Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero Review

It’s no secret among Dragon Ball fans that the character with the most wasted potential is none other than Goku’s son, Gohan. When first introduced, he was all but said to have the potential to get stronger than his father. For a brief time, during the Cell Saga, he did, slaying the titular villain in a legendary duel. Then, it all went downhill.

Toriyama tried to make Gohan the new main character but wound up backtracking and bringing Goku back into the spotlight. Worse, while Gohan did get stronger, it either became a moot point thanks to Goku, or he ended up slacking on his training. Fans of the character grew disappointed with him as he got relegated to a supporting role. Thankfully, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero aims to correct all of that, and for the large part, it succeeds. Even if the 3D animation can be hard to look at, sometimes.

The Return of the Revenge of the Red Ribbon Army

Next to Frieza, the most recurring villain’s in the Dragon Ball franchise are the Red Ribbon Army. Even though Goku took them down as a kid, they keep coming back like cockroaches. First, it was in the form of Dr. Gero and his numerous Androids (though some are actually Cyborgs), with Cell being the worst. Now, though, the actual Army makes it’s first onscreen appearance since the Dragon Ball days. Now going by Red Pharmaceuticals and led by their former leader’s son, their plan remains the same: world domination. The only ones that can stop them are the Z-Fighters, whose main fighters are pretty much gods. So, time to make some more Androids.

Enter, Dr. Hedo, the grandson of Dr. Gero and an even bigger genius than the mad scientist. As far as new characters goes, Hedo’s pretty out there. He’s willing to use dead bodies to create his own set of Androids (which got him time in prison), and he’s obssessed with superheroes. Despite this, he’s still naive enough to buy into the Red Ribbon Leader’s lies.

The Big Scheme

In the opening act, Commander Magenta wins Hedo over by making up some story about how Capsule Corporation’s a front for a group of evil aliens trying to take over the world, and that Gero created his Androids to stop them. In other words, Magenta plays on Hedo’s love of heroes to get him to make some Androids for them. 

This whole fabrication is so blatantly false that it’s almost laughable. Even those in-universe lacking the full context know that Cell was a villain who tried to destroy the Earth. Yet Hedo falls for it, at least partially. It’s arguably my biggest with the film, but it did give us two cool new Androids, Gamma’s 1 & 2.

Like the Great Saiyaman before them, the Gamma’s look ripped straight from a Sentai series. Gamma 2, voiced by Zeno Robinson (who seems to be everywhere these days) is loud, extroverted, and goofy, while Gamma 1, played by Aleks Le, is the introverted and stoic type. Together, they make a good duo, with some of the more interesting characters Dragon Ball introduced in recent years. They feel more like heroes than the Pride Troopers, which is a good thing. Fortunately, despite working for the bad guys, they believe in justice and eventually catch on to their employer’s true colors.

Piccolo is Best Dad in Dragon Ball

One of Super Hero’s main selling points is that the film’s centered around not Goku and Vegeta, but Gohan and Piccolo. It’s often been joked about that Piccolo’s more of a father to Gohan than Goku is, and the film itself lampshades that. Piccolo regularly babysits Gohan’s daughter, Pan, and trains her every morning. When they’re talking after a brief sparring session, Piccolo honestly forgets that when Pan’s says Grandfather, she’s referring to Goku. 

Piccolo may not act like it, but he’s clearly the best dad in Dragon Ball, and now the best grandfather. And like any good dad, he’s frustrated when he thinks his son isn’t living up to his full potential. In this case, Gohan’s more focused on his research than paying attention to his training…or picking up Pan from school.

So, when the Red Ribbon and the Gamma’s show up, Piccolo decides that this is the perfect chance to whip Gohan into shape. It’s reckless and unorthodox, but like any good Dad, Piccolo makes sure to keep Pan safe from any real danger, and steps in when Gohan can’t handle it on his own. 

In addition, Piccolo gets a long-overdue power boost, courtesy of Shenron. As a result, he becomes the latest to transform. In this case, he’s orange, bulkier, and buffer. And, judging by his power, he might be on par with Super Saiyan Blue.

That’s not the most impressive form, though. Not by a longshot.

El Blanco Gohan is Now Canon

During the Tournament of Power Arc, several memes came into existence. The legend of Ultra Instinct Shaggy. Jiren’s more powerful older brother, El Hermano. However, the one most relevant to this is El Blanco, a fan-made transformation for Gohan. People jokingly said that Gohan would gain a new transformation that would turn his hair white and let him surpass everyone in the franchise. Well, like Ultra Instinct Shaggy, El Blanco is now canon.

In the film’s epic climax at the Red Ribbon Army’s HQ, Gohan, Piccolo, and the others fight the worst thing they could hope to face: a mindless, Kaiju-sized clone of Cell called Cell Max. It’s suitably poetic that, when facing a clone of the enemy he’s most famous for beating, Gohan unlocks a new transformation. The Dragon Ball Wiki calls it Gohan Beast, but fans know the truth: it’s El Blanco. El Blanco is canon, and that’s the best thing that the franchise could do for Gohan.

A Funny (If Somewhat Flawed) Film Without Goku

Overall, Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero is a pretty good film. There are some problems with the pacing and story, though. Much of the humor from the first half hearkens back to the more comedic days of the early manga, which doesn’t exactly mesh well with the action that fans have come to expect from the manga. However, it does its best with what it’s got.

Once the movie drops the comedy, though, it cranks into high-gear, and it’s well worth slogging through everything. The 3D animation lets the movie do things with the characters that traditional animation doesn’t, making for more epic battles. The music is good, the fight’s are good, and it’s just an all-around good time.

Plus, the film does give a good reason why Goku and Vegeta don’t get involved since they’re training on Beerus’ planet with Broly. Broly is back, if only for a short time!

I personally liked seeing it in theaters, but you can wait for it to stream online if you don’t think you’re up for it. I must warn you, though: Pan is adorable!

I Give Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero a 3.5/5

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Amphibia S3, Episode 14A/14B Review

We thought that the appearance of the Mother of Olms was going to be a big reveal on Amphibia. However, that episode ended up paling in comparison to what happens this week! We saw bits of it in the final trailer for the series, but it’s not until now that we learn the whole story. The story behind how the Calamity Box was stolen finally gets revealed. And it. Is. Epic!

Also, we get another tie-in back to the first season of the show.

The Root of Evil

While out recruiting citizens to join the rebellion, Hop Pop laments how no one shares his love of agriculture. While returning the base, the Plantar’s (and Loggle) end up crashing and end up in this secret village of Gardenton (I hope I spelled that right). On the surface, it looks like an agricultural paradise, filled with massive plants and crops. However, it turns out it’s led by Apothecary Gary, AKA the sentient mushroom that tried to take over Wartwood!

One of my favorite aspects of the final act of Amphibia is that Matt and his team have gone out of their way to tie everything they can back together. Events and characters from one-off episodes are returning in time for the final act. While I had hoped that Gary would be back for a Halloween episode, seeing him return here was just as fun.

Despite Gary holding a grudge against the gang for almost getting him killed, the two sides (the people of Gardenton willingingly serve Gary) realize they have to put their differences aside. The threat that Andrias poses to Amphibia is too great to ignore. So, Gary and his followers join the Rebellion, adding yet another group for the upcoming final battle.

Now, time to get into the meat of this episode as we take another look at Andrias, Darcy, and the Calamity Box.

The Core and the King

In Andrias’ Castle, we see the Core-Possessed Marcy, now calling itself Darcy, with King Andrias. Despite claiming to have Marcy trapped in her own mind, Darcy’s inherited many of her quirks and mannerisms. It’s something that’s equal parts chilling and funny at the same time. It only gets even more chilling as the episode goes into flashback mode.

We turn back the clock to Amphibia a thousand years ago, when Newtopia was a technological metropolis, and Andrias was still a Prince about to become King, alongside his best friends, Leif, and Barrel. Firstly, Zeno Robinson deserves a shoutout for getting to voice young Andrias. Between that, Hunter on The Owl House, and Remy in Big City Greens, he’s becoming a big deal at Disney. Secondly, in a nod to the legacy of its predecessor, Gravity Falls, Barrel’s voiced by Jason Ritter, the voice of Dipper Pines himself.

The three friends all share a close bond, but the big standout is Leif, who is all but confirmed to be the ancestor to the Plantar’s. There’s not just her appearance that suggests it, but the fact that she came up with their family hunting dance. Alas, their friendship begins to crumble when Leif touches the Calamity Box and recieves a vision that’s the stuff of nightmares.

Motive for the Theft?

Fans have spent time in the show’s run piecing together the mystery surrounding the Calamity Box. We know that Leif stole it and brought it to Earth to prevent Andrias from using it, but it isn’t until now that we learn the exact motives. It turns out, the gems in the Calamity Box gave her a vision of an apocalyptic future, part of which we’re now seeing unfold as Amphibia’s stripped of all it’s resources. That alone is scary, but it’s not until the final moment that things become truly terrifying. Leif sees what appears to be the moon of Amphibia crashing onto their world, destroying it outright. When Leif pleads her case to Andrias’ father, though, it falls upon deaf ears.

It’s at this point that the evil of Andrias’ family and the Core becomes apparent. When faced with the idea that continuing down their path will lead to their world’s destruction, what does the old King do? He denies it, saying it’s nothing more than a vision. The Core would rather risk the safety of all existence than give up a fraction of its power. Left with little recourse, and with Andrias under his family’s abusive thumb, Leif has no choice. Thus, she steals the Calamity Box and spirits it away to Earth.

This whole thing plays out like a tragedy on multiple levels. Firstly, there’s the fact that Leif’s forsaking her beloved friends for the good of all. Secondly, such an act dooms Newtopia to revert to the medieval society we first see. Worse still, this perceived betrayal hurts Andrias so badly that it leads him to impose the unfair hierarchy we see throughout the show. All of these problems stem from the corruption and greed of the Core and its puppet, King Andrias.

Hope for the Future

In keeping with the show’s tradition of ending important episodes without the traditional outro, the end credits are replaced by the sight of Andrias burning the portrait we saw in the dungeons. The whole flashback revealed it to be of him, Leif, and Barrel, working together as one. Thanks to the greed of the Core, though, their friendship tragically fell apart. In a way, it mirrors the dark fate that nearly befell Anne, Sasha, and Marcy. If they’re not careful, that fate could still befall them.

Anne may be the main heroine of the show, but her friends have garnered just as much importance. Amphibia is their journey as a whole, one which could lead them to decide the fate of not just Amphibia, but all of reality.

Remember when this show used to be a light-hearted Western Isekai? Those days are long gone, giving way to Matt Braly’s brilliant masterpiece and endgame. And I cannot be more excited about what’s to come.

We have less than a month left of new episodes of Amphibia, a show that I’ve covered from the very beginning. This will be a bittersweet pill to swallow, but given how much hype the staff has built up, I’d say that this is going to be a finale on par with that of Gravity Falls. My only regret at this point is that I didn’t start writing fanfics for the show until it was too late.

I Give “The Root of Evil” and “The Core and the King” a 3/5 and a 4.5/5 Each

Stray Observations

• Loggle’s posing looks just like Alex Louis Armstrong from Fullmetal Alchemist!

• The Moss Man Anne and Wally saw was the one Leif used to escape. Neat.

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The Owl House Season 2, Episode 13 Review

I’m sorry that I didn’t get to this yesterday, but I had a busy day. But do you know who probably had an even worse day? Hunter, AKA the Golden Guard, AKA Emperor Belos’ supposed nephew and/or magical clone of his brother. Ever since he debuted in the second season premiere, fans have just fallen in love with Hunter. He’s funny, adorkable, and probably in more dire need of a hug than anyone on the Boiling Isles. The more time passes, the more we see how bad Hunter has had it in life, growing up under an emotionally manipulative man such as Emperor Belos. After seeing this Hunter-centric episode, though, I feel more sorry for him than ever before.

Hunter Just Wants Some Respect

Poor Hunter really has it rough in life, and that’s not just because he’s the Emperor’s supposed nephew. All he wants is to earn the respect of the people who work for Belos, and they treat him like dirt. When Belos puts him in charge while he’s doing other things, the Coven Heads outright reschedule a meeting just so they don’t have to deal with him. Being the insecure teen that he is, he ends up taking the head of the Abomination’s Coven remark about “finding new recruits” as an actual mission. Thus, he goes undercover at Hexside to do just that.

Meanwhile, it’s club day at Hexside, and Willow’s looking to start the school’s first Flyer Derby team, which is like Quidditch meets capture the flag, only more extreme. Through a series of events beyond his control, Hunter gets drafted into joining Willow’s team for their first match against her old Abominations teacher. From then on, the episode shows just how messed up Hunter’s life has really been. It turns out, joining the Emperor’s Coven means going through boot camp that would make the Navy SEALS look tame in comparison. What’s worse, Hunter’s grown up thinking that it’s normal to lie and stab your friends in the back, as this is what the Coven heads do under Belos.

This just shows how messed up things are under Belos. He emotionally manipulates people to do what he wants, while also having them at each other’s throats to curry his favor and keep them from becoming a threat. It’s like the Skeksis from The Dark Crystal, but for kids.

Baby Steps, Hunter

Ultimately, Hunter’s “mission” at Hexside does do some good for him. Willow, Gus, and the other students serve as a positive influence on him, ultimately leading Hunter to stand up to Darius when he’s ready to attack them after trying to escape. And fortunately, Darius actually respects Hunter for this, saying that it’s about time he get a life outside the palace. Maybe he’s not such a bad guy, after all. Then again, he does work for the Emperor, so…

The end result is that Hunter gains yet another positive emotional connection in his life. He’s changing for the better, people, but his full heel-face turn won’t come until he realizes that his Uncle Belos isn’t worth it.

Take That, Us!

Meanwhile, in the episode’s B-Plot, Luz and Amity discover that the author of the Good Witch Azura books is in town for a signing, and they eagerly attend. While doing so, they come up with more and more outlandish theories to explain who the author is. Like, is she a Witch who can travel between worlds? Is she Luz’s mom as a teenager sent forward in time? Kikimora?

Turns out, it’s none of these things. The books are just normal books that find their way to the Boiling Isles and sold by Tibbles. However, it turns out Amity is the only one to buy them.

So, the entire B-Plot of the episode was a funny jab by the show’s team at the fans for coming up with crazy explanations for mundane ideas. It’s all done in good humor, though, and I couldn’t help but laugh about it. You got us, Dana!

This was a fun episode, all around, and I just love seeing Zeno Robinson voice Hunter. He’s a rising star in the VA world, people!

I Give “Any Sport in a Storm” a 4/5

Stray Observations

• More Steve!
• Look and you’ll see a Remy Remington bobblehead in Hunter’s room. A nice reference to his role in Big City Greens

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The Owl House Season 2, Episode 6 Review

I know that he’s only been around for a few episodes, but I love the Golden Guard. Voiced by the talented rising star in the VA Community, Zeno Robinson, the Golden Guard quickly became one of my favorite characters in The Owl House. Considering how this series already has memorable characters, that’s saying something. Young, talented, and highly skilled, the Golden Guard serves as a great foil to both his predecessor, Lilith, and to Luz, with the show seemingly setting him up to be her new rival. However, we actually knew very little about this masked character. Until this week, that is. This week sees us gain some big insight into who the Golden Guard really is. In addition, we gain further insight into Belos’ plans for “The Day of Unity” and what his endgame is.

Also, we should note how the show has since updated its intro reflect the changes in appearance for several members of the cast. Eda has her new dress, King has his detached horn back on, and Amity’s hair is now pink. That’s attention to detail!

Choose Your Palismen

Immediately following the events in the Library, Luz returns to Hexside, still sorting out what happened between her and Amity. However, that soon takes a backseat as it’s Palismen choosing day at Hexside. Every Witch gets to choose a Palismen to bind with, courtesy of the Bat Queen and the ones under her care.

Surprisingly, Luz is the only one to not get a Palismen. Apparently, her lack of long-term goals beyond becoming a Witch hinders her from finding a Palismen. As a result, she spends all night trying to figure out what she wants in life. At least, until the Golden Guard shows up and nabs the Palismen so Belos can devour them.

Due to Kikimura trying to kill GG, though, both end up crash-landing in the woods, forcing them to work together to survive. As a result, we get some insight into who the Golden Guard really is.

The Truth About the Golden Guard

Firstly, it’s confirmed that the Golden Guard is around Luz’s age. That’s not really new, but it’s still nice to see. Secondly, his real name is Hunter, and according to him, Belos took him in when he was little, even calling him his nephew. Whether they’re actually blood-related is left up for debate. Lastly, though, it’s revealed that without his staff, the Golden Guard can’t use magic.

As Luz figures out, Hunter can’t perform regular magic like other Witches. He relies on artificial magic created by the staff given to him by Emperor Belos. In other words, he’s in the same boat as Luz: wanting to be a Witch but lacking the normal means to do so. Moreover, he takes an interest in Luz’s glyphs, saying they’re similar to the wild magic used from before Belos’ time.

In the end, Hunter and Luz save the Palismen from Kikimura, and Luz escapes with them as Hunter watches. However, one Palismen, a cardinal with a scar on its face, chooses to bond with Hunter for his conviction on studying wild magic. And the reasons why are made apparent.

Belos’ Master Plan

The question of who Belos and what his plans are remain among the show’s biggest mysteries. He claims to have been chosen by the Titan as its messenger, but many fans believe this is a lie. In addition, there’s the fact that his staff, like Hunter’s, seems more mechanical than magical. Plus, he eats Palismen’s to maintain his power. With the revelation of Phillip Wittebane’s existence last episode, speculation’s grown that Belos is somehow connected to him. While this will remain speculation, the show begins to give us some answers.

Firstly, while we don’t know all the details, it seems that the “Day of Unity” somehow involves merging the Boiling Isles and Earth together. Which is a big deal! Secondly, we see what happens when Belos doesn’t consume the essence of Palismen. He begins to turn into this hideous, black, oozing monster. My guess is that whatever grants Belos his power is also rotting his body from the inside out. Thus, he’s resorted to using Palismens, making the material they’re made from hard to find. Additionally, the fact that Belos’ staff is similar in design to Hunter’s leads me to believe that the magic it grants him is only artificial. In other words, Belos isn’t as strong as he makes everyone believe.

Luz’s Future Palismen

In the end, Luz remains without her Palismen. Fortunately, Eda and King manage to steal some of the wood needed to make one! Hopefully, we’ll get to see Luz with her own Palismen before the season ends!

Overall, this was another stellar episode of The Owl House. If you haven’t already, then I urge you to go watch it. The first five episodes of the new season drop on Disney+ in less than a week!

#SaveTheOwlHouse

Before we go, I wanted to give a shoutout to the fans who helped get #SaveTheOwlHouse trending on Twitter yesterday. After Dana revealed that it’s too late for a full third season, fans took to Twitter and began showing their support for the show in the hopes of giving it a fourth and final season to end its story properly. Show your support for the show by tweeting #SaveTheOwlHouse and by watching it on Disney+

I Give “Hunting Palismen” a 4.5/5

Stray Observations

• Luz is from Connecticut
• That hat demon on Bump’s head is actually his Palismen! Who knew?
• Hunter has a Sprig Plushie!!!
• The Goose!!
• The Blight’s Abominton’s are now serving as guards to Belos’ throne room
• Luz has gotten to the point where she can draw glyphs on anything.

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