RJ Writing Ink

Rick and Morty S8 Ep 10 Review

When it comes to Rick and Morty, it can be hard to predict how an episode will turn out. The previews are often made to be vague or misleading to keep audiences unsure how things will go (or at least me.) For the season eight finale of Rick and Morty, though, not only was I able to figure out what was going on pretty quickly, but it also led to another emotional moment for the series. In this case, Rick manages to find some sort of closure about the loss of his beloved wife, Diane.

Memory Rick is Back!

If the preview for the finale didn’t make it obvious, someone has been monkeying with Jerry’s memories, and it doesn’t take long for anyone to figure out who it is. The culprit is none other than Memory Rick, the sentient memory of Rick Sanchez created from Birdperson’s memories. He hitched a ride into Rick’s mind, but wound up in Jerry’s when they got scrambled together. Since then, he’s been re-writing Jerry’s memories in an effort to live the family life that Rick never got…until Rick pulls him out and traps him in a mind prison as punishment. Memory or not, though, Rick is still Rick, and Memory Rick is determined to get out.

Meanwhile, our Rick is inspired by the incident to become more emotionally open, and the only way to do that is let go of the memory of his late wife, Diane. So he literally extracts the memory and puts it into another mind prison, allowing him to open up to others. That leads to its own difficulties, though, as he winds up fighting a bug prince in a gladiator fight.

What matters more, though, is how even after avenging his wife and original Beth and trying to move on, Rick is still unable to let go of Diane. What makes it even darker, though, is how Rick reveals that he can’t even fully recall what Diane was like anymore. Not because it’s been so long, but because the device Rick Prime used to erase all Dianes messed with his memories of her. Rick is loving a shadow at this point, and he can’t even let go of that.

Rick’s Biggest Flaw: He Can’t Let Go

This inability to let go is on full display with Memory Rick. Being a younger version of Rick, he comes up with a plan to reunite with Memory Diane. Unfortunately, his plan involves hijacking Beth’s memories and mentally training her to mount a rescue mission. It works, but it has disastrous consequences: Space Beth almost dies!

When I saw Beth snap her twin’s neck, I was speechless. Throughout the commercial break, I was convinced Space Beth might be permanently dead! Thankfully she wasn’t, but it only gets worse from there. Beth proceeds to have a mental breakdown as the memory versions of her rebel and try to kill Memory Rick and Diane. Because of Rick’s inability to let go, it almost gets his daughter killed. Thankfully, he’s able to reset her mind just in time.

Another Season Wrapped Up

Ultimately, the episode ends with Rick letting everyone believe that he got rid of Memory Rick and Diane for good. In reality, he didn’t; he gave them a new mindscape for them to live in for all eternity and set them free into deep space. So while he may not get his happy ending with Diane, there’s at least one version of him that does. The sad thing is, he plans to wipe his memory of the entire thing, meaning he won’t learn anything.

I had a feeling that the season finale of Rick and Morty was going to be an emotional one, and it turns out I was right. It’s not as shocking as some previous finales, but that doesn’t change the fact that it advanced Rick’s story a little. That, and we saw the return of Mr. Poopybutthole. It was a good finale, overall, for a season that feels more laid-back than the show’s been in recent years.

I Give “Hot Rick” a 4/5

Click here to see my other animation stuff.

Fantastic Four: First Steps Review

Remember ten years ago when Fox announced they were releasing a reboot of the Fantastic Four? The moment I saw the trailers for it, all I could do was groan because I knew it would be a disaster. More than that, I didn’t understand why Fox felt the need to do this. With the MCU already well-underway, it felt like a waste of time and money to make a standalone film. I wasn’t alone, either; the film flopped so bad that when Disney bought Fox in 2019, people cheered since it meant Marvel’s first family could come home at last. Fast-forward to 2025, and we finally have the Fantastic Four’s induction into the MCU with their newest film, Fantastic Four: First Steps. But does it manage to give the quartet their due after all these years? The long and short of it is that yes, yes it does.

The Amazing Retrofuturism

The big thing that needs to be said about Fantastic Four: First Steps is the fact that while it’s part of the MCU, it doesn’t take place in the MCU’s main timeline. Instead, it takes place on Earth-828 during a retro-futuristic 1960s. Besides being a loving tribute to the birthday of the team’s co-creator, Jack Kirby, the most advantage this film has is starting off with a clean slate. Ever since Endgame, more and more people have complained about the abundance of shows and specials that the MCU has gotten on streaming. It’s a bold experiment, but even the most devoted fans (like me) don’t like having to watch everything to make sense of what’s going on! Not only is this film something that we can watch without seeing any other Marvel movies, but it taking place on an alternate Earth means it can use the Multiverse concept to be as creative as possible. And creative it gets!

When the Fantastic Four first came out in 1961, the US was experiencing a time of growth and prosperity. Advances in science, technology, and civil rights meant that people were very optimistic about the future held in store. Shows like Star Trek had us exploring the depths of the universe, while cartoons like The Jetsons imagined a future with flying cars, floating houses, and wonders that would like our lives better than ever. While that future has yet to come about in real life, First Steps gives us a chance to see what that would might have been like. Everything is full of bright colors and smooth lines from the biggest buildings to the cars (which look awesome!) The movie even goes the extra mile by capturing the art style of the time on everything from the billboard signs to a box of cereal. As someone who loves sci-fi and retro-futurism, it was like a dream come true for me!

What was even better, though, was how the film managed to do justice to not only the Fantastic Four, but Galactus…and the Silver Surfer, though that’s complicated.

The Characters Were Near Perfect

As a kid, I never had any interest in Fox’s first two attempts at Fantastic Four movies, and I have never seen the disaster that was the 2015 film (and I never hope to!) It wasn’t until after I had already seen First Steps that I even watched the 2005 film. I’m glad that I waited, because the 2005 movie is very dated, not only in special effects, but in how it portrays the characters. The movie forgets one of the most important things about its main characters: they’re a family. And while families do often fight and argue about things, at the end of the day, the Fantastic Four are incredibly close and care about each other. I watched the 2005 film, and I barely got any family vibes from them.

In contrast to the previous films, First Steps sees the Fantastic Four fully embrace their role as Marvel’s first family. Not only do the actors do a good job of portraying their characters, but they manage to act much like a normal family would when they’re onscreen together. Reed is constantly worrying about things that could go wrong, but he has his wife, brother-in-law, and best friend to get him out of his head when needed. Johnny and Ben’s back-and-forth is a lot more playful than in the Tim Story films. And not only does Susan have a lot more agency, but she lives up to her role as the loving team mom who keeps everyone together.

As far as the individual actors go, though, I’ve got a few things worth saying.

Good Actors!

I know some people have gotten tired of seeing Pedro Pascal everywhere, but I haven’t. And I think that he does a good job of downplaying the more negative aspects of Reed Richards’ personality. While he does admit that he’s the smartest man in the room, he also holds himself to high, almost impossible standards. This is best shown when he can’t initally find a way to stop Galactus without sacrificing someone. But that’s why he has his family and especially his wife to keep him grounded.

Speaking of grounded,  Ebon-Moss Bachrach plays a good Ben Grimm. Having seen the 2005 film and how grumpy he was, it was nice to have a Thing that has already come to terms with his life. Ironically, he also gets the least focus out of the four.

Johnny, played by Joseph Quinn, was the biggest surprise for me. It makes sense that the people making the movie would want to tone down Johnny’s womanizing, because, quite frankly, the Chris Evans Johnny would get cancelled in today’s culture. That wasn’t the biggest surprise though; it was his intelligence. Johnny manages to be as smart as the rest of his family. In one crucial plot point, he’s able to take what the Silver Surfer says in her native language and use it to translate the entire thing! It becomes an important part of the plot, so, that’s impressive, Johnny!

The character that gets the most attention, though, is Vanessa Kirby’s Susan Storm, and for good reason. She spends the first half of the film pregnant with her and Reed’s child. With the second half focusing on protecting their newborn son from Galactus, her importance only grows. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve always imagined Susan Storm played by someone fierce but motherly, like Katara from Avatar: The Last Airbender. And as this film makes abundantly clear in its climax, you don’t want to mess with mom! She’s pretty much the badass, self-actualized mom that every woman aspires to be!

They Did Right By Galactus

On the other end of the spectrum we have our main antagonists, Galactus and the Silver Surfer. While some might complain about Norrin Radd getting swapped out for Shalla-Bal, I didn’t care. At all. What mattered is that the Surfer fulfilled their narrative purpose, and I’d say Julia Garner did that. Like many people, what I did care about was Marvel doing right by Galactus. He’s to the Marvel Universe what Beerus is to Dragon Ball: a force of nature and destruction. Rise of the Silver Surfer dropped the ball eighteen years ago, but Ralph Ineson manages to do right by the Devourer of Worlds.

If Stan Lee and Jack Kirby could be brought back to the present-day so they could see this movie, I hope that someone like Ralph is who they imagined Galactus to be. He’s every bit as terrifying as he was back in the 60s, and even though you might feel bad because of his lot in life, you still root against him. Moreover, since this universe doesn’t have plot armor, you can’t but fear that before he is defeated, one of the heroes might have to make the ulitmate sacrifice. Or even worse, that the Fantastic Four would ultimately fail.

Decent Superhero Film, Better Family Film

As far as being a superhero film, Fantastic Four: First Steps is actually rather basic when compared to the more fantastical plots we’ve gotten in the MCU. However, it doesn’t need to be that complex, as its adapting one of the greatest stories in comic book history. What I will say, though, is that when it comes to balancing being a superhero film with a family film, First Steps favors the latter over the former. Much of the film is centered less on the combat and more on the family drama as the heroes struggle against their biggest challenge to date. It only gets worse, though, when Galactus wants baby Franklin so he can drop his world-eater gig for good. When they refuse, everyone’s understandably upset. It’s things like this where the film is at its best, and unfortunatley, that means that the superhero stuff seems to suffer a bit. The combat is rather simplistic when compared to what we’ve gotten in other Marvel films, and this becomes glaringly obvious during the final battle against Galactus. Maybe I’ve seen too much shonen anime, but I know that the heroes could do way more with their powers if they pushed themselves to the limit!

To its credit, though, the film does a great job of playing on the sci-fi aspects of the Fantastic Four, especially once the group travels into deep space to confront Galactus. That entire section of the film, from confronting him on his worldship to the Surfer chasing them through warp into a quasar is like something that’s out of the best of Star Trek. Which is fitting, considering how both came out in the 60s, are heavily influenced by sci-fi, and have an overall positive outlook on the future, one that the world desperately needs right now.

This message about hope and optimism is something that First Steps has in common with that of Superman. Both are encouraging people to look for the best possible future, and both have their own strengths. But while I loved both movies, I think that Superman might beat out Fantastic Four when it comes to being a superhero film. Because, as I’ve already said, the Fantastic Four aren’t just a team of heroes; they’re a family. And when the film focuses more on the dynamics of being a family, I think that’s where it works best. Then again, this is only the Fantastic Four’s formal introduction to the MCU, so they’re only getting started.

The Fantastic Four are Just Getting Started

Let’s rip the band-aid off: the rumors about the mid-credits scene were true. A man in a green hood does show up, and the film explicitly states that the Fantastic Four will be returning in the upcoming film Avengers: Doomsday, where they are set to play a key role. With Kevin Feige confirming that Avengers: Secret Wars will serve as a soft reset for the MCU, the Fantastic Four will undoubtedly become a part of this merged universe when the dust settles. Having seen other studios repeatedly fumble the ball with Marvel properties in the 2010s, I wholeheartedly support this. It’s time for all of Marvel to come home.

Fantastic Four: First Steps isn’t just another Marvel; it’s a homecoming. After all these years and three failed attempts as well as movie that never got released, we finally have a movie that does Marvel’s first family justice. It is, by no means, a perfect film, as the pacing is a little off and some of the cast gets more attention than others. As far as formal introductions to the MCU, though, First Steps delivers. I cannot argue whether or not it’s a better movie than Superman, though, as I feel both films have their pros and cons and are delightful films overall. They manage to put Marvel and DC on equal footing on the big screen for the first time in years, and that in and of itself could be considered a win. I will say this, though: I’m not paying $80 for the Galactus popcorn bucket, world record or not!

I Give Fantastic Four: First Steps a 4/5

One Piece Chapter 1154 & 1155 Review

Rocks D. Xebec, the greatest rival to Gol D. Roger, the King of the Pirates. We didn’t learn about him until the Wano Country Arc, but since then, Oda has been putting a lot of importance on this long-dead pirate. And some fans have taken note of a potential connection between him and Blackbeard, the man who’s likely going to be Luffy’s final and greatest opponent. And while the two latest chapters of the manga were supposed to be about continuing Loki’s backstory, now more people are paying attention to Rocks. Because those theories about Rocks’ connection to Blackbeard were right!! And they change a lot of what has already happened thus far!

Recap- Chapter 1154

The same year that Loki was born, Elbaph was beset by calamity after calamity. Half a village was destroyed by the child Charlotte Linlin, the future Big Mom, and Fallbeard Jorul was killed. But that was just the beginning. Every kind of natural disaster befell Elbaph: fires, storms, and harsh winters destroyed their crops. Giants fought each other just to survive! And until the day she died, Queen Estrid said it was due to Loki being cursed. Unfortunately, people started to believe her.

Thankfully, Harald returns before the fighting can bring harm to Ida or Hadrujin. He reached out to the kingdoms he had befriended, and they sent him enough food for all the Giants . Sadly, by that point, Loki’s poor heart had hardened. People already considered him cursed, so he had given up on love.

As the years passed, Harald continued to try and connect Elbaph with the rest of the world, only to continually meet resistance from the World Government. As for Loki, he was raised by his cruel maternal uncle. And as he grew older, he lashed out at the world that refused to love him. But no matter how much trouble he caused, he could never fill the hole in his heart. Until one faithful day, forty-eight years ago, when a certain man and his compatriots arrived in Elbaph looking for Harald, whom he had met at the Reverie eight years ago after killing a Navy Admiral before escaping. That man’s name was Rocks D. Xebec, future captain of the Rocks Pirates and father to Blackbeard!

Whaaaaaa?!?!??

Chapter 1155

Rocks had come to Elbaph looking for Harald, and he wasn’t going to leave without seeing him. So when he heard Harald was away, he told Loki to go back and message his dad saying he was badly hurt. Then, just to prove it, he hurt him!

The reason why Rocks wanted to meet Harald goes back to the Reverie of eight years ago. Rocks had attacked and killed a Navy Admiral and taken five kings hostage. Then he somehow did what no has before or since: he made it all the way to the personal flower chamber of Imu and spoke to the ruler of the world himself. After that, he left, but not before promising to be back one day.

Meanwhile, Harald had also snuck into the Reverie, only to run for it when the Celestial Dragons tried to capture him, and run into Rocks. The two’s resulting sword-clash was so powerful, everyone in the vicinity vanished! The two managed to escape, but Rocks was just getting started.

Rocks spent the next eight years going on a rampage. He stole a ship filled with tributes to the Celestial Dragons and escaped again, and destroyed one of the Gates of Justice in the process. And then, he used Davy Back fights to assemble a powerful group of followers, like Whitebeard, Shiki, Stussy, and more!

Sure enough, Harald did come home for Loki, much to his surprise. And he threw a feast for Rocks and his band. Rocks then pitched him this big plan of his to Harald: he would take control of the land known as Pirate Island, rich with veins of gold, and build a pirate’s paradise. With his own kingdom, he will bring the entire world to heel under his rule, and he wants Harald to join him. While Harald refused, Loki was enthralled by what he heard!

Four years later, Rocks would carry out his plan. He captured Pirate Island, and with his band of misbegotten followers, the Rocks Pirates were born!

Review

Wow. Just…wow. I can’t even begin to describe how epic these two chapters were. First we learn about how Loki’s childhood was even sadder than we already knew, but then everything we learned about Rocks? No wonder he was considered Roger’s greatest rival, forcing him to team up with Garp to take him down. Roger might be the OG King of the Pirates, but Rocks had that black air force energy going on for just as long!

Poor Loki

Before we get into Rocks, though, we need to talk about Loki.  Now, I have seen a lot of tragic backstories in One Piece. I even rank Kuma’s as one of the saddest backstories I’ve ever seen in Shonen manga. But in all my years of reading and watching One Piece, never have I met someone who needed a hug as badly as Loki does. Even Kuma had the luxury of loving parents for the first few years of his life. But thanks to his horrible mom, he was robbed of even that. And since everyone kept Harald in the dark about the truth, he wasn’t able to give him the love he needed in his first few months. No wonder Loki grew up to be a problem child. He was lashing out at the world that had rejected him, being the monster everyone already thought he was. But deep down, he’s a lonely young man who just wants a friend! Is it any wonder why he grew to admire someone like Rocks?

Rocks is Qualified to Be THAT GUY

Ever since we learned about Rocks D. Xebec, I have seen multiple theories about him pop up in the fandom. Some have speculated that he was not actually dead, but had somehow replaced Imu. Others guessed that Blackbeard had a connection to him, as his flagship, the Saber of Xebec, is named after him. I don’t know where I first heard the theory about Blackbeard being Rocks’ son, but I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time. I wish that I had, because this reframes a lot of what we’ve seen in One Piece.

There is still a lot about the life of Marshall D. Teach that we don’t know about, but he was apparently a part of Whitebeard’s crew for most of his life. Did Whitebeard even know that Rocks was Blackbeard’s father? If he did, then that explains why Whitebeard didn’t want Ace to go after Blackbeard. He knew firsthand just how dangerous Rocks was, and thus how his son was likely the same way. And when Ace did catch up with Blackbeard, it wound up being a repeat of history. The son of Rocks vs the son of Roger, except this time, Rocks’ bloodline won. Fate can be funny like that!

What Does Blackbeard Know?

More importantly, this raises a major question: does Blackbeard know that Rocks is his father? If he does, then that would explain why he chose to fly under the radar for all those years. He surely must have known how Rocks had tried to fight and conquer the World Government head-on, only to lose to Roger and Garp. So he chose to bide his time for decades, waiting for the right moment to make his move. And when he did, he ensured that he ultimately came out on top. He weakened the Marines and crippled the Whitebeard Pirates at Marineford, all while making his crew one of the strongest in the world. And with the recent news that Mariejois is under attack, fans have good reason to suspect that Blackbeard is the one attacking. Rocks might be long dead, but it looks as though his son intends to keep the promise he made to Imu.

I’ve been saying for a while now that I think either Blackbeard or Imu will be the final antagonists that Luffy has to face before making it to Laugh Tale. But with everything that is going on in Elbaph, and what we’ve learned about Rocks, Blackbeard might have just taken that top spot. Hopefully, this whole flashback will reveal more about Rocks. But if it doesn’t, we will undoubtedly learn more when we get into the life of Blackbeard. Either way, now is the time to lock into One Piece.

I Give “I Can’t Even Die” and “The Rocks Pirates” a 4/5 Each

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

Rick and Morty S8 Ep 9 Review

So back during the first season of Rick and Morty, Morty talked Rick into buying him a sexbot as a gift, because…Morty’s a teenage boy. Except it turned out to be an alien robot created by a race of women to help them reproduce with the hyper-violent males of their species. It wound up creating a half-alien son that Morty named Morty Jr who grew up to hate his dad so much that he wrote a best-selling novel about it. It was something so weird and out of the ordinary, even by the show’s standards, that it’s never come up again…until now. The penultimate episode of this season opts for a deep callback with the return of Morty Jr.

Morty Jr is Back

The episode starts off with Morty getting a call from his now-elderly son from the hospital. Naturally, Morty assumes that Jr is dying and, wanting to make amends, decides to pay him a visit. This is much to the protests of his family, who all vocally agree that Morty Junior sucks. The funniest part is the fact that Jerry is the most vocal about his disapproval, due to him writing a book trashing Morty. Not because it wasn’t true, but because it made him and Beth look like bad parents.

I don’t have kids yet myself, but I’m old enough to understand that parents are never going to be perfect. Even the ones that are genuinely trying to be good parents are going to screw up, but won’t want to admit it. So I found Jerry’s complaining about Junior to be funny, especially later in the episode, as it’s revealed that his assessment of Morty’s son was accurate.

Morty Junior. Just as Bad as his Old Man

Morty Junior reached out to his dad because he wanted to find closure with his “mom,” who Morty had long since thrown away. So the two jump into the pocket dimension Rick created to hold all his trash, and wind up getting trapped there. Then, it’s revealed that Morty Junior was never dying. He just wanted more material for another book about Morty because his others didn’t sell well and he has child support payments! He just let Morty assume he was dying and never corrected him!

I have to admit, I went into this episode with every expectation that Morty Junior would die by the end. However, the reveal that he was just as bad and irresponsible as Morty was way funnier! And even though they do end up bonding, the ending shows that they haven’t really learned anything. Morty bails the second Rick gets home, while Morty Junior writes that sequel bashing him. Nothing was learned, and sometimes that’s the funniest outcome!

To be honest, though, I was more interested in the B-plot with the Rick and Summer adventure.

A fun Rick and Summer Adventure

So, Summer gets reservations for her and Rick at this high-class alien restaurant. Their gimmick is that the chefs are pre-cogs who know what customers want before they do. Except they wind up giving Summer avocado toast. Incensed, Summer insists on complaining to the Cogs, only for things to escalate when she kidnaps them. And what’s worse is that, despite saying that she shouldn’t get involved, Rick does just that!

Rick and Summer are among my favorite pairings throughout the show’s run, and for good reason. While Morty has grown into being Rick’s partner and equal in adventuring, Summer arguably did that first. She’s more confident, self-assured, and more ready to stand up to her grandpa and call him out on his BS…most of the time. But it was nice to see the two have another adventure. Especially since this turned out to be a plot by the Cogs to start their own food truck due to being burnt out from the restaurant thing. I don’t know why, but it reminded me of the backstory behind The Menu.

There’s only one episode left in this season of Rick and Morty, and I doubt I will remember this adventure with Morty Junior for long. But I don’t have to; it was just a fun callback to the early days of the series.

I Give “Morty Daddy” a 3/5

Click here to see my other animation stuff. 

Rick and Morty S8 Ep 8 Review

The Citadel of Ricks might be gone, but the concept of multiversal variants of the Smith-Sanchez family interacting lives on. I’ve actually been wanting to see different versions of the family follow in Rick’s footsteps and build their own organizations and alliances. Imagine my surprise when this season’s eighth episode not only granted my wish, but it did it with the main cast’s most normal character: Jerry Smith. This entire episode is a Jerry episode, and I loved it!

Jerry and…Another Jerry

The episode seemingly starts off on a normal morning in the Smith-Sanchez home. Everyone’s going about their day while Jerry’s eating some cereal. The only difference is that he has some stubble, but that could be chalked up to him not shaving yet. As the teaser reveals, though, this isn’t our Jerry.

After cornering this other Jerry, our Jerry learns that this variant of himself, nicknamed “Mooch,” is a Jerry who left his home dimension to travel the multiverse. As it turns out, other Jerries have learned how to use cracks and ratlines that they’ve dubbed “The Road” to travel across the multiverse. Since Jerry is usually beneath notice, their families have remained none the wiser! And at the encouragement of Mooch, Jerry decides to join him on The Road for a while.

Jerry on the Road

It wasn’t until I read a review on Bubbleblabber that I realized that this was the third episode of the season that didn’t focus on our main Rick and Morty. Instead, it focused on the supporting cast; in this case, Jerry, a character that wasn’t even present until the season’s fourth episode. As a result, this episode feels like a culmination of what Jerry’s capable of doing because he can fly under the radar.

His counterparts have figured out their own clever way of traveling the multiverse without attracting Rick’s attention, and his family remains none the wiser. It gets to the point where Jerry’s like Mooch opt to never return home, choosing to live a life on The Road. There’s always been a bit of romanticism about living life as a wanderer, and this episode feels like an attempt to tap into that. In the end, though, Jerry is still Jerry, and that means the universe is going to throw him a curveball.

After missing their main stop back, Jerry and Mooch have to travel to Grand Central, a dimension that acts as a hub for Jerries traveling on The Road. Unfortunately, our Jerry, emboldened by his experiences, mouths off to Boss Jerry, and he blacklists them from The Road altogether. Then to top it off, Jerry reveals the reason why he’s living on The Road: he got lost and by the time he got back, he thought his family hadn’t noticed or cared. His Beth had even remarried some random guy from the Jerryboree Day-Care!

Jerry Might be the Best Jerry

This is where our Jerry steps up and starts to show his character growth, calling Mooch out for being a spineless wuss. His experiences since joining his current Smith family have helped him grow a spine. Case in point, he forces Mooch to return home and reconcile with his family, who, as it turns out, had been worried about him. As an aside, the reveal that everyone in Mooch’s home dimension has five o’clock shadow was funny.

In the end, Jerry and Mooch make it back to Grand Central and lead Boss Jerry and his flunkies on a chase across The Road that ends with Boss Jerry either dead or trapped between dimensions. Mooch seems ready to return to his family while The Road is now free for all Jerries, and Jerry returns to his family. And much like with Mooch, the Smith-Sanchez family was worried about him, showing how they truly value him.

However, it looks like Rick now knows about The Road, but likely won’t do anything about it. And we got to see more of the show’s potential to use the multiverse for having characters interact with each other. And Jerry got to see who he could’ve been like if he hadn’t gotten his character growth. I guess him and Beth getting divorced for a while was the best thing that could’ve happened to him.

I Give “Nomortland” a 4/5

Click here to see my other animation stuff. 

Superman Review

It’s been twelve years coming now, but I can finally say it: we have a Superman movie that feels like a Superman movie!

I’ve always been a big Marvel fan, but I’ve also had a lot of respect for DC and its IPs. And while I got to see Marvel dominate the 2010s, I also had to see DC try too hard to catch up, only to largely miss the mark and crash and burn. Considering how DC had already done what they were trying to do in cartoon form a decade earlier, it was beyond frustrating. By the time The Flash came out (and I didn’t see it), I was glad to see the reset button get hit. It was time for DC to do what they should’ve done and start over. And while I didn’t care about who it was, I think putting James Gunn in charge was a good move.

His work on Guardians of the Galaxy was enough to give me a little confidence in him. And I am glad it did, because when I went to see Superman for its IMAX fan event at my local AMC, I was in for one of the best movies of the summer. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it was the best Superman movie since the 1978 film with Christopher Reeve. And I am prepared to die on that hill!

A Revised Universe

Since this film is a reboot of Superman on the big screen, one would think that this first film would reestablish his origins. However, since the DCU is a soft reboot of the DCEU, it chooses to start things with Superman already having three years of hero work under his belt. In fact, the opening crawl reveals that in this rebooted timeline, metahumans have been a part of society for three hundred years, meaning they’re already well-established as a part of society.

Some people might complain about the decision not to revisit Kal-El’s origin story, but to me, it feels like the right call. It’s like what Marvel did when they added Spider-Man to the MCU. They were betting that at that point, everyone already knew his origin story, thus making retelling it a waste of time; and they were right. We have had at least two films telling Spidey’s origins in the last fifteen years. We didn’t need a third!

At any rate, that’s not the most interesting aspect of the film’s opening. Remember that scene in the trailers where Superman’s lying bloody on his side in a crater in Antarctica? Normally, that would a scene reserved for the halfway point of a film. But here, it’s the opening scene, with the title crawl revealing Superman just lost a fight for the first time. And then he has to deal with Krypto’s doggy antics before being dragged home to heal.

A More Classic Superman

The trailers had already made it a point of emphasizing that this version of Superman, played by David Corenswet, would be different from Henry Cavill’s grimdark version. He’s kind, optimistic, and always wants to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences. The film manages to do a great job of continuing to demonstrate how nice David’s Superman is. At one point while fighting a Kaiju, he takes a moment to save the life of a squirrel that was in danger! That’s how much he cares about the lives of others! Superman has often been jokingly called the big, blue Boy Scout, but unlike Cavill’s version, he lives up to it! And while I know some fans, especially those who like Snyder’s films, are going to complain, I think it’s the right decision.

If you’ve read my blog, then you know how I’m a big fan of My Adventures With Superman. Part of it is because of the show’s overt anime influences, but another part of it is because it feels like such a breath of fresh air. Ever since Batman Begins came out twenty years ago, it feels like DC has largely been trying to recapture the grim and grounded aesthetics of the Dark Knight trilogy. Ultimately, that’s culminated with shows like The Boys and Invincible, each with their own corrupted version of Superman.

It’s no secret that Homelander and Omni-Man were inspired by Superman. Homelander was created to be his universe’s version of the hero, while Omni-Man seemed to share his alien origins. However, what I think some people have forgotten is the fact that the two are meant to be corrupted copies of the real deal. Omni-Man is a soldier from a militaristic culture like the Saiyans. And Homelander? He’s a product of what happens when a soulless corporation tries to raise a hero without the emotional support they need: a menace! And while there are versions of Superman that wind up being evil, they’re ultimately the exception rather than the rule. But that isn’t what who Superman generally is at the end of the day, and MAWS and James Gunn both seemed to want to remind of this.

James Gunn Just Gets Superman

See, James Gunn and My Adventures With Superman? They get it. They’ve looked at all the versions of Superman that have come before, and they understand the root of his character. A main theme of MAWS, in particular, seems to be the debate between idealism and cynicism. Superman serves as as the argument for idealism, while his enemies like Amanda Waller represent cynicism. Waller, in particular, is so quick to declare that Superman is evil that she sees his altruism as an act for something sinister he has planned. Whereas General Lane ultimately realizes that Superman is as nice as he says he is, Waller just doubles down on her beliefs even when everyone else is saying she’s wrong. And by the end of the second season, she’s been humiliated and forced to watch as Superman invalidates everything she believes to be right.

Gunn and the guys in charge of MAWS must have been doing their homework, because this is who Superman is as a character. It already shows in MAWS, but Gunn’s Superman film does it even better. He has David play who Superman is at his core: someone who wants to do the right thing.

Some, like Lois, may call his decision to stop a war to be reckless and violating rules and procedures, best shown in the trailer with their mock interview. But as that trailer showed and the film expands upon, he’s not doing it to flaunt his power. He’s just the kind of person who doesn’t waste time on red tape when doing so could mean more people dying. When he wants to do the right thing, he won’t let anything stop him. In other words, he has no tolerance for bs, and that’s something I think is a good thing.

Like a Shonen Protagonist

Beginning in my tween and teen years, I spent a lot of time reading Shonen manga like Naruto and One Piece. One of the reasons why I like them so much is because of how honest and straightforward characters like Naruto and Luffy are. They know they’re in complicated worlds with complicated problems that need solving. And while they recognize that they’re not the smartest people in the room and can’t always understand the complexities of what’s going on, they habe a different kind of wisdom to them.

They’re naturally good people at heart, and when they see something going wrong, they don’t take too long to think about what to do. They just go ahead and do it. Luffy, in particular, is smart enough to understand that the simplest solution can be the best one: finding the root cause of the problem, and beating it up. Superman is way smarter than Luffy, but at the end of the day, he does the same thing. And as shown in MAWS and this movie, that winds up not only being right, but something the world needs to remember right now.

Superman is an Immigrant

Besides criticism from people who liked Snyder’s version better, the new Superman film has gotten its fair share of flak for being “too woke.” A big reason for that is because a big part of the film is centered on the fact that Superman is a refugee and an immigrant. He came from another planet as a baby and has lived in the US almost his entire life. He is as American as they come, but critics claim Gunn put particular emphasis on that fact. And while I was a little preoccupied with enjoying myself, I can see where they’re coming from, and why that would get flak. Immigration has been a hot-button topic over the last few years, especially since we got our new/old President.

In the months since then, I’ve seen plenty of news about deportation and detainment of immigrants, and while the sources might be biased, that doesn’t change the fact that all of this is still happening. They just want to be entertained when they see a movie and not have to think too much about. But the thing about storytelling is that the best stories are often the ones that give their message without being too overt about it. And Superman does that.

I can’t possibly understand all the legal issues that goes into immigration rules and policies, and I doubt I will. But I didn’t see any of that in the Gunn’s Superman film. Maybe it was because I was spending too much time enjoying the story l, but I fail to see why people would complain about it being woke. Is it because some people dont like immigration being associated with an American icon, and thus America itself? News flash: Superman has always been an immigrant. America was founded by immigrants. Almost everyone in America is descended from immigrants.

Maybe the fact that Superman is bringing that up at such a volatile time in our history is Gunn’s way of trying to tell us something. That underneath all the fog and haze and politics, we should remember to treat each other with basic kindness and decency. Because at the end of the day, Superman is about being a decent person to everyone for the sake of it. If people think that’s woke or too political, that’s their opinion. It doesn’t change the fact that Superman is still a good movie, and a lot of it is thanks to the cast.

David Corenswet Owns Superman

There have been many people who have played Superman over the years, and many have their favorite. I’m partial to Tim Daly and Jack Quaid’s voice work, and I think Christopher Reeve is the definitive, live-action version of the hero. However, if I had to pick a close second, I think my choice would be David Corenswet.

David absolutely clinches it as both Clark Kent and Superman. He instills into the character a lot of the adorkableness found in Jack Quaid’s performance while also giving him the air of nobility that comes with being Superman. While some people like Cavill’s performance, and again, I appreciate his attempts to be more grounded and realistic, Superman is still Superman. He’s generally going to be a larger-than-life Boy Scout, and needs to reflect this. And David does this in spades. He combines the dignity and nobility that Christopher Reeve brought to the character with the adorkableness that Jack Quaid gives him in MAWS. Most important of all, though, he gives the character the sense of humanity that he should always have, and this is best shown in his interactions with Lois.

Rachel Brosnahan is Great as Lois. And Jimmy was unexpected!

At the start of this film, Lois and Clark’s relationship with each other is already well-established, with them already being in a relationship for three months. She’s the only one outside his parents who knows he’s Superman and serves as his anchor to humanity. However, that does not mean that they do not come to blows. This is best shown when the two have time alone together, with the interview from the trailer shown to be every bit as stressful in the actual film.

The two spend more time arguing the morality of what Clark did than answering the questions, and it ends poorly. Their relationship is really on the rocks for much of the film, really. But compared to other incarnations of Lois that I’ve seen in live-action, I think Rachel Brosnahan is the most in-line with what I’ve seen in the cartoons. She’s not Tomboy Lois, but she’s more like the Lois from the DCAU. She’s confident.

The real surprise, though, was how the film handled Supe’s best friend, Jimmy Olsen. I was surprised when I saw that the film had him as this chick magnet! Having never read the comics, I didn’t realize that he was popular with women in there! Though I do ship his MAWS variant with Kara!

Outside of David, though, I think the biggest stand-out has to be Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor.

Nicholas Hoult Gave us a real Lex Luthor

With all due respect to Jesse Eisenberg, I hated how Snyder wrote Lex Luthor in Batman vs. Superman. The Lex I knew from watching Superman: The Animated Series was this bald, menacing, and egotistical evil billionaire. But Jesse? I don’t know what he was playing, but it was not Lex Luthor! If anything, it felt more like the Joker!

In contrast, though, Nicholas Hoult got Lex Luthor to a tee. The bald head, the ego the size of a planet, and the irrational hatred of Superman that gets him a spot in the hater’s hall of fame. All of it was there and on full display, as it should come as no surprise that Luthor is responsible for every threat that Superman faces in this film. He even goes the extra mile by kidnapping Superman’s dog and using monkeys to spew out hate for him on social media! And that’s not even the most evil thing he does! He kidnaps this one citizen in Metropolis, Malik, who gave Superman a falafel once. And then he kills right in front of a captive Superman just to hurt him! That is next-level hating!

Nicholas Hoult knocked it out of the park as Lex Luthor in this film. Whoever wrote his lines into the script knew what they were doing. And while the film ends with Lex getting what he deserves ad infinitum, there is no doubt that we have not seen the last of him. Hoult’s performance deserves an Oscar nomination, and his Luthor deserves a place in the haters’ hall of fame! Especially for kidnapping poor Krypto!

Ruff, Ruff, and Away

Krypto the Superdog, aka the best doggy in the universe…is what I would like to say. My only exposure to him was through the 2000s animated cartoon on Cartoon Network, but I know he’s one of the more campy elements in Superman’s mythos. So I was looking forward to seeing him as part of the rebooted canon. Unfortunately, for those expecting him to be a loyal and super smart dog, keep dreaming. Krypto is one wrong move away from obedience school!

This version of Krypto is the kind of dog that would make Marley from Marley and Me proud. He’s an embodiment of chaos, doesn’t really understand boundaries or how to do what he’s told. One of the clips shows him explicitly having torn up the Fortress of Solitude! He’s a very big source of frustration for poor Kal-El, and as someone who has had many dogs in his life, I feel for him. He’s also a big part of the film’s comedy, with his antics clearly designed to make people chuckle. It does help that things can be explained by Gunn being inspired by his own dog, who somehow managed to destroy his laptop. Write what you know, you know! Fortunately, when it comes down to it, Krypto is still a loyal dog who helps save Superman’s life several times.

Superman was Truly Amazing!

So, yeah. I loved the new Superman movie. It’s not perfect and it does throw a lot at us in its two-hour runtime. But it is trying to set up a new universe, and this time, it has to do things right. It has to make up for what was, whether we want to admit it or not, was decade long misfire on DC’s. And in that regard, it manages to do a great job!

Yes, there are people who are going to complain that it’s too woke or too corny, but in case you haven’t noticed, that’s what Superman often is. He’s an optimistic view on mankind meant to inspire us to do better! They want grim and gritty, then stick to Batman! I’ll take my Superman sunny with a side of optimism.

Judging by what people are saying about it, it seems like James Gunn made the right call, too. By the time the movie was over, everyone in the theater was clapping and cheering because of how good it was. That’s an encouraging sign! If the film can keep up this momentum until Fantastic Four: First Steps comes out, it might be a financial success! I may even have to go back for another round, because I don’t wanna wait until it comes out on streaming! This is what we should’ve gotten twelve years ago, and I’m glad that DC is starting to make up for lost time.

I Give “Superman” a 4/5

Rick and Morty S8 Ep 7 Review

Sometimes, the stars just seem to align for a TV show, enabling it to be incredibly relevant to current events. South Park is notorious for covering events as recent as the last few days thanks to its six-day turnaround, but they’re not the only ones to do that. With James Gunn’s Superman film set to release later this week (I have my tickets), the world is focused on the return of the Man of Steel. So what does Rick and Morty do? They have a laugh at the expense of the Gunn, AI scripts, and toxic fans all at once.

It’s no secret that Rick Sanchez can be a pretty toxic person, but now we can say that toxicity extends to being a fan of long-running franchises. After hating the latest entry in the fictional Velocitree film franchise, Rick gets so mad he decides to take matters up with the director, James Gunn himself. Then, because he thinks he can do better, he swipes the script for the next film so he can do things his way. That way, of course, involving him building a machine that can help him come up with the perfect film. This inevitably backfires on him when he and Morty get sucked into the film before they come up with an ending, forcing them to take part in the film itself.

AI, TOXIC FANS, and A Gunn, Oh My!

There is a lot about this episode that makes it incredibly relevant to the times that we are living in, and thus making it brilliant. Firstly, there’s how the episode represents the fans of long-running franchises. On the one hand, we have Jerry, the casual fan who will enjoy whatever is put in front of him. On the other hand, we have Rick and Morty representing the long-term fans who have been with a franchise for years, even decades. These days, more and more hardcore fans of franchises like Star Wars and the MCU are growing disillusioned with the way the IPs are being run. They can’t stand to see that which they love be turned into something they hate. This isn’t a recent phenomenon either. When the Star Wars Prequels released, the OG fans hated them, especially for characters such as Jar Jar. In this case, the Velocitree has their own Jar Jar in the form of the comic relief robo-tree Tannebaum, who Rick initially despises.

Secondly, there is the way the episode addresses the toxic fans themselves. Many fans are like Rick: when they see their favorite franchise in the toilet, they think that they can do better. I myself have often wondered if I could’ve done the Star Wars Sequels better than what Abrams and Johnson did. However, the events of the episode force Rick to acknowledge that just because you think you can do better doesn’t mean you can do better. His and Morty’s attempts to get the film back on track only make things worse, and by the time they hit the climax, they’ve got both heroes and villains out to get them. The only reason they manage to make it out at all is because they have to rely on Jerry’s help. Rick had previously disparaged Jerry for not being “a real fan,” and thinking he’d do a terrible job. Yet for all his talk, it’s Jerry’s slapped-together ideas that bring the film to a successful conclusion.

Lastly, there is the fact that this episode makes a jab at the concept of AI-scripts. AI like ChatGPT has gone mainstream lately, and people think that by using it, they can become great writers. As this episode proves, though, AI writing isn’t going to be any better than what humans come up with. If you want my opinion, the best option we’ve got is to find a way to work in tandem with AI rather than let it do everything for us. Otherwise, storytellers like James Gunn will be out of a job.

James Gunn Played Himself!

Speaking of James Gunn, this episode is especially noteworthy for the two guest appearances: James Gunn and Zach Snyder. The staff of Rick and Morty managed to talk both directors into guest-starring as themselves in the episodes. Granted, Snyder’s only in one scene that has him poke fun at the differences between his version of Superman and Gunn’s, but it’s all in good humor. Gunn, on the other hand, winds up serving as the overarching villain of the episode, as he doesn’t want Rick and Morty to succeed, since that will put him out of a job. Yet, in the end, they managed to do just that, though Gunn thinks he got the last laugh by getting the completed script. Unfortunately, it just puts him out of a job…and out of life.

I’ve been a big fan of James Gunn since the original Guardians of the Galaxy, and I think that his decision to reboot the DC films is a good one. So much so that I’ve already bought my tickets to see Superman later this week. Needless to say, I think the timing on this episode couldn’t have been better. Here’s hoping that when I get back, I will have something worthwhile to write about, as well as a cool popcorn bucket to sell.

I Give “Ricker than Fiction” a 4/5

Click here to see my other animation stuff. 

My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 13 Review

Queen Bee has been defeated, and Naruhata is supposed to be safe. Pop is starting to gain traction as an idol. And Koichi is starting to get the hang of being a vigilante, even if he still needs help. It seems like life is going well for everyone in Naruhata! Except Knuckleduster suddenly goes missing. Where did he go?

Life Goes On…

Ever since Narufest, POP☆STEP has been doing better than ever. Her performance has been going viral on social media, and she is loving it! She’s gotten plenty of fan mail (actual mail!) And the festival was so successful that the department store has decided to make it a regular event, with POP☆STEP and the others recurring performers!

As for Koichi, he has been continuing his work as a vigilante. Given how what he’s doing is technically illegal, it can seem weird that he’s now doing it so openly in the public eye. However, it feels like the Pro Heroes give him leeway because he’s proven capable in situations, and they know he means well. It also helps that he knows when to leave things to the professionals. Case in point, when a certain bat-villain returns to get revenge on him, Koichi lets himself be saved by Captain Celebrity. It just so happens that this helps Pop keep a promise to bring a Pro Hero to the next Narufest. Needless to say, this helps the performance remain a success.

At the same time, though, the fact that the bat villian reappeared is a worrying sign. One would think that the fall of Queen Bee would help make Naruhata safer. Instead, things are only getting worse.

But Knuckleduster is Nowhere to Be Found

Despite Queen Bee no longer able to distribute Trigger, the Instant Villains aren’t going away. In fact, they’re only getting stronger. In the aftermath of Pop’s Eel fan, Teruo, going on another rampage, he didn’t turn back to normal. He’s stuck in his more monstrous form, meaning the change is permanent. The authorities are already calling these new Villains “Next-Level Villains,” and they are on a wholly different level from what the Naruhata Vigilantes have been facing. So it would seem that All for One’s experiments with Trigger haven’t been slowed down at all.

Things are going to get more dangerous for Koichi and Pop from here on out, and if they want to continue being vigilantes, then they’ll have to step up their game. However, they’re going to have to do it without relying on their mentor, because Knuckleduster is nowhere to be found.

After saving his daughter’s life, Knuckleduster rushed her to the hospital where his wife was being treated. During his earlier pursuit, he had gotten a call saying that his wife’s condition had gotten worse, but he had managed to keep that out of his mind long enough to save Tamao. Tragically, by the time he makes it to the hospital, his wife is already at death’s door. He only has enough time to let her know that Tamao is safe before she…goes.

This is a genuinely sad moment for the story. Knuckleduster had fought so hard to try and put his family back together, and now he’ll never have the chance. His daughter will never have the chance to say goodbye to her mom. He doesn’t even have the heart to directly tell her that her mom is Dad, yet you can tell that she already knows.

Time to Go it Alone

Not long afterwards, Knuckleduster disappears altogether. He leaves behind his mask and knuckles at Koichi’s place. Presumably, he’s gone off to continue fighting the people behind the Instant and Next-Level Villains on his own. As for Koichi and Pop, they plan on continuing to live their lives.

Thus, the first season of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes comes to an end. I’m sorry that it took so long for me to watch the season, but once I got started, I was reminded why I fell in love with MHA in the first place. No matter how old I get, I love superheroes and what they represent. And while the main series is ending this fall, I can rest easy knowing that Vigilantes will return next year to keep the fire going. Going Beyond, PLUS ULTRA!!!

I Give “What a Man Takes With Him” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.

One Piece Chapter 1153 Review/Recap

Ever since the Straw Hats arrived in Elbaph, we’ve been hearing things nonstop about Loki. His own people consider him a menace and a disgrace to their country. His half-brother has spent years thinking that he killed their dad. Yet despite everything that’s been said of him, we don’t know anything about the real Loki or his past. As this chapter dives into the life of Harald and his son, we learn that no one seemed to love Loki from the moment he was born. Not even his own mother.

Recap

Born with the blood of the Ancient Giants and growing up with Dorry and Brogy as best friends, Harald was built different. His massive body, royal status, and monstrous strength, even by Giant standards, turned him into an arrogant, violent man. No one, not even his own people, could get him to listen to him. However, all that changed when he “rescued” a Giant woman named Ida from a circus. And SHE SLAPPED HIM FOR IT!

Ida was never being held captive. She was working at the circus as thanks for the kingdom rescuing her out at sea. And she proceeded to tell him off for thinking he was better than everyone else because he was lucky enough to be born the way he was and giving Giants a bad name!

Thanks to Ida giving him a reality check, Harald started to change his ways. He rebuilt and apologized to that kingdom he tore up and stopped looking down on other people, and instead started reaching out to them to show how friendly the Giants could be. And eventually, 81 years ago, Harald and Ida had their son, Hadrujin! However, the elders refused to recognize their marriage. Instead, they arranged for him to marry a woman named Estrid, who they deemed worthy of being his Queen. Then, 63 years ago, Estrid gave birth to Loki. But as soon as she saw his eyes…

Estrid was so freaked out, she threw Loki into the Underworld to die, saying that he would one day kill his father before falling ill. Yet Loki would crawl his way up the tree to the Sunland. From then on, every bad thing that happened in Elbaph was chalked up to the Curse of Loki.

Review

Before I get into my very strong feelings about the birth of Loki, there are a few things that I think need addressing.

Firstly, we have Ida, the mother of Hadrujin and Harald’s true wife and love. I’m not sure if its intentional, but it seems like the nicer a person is, the more conventionally attractive they appear, especially when they’re royalty. Yet Ida is an interesting subversion of this. She’s plainer-looking than the beautiful Estrid, yet as we see through her actions, her soul is beautiful. She was the first person to scold Harald for his bullying ways, and the look on his face was priceless. He genuinely didn’t realize how much of a jerk he was being, and his face screams “What did I do wrong?” It’s hilarious! She’s a good woman.

Loki’s Mom was a B****

In contrast, though, we have Estrid. I’m just going to say what most of the fandom is probably thinking: she’s a b****. She already rubbed me the wrong way by calling Ida “that eastern woman” and Hadrujin a bastard, but her remodeling Harald’s castle due to feng shui made it worse. The final nail in the coffin, though, was how she tried to kill her own son!

Admittedly, Loki’s eyes are creepy and off-putting at first, but once you get past that, they look cool! Regardless of what he may or may not end up doing, leaving him to die is just cruel. No wonder he grows up like he does. Plenty of people would act like that if their own mother didn’t love them!

Also, I would like to remind everyone that the only reason Loki was born was because the elders of Elbaph insisted Harald marry Estrid. They wanted a Prince with the blood of Ancient Giants, and they got one. In other words, this is all their fault! Like God punishing them for their backwards ways.

It’s sad that we have to wait another two weeks to see what happens next, but knowing Oda, he’ll come back with another fire chapter. If people didn’t feel sorry for Loki already, then they should now.

I Give “The Birth of Loki” a 4/5

Click here to see more animanga stuff.