

• Catwoman and Poison Ivy—reunited! As the body count rises at the Gotham Botanical Gardens labs, Ivy needs Selina’s help to solve the puzzle…a mystery that seems to involve Ivy’s blossoming children!

http://uproxx.com/gammasquad/poison-ivy-cycle-of-life-and-death/2/

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #3 Review #PoisonIvyLeague

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, everybody! And in the spirit of green, we got a Poison Ivy comic review, and…well… … … …Pinkie Pie, you wanna field this one?

Thank you. Look, I know I’m gonna get a lot of people angry at me, but overall…I have to say that this comic left me feeling not so great. That’s not to say there aren’t good things still present with this comic, but…well, let’s just get into it. Here are my thoughts on Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #3. And please keep in mind, these are just MY thoughts, so it could very well be that the problem is simply me, I don’t argue that at all.

So, lemme just start off by saying that I personally find the babies kinda adorable. I know some people disagree, but I think they’re cute. I don’t know why, I just do. I’m kinda worried we’re gonna see them eventually die and/or turn heel, though. It feels like that’d be the most likely scenario in the end, and I’d much rather they not go down that avenue. However, I will say exactly why I feel that to be the most likely ending: Because that would otherwise be a great storyline to do for the long-term and see how it affects and changes Pam, and I’m pretty sure that, as of right now, they have no plans to do stories starring Ivy in the immediate future after the end of this mini-series.

But now we gotta talk about something I know is gonna be a hot button subject: Poison Ivy seduces and kills a man from work that was hitting on her a lot, and then feeds him to her plant monsters. And as soon as I was done reading that scene, I thought to myself “I don’t know that I wanna review this comic, because I’m pretty sure I’m gonna piss somebody off, namely a good percentage of the Poison Ivy League”. And this is a group I’ve been supporting for a long time now, advertised on my blog, spotlighted however I could, and now I’m scared that, once people read this, I may need to kiss my membership goodbye. But…at the same time, this is the life I’ve chosen for myself: Writing, blogging, giving my thoughts. And if I held back on how I really felt, you wouldn’t be able to respect me. So, I have to be honest.

I did NOT like watching Poison Ivy kill that guy. Not just that she killed him, but that she then fed him to her plant monsters. I mean, it was when Ivy fed a guy to a plant that I had to call it quits on the Harley Quinn book, and I can’t say that it’s any better here just because I like one book and its creative team better than the other. I get that she is not a superhero. At times, I wish she was, but she’s not. Regardless, this is supposed to be behaviour she’s beyond. At one point in this comic, she talks about how she’d LIKE to kill two detectives (who were freaking morons, by the way), but that she’s turning over a new leaf (pun likely intended). And then 7 pages later (ads not included, and yes, I counted), she kills this guy. There’s having seasonal affective disorder, and then there’s being just plain psychotic and murderous. And yes, this is now at least two people she’s killed, the dog abuser included. And like I said before, comeuppance is one thing, and both people deserved as much. However, this is murder of two people who, while both were utter assholes and just overall terrible people, and one was technically a criminal as animal abuse is illegal, the other one was just a jerk. Why do I make a point of that specifically? Because I can see her breaking her word and killing if she really and truly felt she HAD to, or if the person was a dangerous criminal and she knows the justice system would screw the pooch on dealing with them, because she’s not a hero. But this, as I said last issue, was unnecessary, and comes off as being done either to hammer in the point that she’s not a superhero, or to come off as some kind of power fantasy for those that wish they could do something about people like this. And keep in mind, I said PEOPLE, not MEN. The fact that they’re men and she’s a woman? Has absolutely nothing to do with this. If either side had their genders reversed, or both, wouldn’t change a damned thing. So if you disagree with my opinions, that’s fine, I fully expect people to. But don’t ANYONE come at me saying that I don’t like this because of my gender or the genders of the characters involved.

So, does this mean I officially hate this series and am not buying anymore?…No. I thought this one issue was problematic at best, I have concerns for the series overall, but things can still turn around, and I wanna have faith that it will. And frankly, if I abandoned the book at the first sign of trouble, after I and so many others yelled from the rooftops for DC to make this happen, then they’d never give us anything we demand ever again. Plus, I’m interested to see where this goes with the ending, with Catwoman showing up and knowing the two will team up next issue, as well as Darshan finding out about all of this. And hey, I’m still legit curious to know the answer to the mystery and who is responsible for what’s going on. So I’m gonna stick with it. Just letting you know, though, when issue 6 comes out, I WILL be giving my thoughts on the series overall, and if I feel generally negatively about it in the end, I’ll tell you and I’ll say exactly why that is. I just hope for the sake of myself and everyone that wanted this book and all but begged for it that I feel generally positive about the book.

Anyway, those are my thoughts in general. Again, agree, disagree, go ahead. Just remember this, though: I am not someone that went into this book expecting and wanting to hate it. I wanted this as much as anybody, and I remain optimistic about the series for now. Ja né!

Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #3 Preview #PoisonIvyLeague

Aww, they’re so adorable! ❤ …50 bucks says they turn evil and/or die by the end. lol Here’s the preview for Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #3.

• As the murder investigation at the lab deepens, a new surprise awaits Poison Ivy in the form of the growing hatched sporelings! As these new lifeforms test the limits of their power, will they soon outgrow the need for their creator?

http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/poison-ivy-cycle-of-life-and-death-3-dc-comics-2016

Another Big Victory For The #PoisonIvyLeague

………………………………………………………………………

Sorry, I just like to post that when my jaw hits the ground as soundly as it did today…‘cuz guess which group I’m a part of got acknowledged in a BIG way?

Ladies and gentlemen…this is what victory looks like. lol Admittedly, it’s not a COMPLETE victory. We of the Poison Ivy League still don’t have an ongoing solo series, merely a six-issue mini-series. However, we nonetheless have a Poison Ivy solo, AND we were given acknowledgement from DC Comics. So…yeah, I’m counting this as a victory for us, and I thus plan to celebrate it in the most appropriate method that I can think of.

…What? Did you think I was getting out the champagne? Straightedge for life. lol But, I do propose a toast nonetheless: To Rosen Rose. This victory belongs to you. 🙂

Poison Ivy #1 Preview #PoisonIvyLeague

Merry Christmas, Poison Ivy League! 😀 Here’s an early preview of Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life and Death #1!

• Life. Death. Poison Ivy has power over both. But can she keep her friends and hold down a regular job at the same time? As Dr. Pamela Isley, she joins the prestigious plant sciences department at Gotham Botanical Gardens, but things quickly get complicated when a fellow scientist is murdered and it looks like the work of Ivy. Don’t miss the start of this new 6-issue miniseries!

http://www.comicbookresources.com/comic-previews/poison-ivy-cycle-of-life-and-death-1-dc-comics-2016

The Official Cover For Poison Ivy #1 #PoisonIvyLeague

Poison Ivy League, UNITE! Here is the cover for Poison Ivy: Cycle of Life And Death #1, written by Amy Chu and illustrated by Clay Mann! 😀

Feels like only yesterday, myself, Rosen Rose, and a number of dedicated Ivy fans were raising awareness for this character and doing all we could to get her a series. And granted, this is only a mini-series, but it’s still progress. 🙂 Are you a member of the Poison Ivy League? Tell me your own tales of the struggle to make this happen, and let’s all make sure to see what happens when the book comes out early next year. Ja né!

Batgirl #43 Preview

… … …Okay, I’m beginning to notice a pattern with the Batgirl book as of late: One issue, they’ll tease something horrible that I absolutely hate happening, and then the next issue, everything turns out to be fine. I swear to God, though, if they reveal that Jo is actually Velvet Tiger right after the announcement that her and Alysia are getting married… …the only way that they can recover from that is if it pushes Alysia closer to Babs and THEY get together, because clearly Alysia has a thing for redheads. lol Anyway, enough gun-jumping, here’s the preview for Batgirl #43!

• Tech genius Luke Fox has brought his startup to Burnside, and he seems to be hiring all of Barbara’s friends…but not her! Unfortunately, someone else is setting up shop in Burnside as well…the mysterious Velvet Tiger!

http://comicbook.com/2015/08/21/exclusive-dc-comics-preview-batgirl-34/

Jyger’s Favourite 5 – 5 Favourite Kwing Arkham Knight Let’s Play Moments (WARNING – SPOILERS)

So, as of late, I’ve been watching a lot of kNIGHTWING01, AKA Kwing, and his let’s plays. Specifically, I rather like his LPs of superhero related games with his wife, who is affectionately referred to as Kwife. And, of course, that means I’ve been watching along with his ‘Stealth Guide with Commentary’ of Batman: Arkham Knight, which I fully plan to do a story-only review of soon. In the meantime, though, I thought it’d be fun to list off some of my favourite moments watching along with this LP. So, in no particular order, here are my 5 Favourite Kwing Arkham Knight Let’s Play Moments. And just so you know, obviously, there’s gonna be some spoilers for both the LP and the game in this video.

#1 – “I’VE TAKEN A LIFE!!!” from Part 16, Harbinger of Death

There’s just something I love about how horrified he sounds when this happens. I’m not even 100% sure I know what the hell happened here. Basically, he was taking out some thugs protecting the missile launcher set up on Founders’ Island, and he hits the last one with a Batarang, and for some reason (likely a glitch), the guy fell THROUGH a solid grate and plummeted to the ground below. Apparently, in Batman: Arkham Knight, you either die a hero, or you live long enough to see a glitch make you the villain. XD

#2 – “Is that a roadblock?” from Grinning Fishmonger

This admittedly took me a second viewing to fully get what the hell had happened. During one of the Gunrunner side-quest missions, the fleeing van that Kwing had to chase was suddenly stopped just up the road from where he was. Why? Because he’d earlier parked the Batmobile there, and much to his hilarity, the van could not, for whatever reason, steer around the thing, and just kept backing up and running into it for almost a full minute. Eventually, the chase part timed out and the van occupants declared that they “lost him”, even though the Batmobile was parked RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM, and they steered off to go back to base for Kwing to follow them. This was AMAZING.

#3 – “WHY?!?!?!” from Part 5, An Old Friend Returns

In all fairness to Kwing, based on a lot of videos I’ve seen of people playing this game, the Batmobile is not the easiest thing to control, and can have rather derpish moments. And sometimes, no matter how well planned you can be, accidents just happen. This is a combination of these kinds of moments. Right after escaping the exploding ruins of ACE Chemicals and talking with Alfred and Jim Gordon, Kwing decided to get back in the Batmobile. For some reason, it just proceeded to go drive backwards, right off the edge of the bridge, and splash into the river below. Y’know, Jimbo, I don’t think that THIS is how the Batman died. And somewhere, I’m sure that Harley Quinn was playing Amazing Grace on her kazoo in honour of the Dark Knight, who fell tragically because his car was stupid. LOL

#4 – Kwing Tells It Like It Is About The Batgirl DLC

Okay, technically, I’m cheating with this one, as it alludes specifically to a video he did outside of the LP. However, since he did allude to it throughout the series, mainly as he was playing the Matter of Family DLC, I feel justified in bringing up how he called WB Montreal out for their bullshit yet again. If you aren’t aware, Warner Bros. Games Montreal did both the Matter of Family DLC, and Batman: Arkham Origins, and in both of these, they’ve managed to royally screw up the overarching story of the Arkham games. I’ll leave it up to him to explain in detail exactly what’s wrong with this, but the short version is that Tim Drake’s presence makes no sense in the grand scheme of things and only continues to force a relationship that fans already admitted to hating down their throats. Because, hey, it’s not like DC has done THAT anytime recently, right?

#5 – “He is the-” “OH MY GOD!!!” from Part 7, Miagani Island

So, um… … …there’re a lot of jump scares in this game. This one in particular scared me so bad that a little pee came out, and I think the same can be said for Kwife. Kwing had just found out about another body that had been strung up somewhere in Gotham and was gonna go investigate. So, he grapples up to a rooftop, all the while chatting about the Flashpoint Batman skin he was wearing, when, from outta NOWHERE, fucking Man-Bat pops out and scares the shit outta us! Between its roaring and Kwife’s terrified screams, I had to pause and turn down the volume on my speakers, it was so loud! WTF, Rocksteady?! LOL

Anyway, those are my favourite moments of Kwing’s LP. Make sure to go check it out, like, comment, and subscribe to his stuff, and hopefully he enjoys this little bit of free publicity. lol Ja né, and happy gaming!