Even though the week has just started, it's gotten off to great start with the premiere of NBC's
The Cape and my finally catching Cartoon Network's
Young Justice.
So NBC has suffered the past few years with their programs, of all kinds like comdey, drama and action.
Remember Heroes???
Yeah Season 1 was AWESOME but then it began to falter and then "pfft" it was gone.
Anyway after seeing it, The Cape is pretty cool. It's fresh and doesn't try too hard to be epic and overarching - granted it's only been 2 episodes - but it's got a small band of core characters and the situation is a simple one. Get back to your family.
Vince Faraday, the main character (love his name by the way) lives in a corrupt city and the first supervillain in U.S. history emerges. Vince is framed and accused of being the villain known as Chess. Vince is presumed dead and his taken in by an underground circus, led by Max Malini (Keith David). He can't stand being away from his family any more so after helping the criminal circus pull a few jobs on the ARK corporation, which is headed by Chess' alter ego Peter Flemming, Vince decides to take on Flemming/Chess head on...
By becoming a super hero.
Recalling his son Trip's favorite hero, The Cape, and learning about the numerous caping tricks, he puts them together to take back his life and city. Its extravangant, but extravagance robbed him of his life, so he fights fire with fire.
It sorta reminds me of Gladiator, that desire to get back to one's family as the driving force. Vince's bond with his son is pretty special, they're like best friends. David Lyons is great as this dad/husband trying to do right all by himself. It's like what if Commisioner Gordon was forced to become the Batman.
The comic feel is honest here as the show really suspends one's belief but it isn't trying to be The Dark Knight for television you know? It knows what is and I think its going to stay true to the spirit of flair and style. It is original and I look forward to what they'll do next week with it. I especially want to see more of Summer Glau as the hacker (and D.C. Comics Oracle inspired) Orwell cuz I never watched her on The Sarach Conner Chronicles. She's apparently a rich heiress of some kind trying to secretly take back Palm City as well.
There's a lot of simplicity in this show and the magic/freak aspect of the show kinda makes things work here. The cape used is a weapon with a long history of being weaponized and retooled, so Max has a big inven
tory to share with Vince on how to get better in his vigilaneism and on using the cape.
The Cape returns Monday, January 17 @ 9pm!
Now onto Young Justice! Haven't had a good teen hero cartoon since Teen Titans. Young Justice is more serious than that but it has moments, like when Robin hacks a computer system, masked heads resembling Robin's serve as a progress bar.
Anyway lol the show is about the adventures of the sidekicks of the Justice League coming together to fight crime for the first time. At first they think the'ye being trained to join the League but realize that it's harder to join than they thought. Hopefully more will be explained on why that is. Cause the show starts off with the young heroes taking on a less threatening mission passed on by the JL at Cadmus Labs. Here the core members meet the 4th member of the future team: Superboy.
Green Arrow's partner Speedy, at the beginning of the show quits working with G.A. after feeling let down about joining the League, so all that's left is Robin, Kid Flash and Aqua Lad. There are hints to Martian Girl too.
The action is pretty good, these cartoons get heavier in realistic battle sequences more and more. The animation is cool and the costumes are slightly updated but still retain their classic looks somewhat.
I like how the first arc begins with the origins of Superboy at Cadmus being a secret experiment and possibly a weapon that not even Superman knows about. Some good drama is bound to come out of that, and I personally anticipate is will cement the team of Young Justice after they set things right with the League, Cadmus and Superboy. I also like how Superboy where's his modern black 'S' tshirt and jeans (now cargo pants) in the series.
Some concerns I heard revolve around Aqua Lad being black with yellow hair and just being a plan for "Rainbow Coalition", possibly forced diversity. I see where one could get that idea since I can't recall too many minority [sidekicks] to choose from for this show. And it is funny, idk why black characters have to have yellow hair in these shows, coulda given him dreads or even made him bald... given him green hair, idk lol. But a lot of this stuff is trivial for me right now, I don't get to watch that much TV, contrary to popular belief, so I just want to enjoy a good cartoon about some of my favorite heroes. I would like to know if this Robin is Dick Grayson or Tim Drake though!
So I can't wait to see more young heroes like Martian Girl, and the resolution concerning Superboy. The show looks strong and I'm excited to see where it'll go, so check it out on Cartoon Network (check listings in your area)!
Also check out the Pop Culture Podcast with me and my friends as we discuss comic books, movies and music every week. Listen and download on iTunes!
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/pop-culture-podcast/id412768089EL FIN
Ladies and gents we have our Superman! Zach Snyder's vision on "Big Blue" is moving forward very nicely and with our hero finally cast we take one step closer to the epicness that will be Superman: The Man of Steel, flyin at us Christmas 2012. And this gives me more incentive to see The Count of Monte Cristo, which Henry starred in opposite Jim Caviezel a few years ago cuz I never got to see it. Also he'll be in a Greek myth epic later this year called Immortals which should be good too. This guy looks pretty cool and he's also another unknown in the vein of Christopher Reeve and the recent Brandon Routh; but uniquely he's british.
