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My Hero Academia: Vigilantes Ep 6 Review

Does a hero have the right to take the life of a villain? That is a question that has been asked about and debated over for countless years, and no one has a clear answer. Nowhere is this better seen than with the likes of Batman. Despite knowing that many of his rogue’s gallery can’t or don’t want to change for the better, he refuses to take a life, and that’s remained true across most incarnations. Then we allies of his who are more willing to kill, like the Red Hood. He’s usually a good guy, but he’s willing to kill criminals if needed. And if Knuckleduster is supposed to be the Batman of MHA: Vigilantes, then the show just got its Red Hood: Stendhal.

Stendhal is Dangerous

In the last episode, Koichi and Pop wound up being saved from an Instant Villain by another vigilante, the katana-wielding Stendhal. At first glance, Stendhal looks like he would make for a capable ally. However, it’s swiftly revealed that Stendhal is not as heroic as the Naruhata Vigilantes. He is willing to kill his enemies.

As previously stated, there is no concrete answer on whether taking a life is morally justifiable. It often depends on the context of the story. That’s why Batman can often find himself at odds with his occasional ally and former protege Jason Todd, AKA the Red Hood. Ever since he came back from his infamous death, Jason has continued to fight evil as Red Hood. Unlike Batman, though, he’s not afraid to avoid killing criminals, his argument being it keeps them from hurting anyone else in the future. Given how many of Batman’s enemies regularly kill people and show no desire to change, is Jason wrong to think that way? That mindset is best shown with Stendhal, as he makes it his mission to kill the Instant Villains the Naruhata Vigilantes have fought.

So, We all Knew Stendhal Was the Future Stain, Right?

That decision, coupled with the fact that he’s working with Queen Bee, brings him into conflict with Koichi when he goes after Soga, aka the guy with the spikes they fought. And this is when Stendhal crosses lines even Red Hood wouldn’t cross. Despite acknowledging Koichi’s genuine heroism, once he gets in his way, Stendhal doesn’t hesitate to try and kill him. Then when Knuckleduster intervenes, despite also acknowledging him as a hero, the two come also come to blows. The result feels like something you would see take place between Batman and Red Hood, and it’s not pretty.

As much as Stendhal seems to be the Vigilantes version of Red Hood, he’s not; he’s worse. Jason Todd might be willing to kill, but there are lines he still won’t cross, like killing people he knows are good. In contrast, Stendhal crosses those lines and ends up proving himself little better than many villains. And after losing to Knuckleduster, he develops an even darker mindset, bringing us to the big twist at the end of the episode.

Anyone who’s seen the main series should have recognized that Stendhal is, in fact, the future Stain. Between having the same voice actors to the same Quirk, the prequel series made no effort to hide it. However, the fact that this and the previous episode serve as the origin story for the future hero killer are what make it so great to watch. Had Stendhal been more open-minded and flexible, he could’ve made a valuable ally to the vigilantes of Naruhata. Sadly, his part in the story comes to an end after this. But at least the heroes saved Soga!

I Give “Crossing Lines” a 4.5/5

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Harley Quinn Season 3 Review

You know, when the new season of Harley Quinn came out, I debated whether I wanted to cover it or not. After all, thanks to COVID-19, it had been two years since Season 2. That, and I’ve been busy with other stuff. And I’m semi-boycotting HBO Max for how it’s treated cartoons. However, no matter how much I wanted to, I couldn’t say away from the crazy for long. And Harley Quinn is as crazy as ever.

So, here we are, with Season 3 over, trying to reflect on what can only be described as The Venture Bros. meets a DC Universe high on acid. And while it’s still hilarious, it also has some unexpected moments.

Harley and Ivy are Back, Baby!

After becoming an official couple at the end of Season 2, Harley and Ivy go on a globe-trotting “Eat, Bang, Kill” tour before returning to Gotham. Harley wants to be the best girlfriend Ivy could ever ask for, but it’s easier said than done. Especially considering how Ivy’s the one going through her own problems.

Until now, Ivy’s role has been that of the rock in Harley’s life, providing the emotional support she needs. Yeah, there was her thing with Kiteman, but that was secondary to Harley’s needs. And with Harley more stable than ever, Ivy can’t help but feel like…her life’s been a total failure. This leads to her deciding to get back to basics with her biggest plan ever: terraforming Gotham City into a new Garden of Eden, now concrete-free.

Except for their favorite pizza-place, LOL. 

Role-Reversal at its Funniest

In a nutshell, Harley and Ivy’s roles are reversed, with Ivy being the one dealing with her problems and Harley being there for her like she was for her. As the season progresses, Ivy’s plan hits a huge snag when someone kidnaps Frank, her talking plant key to all of this. The rest of the season involves her trying to get him back without freaking out.

Ivy’s not the only one who’s going through stuff, though.

Mayor Joker, and That’s Not the Craziest Thing

At the end of the last season, Jim Gordon, fed up with being unappreciated by Gotham, let’s Two-Face talk him into running for Mayor. It’s obvious that the attention-starved Jim’s being used as a puppet by the power-hungry Two-Face. As a result, Jim’s willing to stoop to the gutter to win, even if the Mayor gets a pole shoved in his chest from a freak accident…and dies in the hospital several episodes later.

Meanwhile, the Joker’s committed to his new life as a semi-retired villain and stepdad to his girlfriend’s kids. And despite being THE JOKER, this version is actually a good parent. So much so that he decided to run for mayor just to get them a better education. And whereas other versions would use this as a chance to outlaw Batman, Joker just taxes the one percent. 

It almost makes you think that he’s trying to say something about how America’s run. Oh, and he fires Gordon. 

Batman Needs Some Therapy

Lastly, the person that goes through the most change is none other than Batman himself. Until now, Batman’s been more of a side character in Harley Quinn. However, season three changes all of that, as the show does something that few incarnations of the Caped Crusader do. Harley Quinn…has Batman deal with his emotional trauma. 

No, I’m not joking. A lot of incarnations of the Dark Knight either downplay the trauma of his parents’ deaths or don’t do much beyond using it as the motivation to his unstoppable will. This Batman, or rather, Bruce Wayne isn’t able to do that as well anymore. Having gone through a breakup with Selina, though, the loneliness gets to him like never before. So, he kidnaps Frank, modifies his powers, and uses him in a crazed attempt to bring back his parents. 

If there’s ever been an argument that Batman needs genuine therapy, then this show is making it. Bruce Wayne needs therapy! I know it, the fans know it, everyone knows it. This version of Bruce blames himself for his parents deaths by making them walk through Crime Alley. He was just a kid; how was he supposed to know that they would actually get shot at? 

A New Leaf for Harley Quinn

Thankfully, Harley’s character growth makes her realize how important Batman is, and that he needs professional help. So, after stopping his plans, she becomes his therapist, a position that seems to stick as the season ends. Not only that, but her role in saving Gotham makes everyone see her as a hero.

By season’s end, the status quo’s been changed once more. Joker’s the legal mayor of Gotham, Bruce gets arrested for tax evasion (and the plant zombie thing), Ivy’s been tapped to lead the Legion of Doom in Gotham…and Harley’s now part of the Bat Family.

I knew that this would happen since the end of Season Two when Harley realized that she didn’t want to be a villain. She made a great villain, but things changed for her, which seems to be the theme of this whole season. Despite this, though, Harley and Ivy decide to commit to their relationship, regardless of what side of the law they’re now on. Only time will tell if that actually sticks.

Overall, Harley Quinn remains absolutely hilarious. It’s one of the raunchiest adult-animated shows out there, and nothing can change my mind about that. Not even my current disdain for HBO Max. 

Also, this hits differently since Queen Elizabeth’s now dead.

I Give Season 3 of Harley Quinn a 4/5. But Warner Bros Discovery Gets a 1/5

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 5 Review

You know, for a show that takes place in Gotham City and has to do with some of Batman’s biggest enemies, Harley Quinn doesn’t really use Batman a lot. He’s more of an ever present force of good than a main character, with the focus being on the villains. However, that gets upended when Harley and Ivy do not appear in this week’s episode. Instead, it focuses on Batman trying to get back in fighting shape.

After being stuck in a coma for months, Bruce Wayne wants to get back to being the Bat. This time, though, it feels less like he’s doing it to be heroic and more because of his ego. He doesn’t want admit that he’s in no shape to fight, and going out now will provide false hope to Gotham. In true Harley Quinn fashion, we see the hilarious results of said false hope, as civilians start standing up to villains, with terrible results.

Ultimately, Batman gets a beatdown from Bane and accepts the fact that he has to focus on healing. In the meantime, Alfred and Batgirl look after the city.

Enough about that, though. Let’s talk about the real highlight of the episode: DC ripping on toxic fandom

Take That, Toxic Fans

The episode starts and ends with two pop culture fans hanging out in the basement and debating on how Harley Quinn is good.

Every fandom is going to have its fair share of toxic fans; it’s a fact of life. Lately, though, it seems like this small, vocal minority is getting a lot more attention than the entire fanbase and dragging everyone down. I especially like the jabs the show takes at two fandoms with notably toxic fans: Star Wars and DC themselves. Apparently, people think there’s a Zach Snyder cut of Justice League and want it to come out. As for The Last Jedi guy, the shirt is self-explanatory. So many people had problems with that movie and complained about it. As a result, they changed the ending to The Rise of Skywalker, which was just as bad. I didn’t like The Last Jedi, but you don’t see me complaining about it or acting like it ruins the whole franchise!

I honestly thought the fanboys scenes were the best parts of an episode that I’m probably not going to remember. However, I’m curious how Warner Bros was able to make references to Family Guy and Star Wars. They’re owned by Disney; how can they do that?

I Give “Batman’s Back, Man” a 3.5/5. Bonus points for ripping on their own streaming service.

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Harley Quinn Season 2, Episode 1 Review

In hindsight, I really wish that I had reviewed the first season of DC Universe’s R-rated show, Harley Quinn. I wound up binge-watching this weeks ago and fell in love. I love the zany characters. The over-the-top violence is hilarious without feeling gratuitous. Most of all, though, I love how the show self-parodies the hero-villain dynamic in comic books. It’s like The Venture Bros crossed with South Park. So when Season Two came out on DC Universe earlier today, I vowed to review the whole season. Buckle up, buttercup, because this is going to be amazing.

Welcome to New Gotham

At the end of last season, Gotham laid in ruins and anarchy ruled. The Justice League’s trapped in a book, the Legion of Doom’s gone, Joker’s an amnesiac nobody, and Batman’s missing. Taking a page from the No Man’s Land story of the 90s, the President decides to bail on Gotham and throws it out of the USA.

Meanwhile, Harley wants to revel in all she’s accomplished: she took down the Joker and became the top hyena in the New Gotham. She just goofs around and has fun, thinking she can rest on her laurels as everyone knows she’s on top. Which is a rookie mistake!

What Harley fails to realize is that order and chaos are cyclical. Once the anarchy wears off, new players will rise and start to restore order. Harley doesn’t realize this, though, because of one key problem. She learned how to be a criminal from the Joker, and without even realizing it, she’s emulating his “agent of chaos” style of villainy. Even her solution to shutting down the other major villains in Gotham is very Joker-esque. Convincing all the henchmen to become their own villains causes more chaos, but it doesn’t last long.

Harley’s failure to take charge comes back to bite her when the other villains freeze her in a block of ice for two months. As a result, Penguin, Two-Face, Mr. Freeze, Bane, and the Riddler divy up New Gotham. Once Ivy and Harley’s Crew bust her out, she’s back to square one. Well, not entirely. She kills Penguin in a very over-the-top manner. Now she’s gunning for all the other villains.

Poor, Poor Gordon

Meanwhile, we get a hilarious subplot involving the show’s haggard version of Jim Gordon. He’s trying to hold out hope that Batman will come and save them, but everyone around him is jumping ship. The police join the villains, Robin’s no help, and his wife divorces him. It’s sad to see, but also hilarious at the same time. As for whether Gordon actually gives up in this New Gotham remains to be seen. As we see in the trailer, this season will see the introduction of Batgirl. Maybe Gordon’s daughter will be what lights a fire in her dad again. Or not.

Oh, and Batman’s still alive.

Welcome to New New Gotham

In short, the new season of Harley Quinn manages to hit the ground running and doesn’t stop. And if the Penguin’s brutal death is anything to go by, then no one in this season will be safe! Though, to be fair, the finale to last season saw Joker kill Scarecrow, so I’m not surprised Penguin bit it. Here’s hoping even more people die in the most insane manners possible.

Speaking of which, I enjoyed watching the violence going on in the background of the show as everyone in New Gotham fends for themselves. Two dogs were fighting over one man’s arm, while two thugs were fighting over the other one. It’s morbid and dark, but also hilarious and I hope to see more of it.

With everything that’s going on in the world, I think that we need a good laugh. Hopefully this season of Harley Quinn will give us just that while we wait for COVID-19 to die. Fingers crossed!

I Give “New Gotham” A 4/5

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*The following was originally published on FANDOM. Due to the FANDOM Contributor Program being shut down, it has been copied and moved to my blog. Thank you!

Summer’s in full swing, and do you know what means? Aside from going to the beach, it also means more time to catch up on our manga reading! Amazon Kindle covers all your manga needs with some of the best titles ever written. Whether you’re new to the medium or a hardcore fan, these six manga titles are some of the must-reads Kindle offers.

DRAGON BALL

Among Kindle’s manga library is Akira Toriyama ’s legendary masterpiece, Dragon Ball. The manga follows the life of Goku, a young boy who dedicates his life to becoming the best fighter he can be. As the manga progresses, Goku faces enemies that continue to increase in strength. By the manga’s end, he’s fighting opponents capable of threatening the entire universe; in short, he’s strong.

What makes Dragon Ball an essential read isn’t the media franchise it created, but its impact. Goku became the gold standard for the shōnen hero and an iconic character worldwide. Moreover, Dragon Ball has been an inspiration for some of the greatest manga in history. See where the legend began in the original Dragon Ball manga on Kindle!

RAVE MASTER

Better known for Fairy Tail, Hiro Mashima got his start in manga with Rave Master. Rave Master tells the story of Haru Glory, a teenage boy who’s chosen to become the next Rave Master. Armed with a magic sword, Haru must find five mystic stones of light, called Raves, and use them to defend the world.

Rave Master is a very entertaining read, filled with memorable characters and fights. Plus, if you’re a fan of Fairy Tail, you’ll notice how he carried over characters and concepts from Rave Master. Unlike Fairy Tail, though, Rave Master never became as well-known in the West, partly due to heavy criticism of the English dub of the anime. Terrible anime aside, Rave Master is worth the time to read and something that you will love.

ROSARIO + VAMPIRE

Do you think it would be awesome to have a bunch of beautiful girls fight over your affection? Try feeling like that when the girls are actual monsters, like in Rosario+Vampire. Ordinary human boy Tsukune Aono gets enrolled in a school for monsters disguised as humans. As scary as that is, Tsukune decides to stay after befriending several girls who end up falling for him, and hilarity ensues as he tries to keep his human identity a secret.

Don’t get fooled by the premise, though: when it’s not about the comedy, Akihisa Ikeda’s work is about the fights. Tsukune and friends get into conflicts with various threatening supernatural foes. By the end of the series, the heroes even face off against a legendary vampire bent on wiping out humanity. This careful balance between the comedic moments and the high-stakes fights make Rosario+Vampire worth your time.

JOJO’S BIZARRE ADVENTURE

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure has been around since Dragon Ball’s run, and is still going strong. The manga tells the story of the Joestar family as they use supernatural powers to fight evil. What’s important to note is Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure is split into several parts, each with its own main protagonist connected by their family and the shared nickname “Jojo.” Though preferable, prior knowledge is not necessary so you can start on any part you want.

Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure lives up to its name, featuring some of the most bizarre fights one can find in manga, with the protagonists fighting everything from zombies to a man who can stop time so that he can crush them with a steamroller. These pulse-pounding fights will leave readers on the edge of their seats, enjoying every bit up until the last “Ora!”

MY HERO ACADEMIA

My Hero Academia is a rising star in the anime/manga community, and with good reason. In a world where most of humanity has superpowers, Izuku Midoriya dreams of being a superhero, though he has no powers. All that changes, though, when he meets the world’s greatest hero, All Might, and impresses him with his selfless bravery. As a result, the legend taps Izuku as the one to inherit his powers and become the next Symbol of Peace.

At its heart, My Hero Academia is a coming-of-age story set in the popular superhero genre. While it offers all the fights you’d expect of a superhero story, the manga goes deeper to ask serious questions about heroes. Most notably, what does “hero” mean when it is now a paid profession? If you’re a fan of all things superhero, then My Hero Academia is the manga you need to read.

BATMAN

Yes, you read that right: Batman has a manga version! When the Batman TV series premiered in 1966, Batmania hit Japan. That year, Jiro Kuwata created a shōnen manga based on the show that ran for a little more than a year. Once the craze had faded, the manga stopped serialization and faded into obscurity.

Kuwata’s Batmanga remained unknown in the West until the release of Bat-Manga!: The Secret History of Batman in Japan in 2008, with all three volumes of the series currently available on Kindle. Aside from the classic manga look, the manga’s biggest highlight is that it draws from enemies outside of Batman’s traditional rogue’s gallery, making it all the more interesting. Whether you are a hardcore Batfan or grew up with the show, this is Batman like you’ve never seen before.