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Tuesday, 31 January 2017

DC's Legends of Tomorrow: "The Legion of Doom" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

It’s been pretty clear for most of this season that Legends of Tomorrow has become the best of the various Arrow-verse shows. But based on the show’s recent track record, there’s a strong case to be made for labeling it the best current superhero series in general, even counting Marvel’s Netflix projects. “The Legion of Doom” is a terrific showcase for the all those things Legends does so well, from great character dynamics to comedy to its ability to build on the dense tapestry that is the DC Universe.

As the title suggests, this episode focused an unusual amount of time on Reverse-Flash and his “partners.” These three villains have proven plenty entertaining in their previous appearances, and they certainly didn’t disappoint as they took the spotlight. The appeal ran a lot deeper than the simple thrill of seeing Matt Letscher and Neal McDonough be their usual, charismatic selves. This episode played the three villains against each other wonderfully, as Darhk and Merlyn vacillated between squabbling with each other and trying to turn the tables on Thawne. What else would you expect when three hugely ambitious and self-centered villains try to form an alliance. They truly are their own worst enemy, more than the Legends themselves.

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Taboo: "Episode 4" Review

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Full spoilers for Taboo continue below.

Is James Delaney in league with Satan? Maybe, but that's not a question Taboo is interested in exploring any time soon.

The fourth episode of Taboo put politics front and center: politics between Delaney and his late father's wife Lorna, politics with Delaney trying to stay one step ahead of the East India Company, and politics with assembling the League of the Damned.

Taboo isn't the show I thought it would be going in, but halfway through its first season it is showing its true colors. Like Tom Hardy told me in a recent interview, it's more focused on politics than the supernatural.

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Agents of SHIELD: "Hot Potato Soup" Review

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Lots of big developments in "Hot Potato Soup," from the Koenigs finally making their triumphant return to May and Coulson finally sharing their much-shipped first kiss. But as Agents of SHIELD gets into the meat of its L.M.D. arc, it feels like it's intentionally trying to obfuscate things in this new episode.

Is anything as it appears to be? The characters on the show must be wondering the same thing, as they finally discovered the L.M.D. version of May. In true TV drama fashion, this reveal came right after she and Coulson kissed, though in Agents of SHIELD's defense, Coulson's "betrayal" over this reveal was appropriately muted. It's not the L.M.D.'s fault he was manipulated; it's Radcliffe's.

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The Flash: "Dead or Alive" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Last time a hugely popular, nerd-friendly TV series hinged an episode around a trial by combat, the result was Game of Thrones’ “The Mountain and the Viper.” Luckily, the Flash crew weren’t interested in mentally scarring their viewers with the sight of Cisco’s head being smushed into jelly. Instead, this trial by combat offered a fun change of pace and the opportunity for the show to focus on characters other than Barry for a while.

The big news this week was the debut of Gypsy (Sleepy Hollow’s Jessica Camacho). This was a fairly loose interpretation of the character, though, what with her being re-imagined as an interdimensional bounty hunter and her illusion powers being cast aside in favor of making her Earth-19’s answer to Vibe. Comic fans might be a little disappointed, but these changes definitely worked in the context of the episode. Plus, much like Vibe himself, Gypsy was a mildly offensive ethnic stereotype when she first debuted in the comics. With all the problems the Romani people have with representation in media already, I don’t know that a traditional take on the character is really in anyone’s best interests.

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Dragon Ball Super Episode 76 Review

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Warning: The following contains spoilers about the episode.

The last few episodes of Dragon Ball Super made great strides in emotional storytelling, and thankfully it’s not showing signs of stopping. Krillin takes center stage again to confront his demons. Seeing him battle with enemies from the past (and grow both physically and emotionally from it) made for a compelling story while also reinvigorating him as a strong, relevant character. His closest friend ends up being the weakest link of the episode however, as Goku’s attitude and treatment of Krillin was poor and at times almost insulting.

DBS76Pic1

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Monday, 30 January 2017

Supergirl: "We Can Be Heroes" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

On paper, this week’s Supergirl seemed like a recipe for disaster. It was another Guardian-heavy episode in a season where James Olsen is the glaring weak link. And it brought Brit Morgan’s Livewire back into the fold after two less than stellar Season 1 appearances. But while “We Can Be Heroes” had its weak points, the whole package turned out to be a lot more satisfying than expected.

It’s difficult to pinpoint what exactly made the Guardian storyline work better this week. It still mostly hit on the same beats, with James playing kung-fu master in the streets of National City and wrestling over whether or not to reveal his secret to Kara. Maybe it was simply the fact that so much of the episode was focused on the dynamic between Kara and James. It hearkened back to their Season 1 days, when the two still had a charming will-they-won’t -they-thing going. It makes me wish the writers could find a more elegant way to keep James in Kara’s life than having him play dress-up every week.

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Gotham Winter Finale Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Apparently, this is Gotham's Winter finale. That's a thing now. It just came back, after its Midseason finale, for these three episodes. Now it's gone until April.

Before I get into, once again, how awesome Cameron Monaghan is as "Joker" Jerome (I mean, we all know this, right?) I have to get a bit of business out of the way.

How many times can both the GCPD and Wayne Manor get invaded? I understand these these are two major established sets for the show and that production moves fast and it's easier to just use them for most everything - but come on! Crazies inside the police precinct again? Bruce's mansion getting broken into again? At least have Jerome nab Bruce -- I don't know -- outside on the grounds? Or maybe in his car trying to get away? At this point I question why Wayne Manor even has doors or windows.

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Kingston HyperX Cloud II Gaming Headset Review

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Editor's note: IGN is ramping tech and hardware reviews back up, one product category at a time. We're kicking off with deep dives into some of the best-of-the best headsets, GPUs, Mice, Monitors, and keyboards from the last few years.

The HyperX Cloud II (See it on Amazon) sits at the top rung of Kingston’s consumer-focused headset lineup, making it the company's best all-purpose gaming headset, but one notch below the "studio" quality Cloud Revolver. It costs $99.99 and features 7.1 virtual surround sound via its USB controller but can also be used via its 3.5mm audio jack with phones, tablets, and game consoles. The vanilla Cloud model lacks surround sound as well as the noise- and echo-canceling microphone found on the newer "II" model. So how does it stack up to the competition? Let's dive in.

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Training Day: Series Premiere Review

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This is a spoiler-free advance review for CBS's new drama Training Day, which premieres on February 2nd at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

CBS's new drama Training Day may take the name of Antoine Fuqua's 2001 crime thriller, but it's lost all the grittiness of the film's look at the dark underbelly of a corrupt Los Angeles. Here, the challenging dynamic between the two cops on different ends of the moral spectrum is distilled and simplified for the small screen, resulting in a familiar police procedural that loses sight of what made the original so engaging. Though interestingly, even though it's offering new riffs on the same character archetypes, it's worth nothing this is supposed to take place in the same universe as Fuqua's Training Day film.

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Sunday, 29 January 2017

Black Sails: Season 4 Premiere Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

I don't know what Black Sails' final season ultimately has in store for us, but if this premiere is an indicator then we're in for some thrilling and chilling drama.

In stark contrast to the winning warpath Flint was on at the top of Season 3, this episode opened with a massive defeat for Team Pirate as Flint's fleet wrecked itself upon purposefully sunken ships and then fell to cannon fire. Only Teach, Jack, Anne and their crew escaped clean (in an attempt to draw the enemy out and away from his fallen friends), while Flint and Silver were separated during their retreat.

How does this bode, this big defeat for our heroes? One thing's for certain, it kicks off this final season with everyone scrambling and reeling to recover - which in turn makes it even more important that the "Long John Silver" narrative endure. The pirates are going to need this bedtime story, this legend, to rally them in the face of such a huge loss.

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Friday, 27 January 2017

Urban Empire Review

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There’s a case to be made that Urban Empire is a perfect city sim for our times. Many traditional city sims grant us autocratic control, and the whims and wants of the populace largely remain abstractions and jumbles of figures. Urban Empire, though, focuses on the grim reality of the bickering, backstabbing, and befriending that goes on in a mayor’s relationship with multiple political parties before any proposal becomes a reality. It’s an approach that’s commendable for its realism, but in this case, it’s one that quickly grows predictable and occasionally dull.

It starts out promisingly enough. Urban Empire keeps its ambitions manageable by limiting the gameplay to the two-century span between 1820 and 2020, and it injects some volatility by mirroring the economic effects of events like the recession of the 1840s and the First World War. It drives home its focus on people by making you not a detached puppet master, but rather a member of one of four dynasties with different histories and ambitions. There are the starkly conservative Von Pflizens, for example, and the Sant’Elias clan who believes good technology can fix everything.

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It's Always Sunny: "Wolf Cola" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

It's been a while since an Always Sunny episode has fallen flat like "Wolf Cola: A Public Relations Nightmare," which, I suppose, is a bit of a backhanded compliment. Dry, slightly hacky chapters like this one don't happen very often. That's a good thing indeed, though it doesn't help make this one any funnier.

Still, within "Wolf Cola," there were some astute obsessions about disposable outrage, the 24-hour news cycle, and the way women are hated for simply existing ("the internet will come down on you with the fury of a middle-aged man who's accomplished nothing"). But the laughs were few and far between, and Charlie and Mac's little side venture felt uninspired and short-changed. If you're going bring back a famous series bit, like Fight Milk, then you better make sure it's worth the effort.

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AOC G2460PQU 144Hz Gaming Monitor Review

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AOC offers no less than 6 versions of the G2460 24" monitor, and its "PQU" variant falls roughly into the middle of its lineup since it has a higher refresh rate than a standard monitor, but doesn't include adaptive refresh rate technology. The G2460PQU (See it on Amazon) is considered the “extreme professional” version since it does sport the 144Hz refresh rate, and at $279 it's in the upper tier of pricing for 144Hz, 24" monitors. Before we jump into the specifics and our hands-on impressions and testing, check out the manufacturer-supplied specs:

specs

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Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions Review

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The end of the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series brought me closure. Yugi fought and won what seemed like an impossible battle against the Pharaoh Atem. With Atem's job complete in the world of the living complete he passed on to the spirit world. I cried. They cried. Seto Kaiba did not. Yu-Gi-Oh! The Dark Side of Dimensions’ strength lies in focusing on Kaiba’s unresolved obsession with the Pharaoh and awesome duels, but falters in trying to establish a new threat from a dull villain.

If you haven’t watched more than the first Yu-Gi-Oh! series — or even the first two seasons — you’ll understand what’s going on in the movie just fine. The Dark Side of the Dimensions picks up with Yugi, Joey, Téa, Tristan, and Bakura preparing for their high school graduation. Meanwhile, Kaiba is looking for Yugi’s Millennium Puzzle in hopes of bringing the Pharaoh back for one last duel.

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Resident Evil: The Final Chapter Review

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Considering the reviews of all of the films that have preceded it, as well as the success of practically every other video game adaptation in cinema history, it’s honestly shocking to think that the Resident Evil franchise has made it to its sixth installment this year with Resident Evil: The Final Chapter. Luckily, this one has been marketed and packaged as truly the final addition to the Resident Evil films, and at this point, such an end could only be seen as some kind of mercy for a franchise that should have ended a long time ago.

Set years after the events of the previous film, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter opens as Milla Jovovich’s Alice emerges from the sewers running underneath a barren and overrun Washington D.C., returning to the surface for the first time in years. Not much is known about why Alice comes back, other than that she is supposed to meet someone (or something) who has vital information to give her. This results in Alice journeying back to Raccoon City and the Hive in a last ditch effort to try and save humanity from being completely extinguished once and for all.

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Thursday, 26 January 2017

Supernatural Midseason Premiere Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

"First Blood" was a mixed bag of a midseason premiere, containing a lot of cool things - but also a few wonky elements.

Firstly, it doesn't exactly track that Dean, and assumedly Sam too, would think six weeks of solitary lock up in an off-the-books black site would be worse than Hell. In fact, this actually felt like a punishment the two of them could do in their sleep. Meaning, you could probably check back in on Dean a year later, open up that cell door, and he's smirk with a full beard and say "Is that all you got?"

Also, they were never even in the dark and having the lights turned off was a specific threat.

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LG 24GM77-B 144Hz Gaming Monitor Review

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LG isn't exactly known for its gaming hardware, but it has an extensive lineup of premium monitors targeted specifically at gamers that range from widescreen behemoths to more pedestrian panels for gamers on a budget. The 24GM77-B (See it on Amazon) is LG's least expensive 24" gaming monitor at a $299 MSRP, and it offers both a high 144Hz refresh rate as well as a plethora of gaming-specific features. Before we jump in, the manufacturer-provided specs:specs

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Saga #42 Review

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Just because you know a punch is coming doesn't make it hurt any less. Issue #42 brings "The War for Phang" to a close, and in a finale heavy even for Saga, Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples drop the emotional equivalent of an anvil atop the heads of their characters and readers. It's as riveting as it is achingly sad, and proves yet again that there's no such thing as a down arc for this series.

With 40 plus issues under their belts, it wouldn't be that crazy (though maybe a little bit) to expect a dip in quality from this absurdly consistent creative team. And while that's not what happens here, "The War for Phang" does feel different when compared to the majority of arcs that have come before. For one, the book's momentum remains surprisingly sedentary throughout. So much of the series has revolved around the chase, either from danger or towards it, making the arc's somewhat isolated setup feel unnervingly static. If you've read our past reviews you know that Vaughan has taken full use of that seeming lull, peppering his usual shocking ends and abrupt declarations with a subtle and thorough examination of character. At times this slow burn approach could be maddening -- for all the many moving parts, it was rare they seemed to move closer -- yet there was always the sense that Vaughan was building towards something bigger.

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Wednesday, 25 January 2017

Deadpool #25 Review

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I'm a sucker for ongoing comics that take the "Born on the Battlefield" approach to long-form narratives, squeezing isolated chapters of a side-story in between longer arcs of the main tale. Both Star Wars and Deadpool have been employing that approach to strong effect in the last couple years. And while Jason Aaron's Ben Kenobi saga has a ways to go yet, this issue marks the end of the Deadpool 2099 flash-forward storyline. It's a fitting farewell, though one that threatens to overstay its welcome.

Previous chapters established the rivalry between Deadpool's two daughters while playing up the mystery behind Shiklah's fate. This issue brings that rivalry to a close while also giving the Shiklah mystery a satisfying conclusion. Gerry Duggan's Deadpool run has always worked best when there's plenty of pathos to balance out the slapstick humor. This arc succeeds because it taps into that quality so well. This is a far more morose and downbeat Deadpool, one who's suffered far too many losses over the decades to even maintain a facade of carefree exuberance. There are plenty of strong, emotional moments in the script as Duggan celebrates the odd family Wade has assembled for himself.

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Batman '66 Meets Wonder Woman '77 #1 Review

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DC is back with yet another "Batman '66 Meets..." crossover, but this one might just offer the most appealing crossover yet. Who among us hasn't dreamed of seeing Adam West's Batman and Burt Ward's Robin sharing the screen with Lynda Carter's Wonder Woman? Barring the announcement of a direct-to-DVD animated movie, this comic is probably the closest we'll get to that team-up becoming a reality. And like the various other Batman '66 crossovers, this series really scratches that itch.

It doesn't hurt that this series features the main writers from the core Batman '66 and Wonder Woman '77 comics, Jeff Parker and Marc Andreyko. Together, the duo are able to strike a nice balance between the two shows' respective tones, though this first issue leans more towards the Batman side of things in terms of cast. The writers actually take a surprisingly ambitious approach to merging the two properties. This isn't simply a garden variety crossover where Batman and Wonder Woman bump into each other while on the job. Instead, the bulk of this issue is spent in the past (during the 1940's setting of Wonder Woman's original season, to be more specific), as readers learn how a young Bruce Wayne first encountered Diana Prince. Further complicating matters is the presence of Ra's al Ghul and his daughter Talia.

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Arrow: "Who Are You?" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

The various Arrow-verse shows tend to keep pace with the passage of time in the real world, meaning that there’s usually a month-long gap in between each midseason finale and the next episode. But Arrow wrapped up 2016 with a pretty significant cliffhanger. It would have been foolish for the show to try and gloss over Laurel Lance’s return and pick up weeks later. Instead, “What We Leave Behind” flowed directly into “Who Are You?”, offering a pretty compelling reintroduction for Laurel, though one that doesn’t necessarily bode well for her future.

I had several theories on how Laurel could have cheated death, but the Earth-2 Laurel theory only one that really seemed to make sense. Anything else would either have been a waste of a good cliffhanger or a waste of Laurel’s tragic death in the first place. Revealing this Laurel to be Earth-2’s Black Siren not only paid off on the setup from The Flash, it fit nicely into Prometheus larger strategy of making life miserable for everyone in Team Arrow. And it showed that the writers aren’t afraid to dabble in the more exotic sides of the DCU even in this relatively darker and more grounded season. As I’ve said before, while there might be a correlation between Arrow’s decline in quality and the increase in supernatural elements, those elements were never the source of the series’ woes.

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Vikings: "On the Eve" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Okay, flat out, I'm not a fan of the abrupt way this chapter ended. I'm not shocked, since Vikings episodes tend to bunch up during the final ten minutes or so, and squeeze a lot of story into the last part of an installment, but this one just cut us off right as it seemed like Aethelwulf was making his final stand.

On the upswing though, "On the Eve," Season 4's penultimate episode, was action-packed. Last week, in "Revenge," we skipped over the battle and swung right into the torture of King Aella. This week was, pretty much, all about the action, and the warfare, as separate battles in both Kattegat and Wessex showcased our main characters thinking on their feet, employing out-of-the-box tricks, and dismantling their enemies.

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The Magicians: Season 2 Premiere Review

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This review contains full spoilers for The Magicians' premiere, as well as spoiler-free thoughts on the next three episodes of Season 2. We won't be doing regular reviews of Season 2, but will check in time to time with thoughts on big episodes. Enjoy!

The Magicians is always surprising. And its Season 2 premiere, picking up on one of the most extreme cliffhangers to ever end a season -- aka killing off the majority of its main characters -- continues that trend by undoing those dramatic, how-will-they-come-back-from-this deaths almost immediately.

From there on out, The Magicians continues to venture into unpredictability. Not only is The Beast not dead, but he also is proving to be an unlikely ally for Julia. Quentin, Eliot, Margo and Alice become kings and queens of Fillory, but need to leave their new kingdom and head back to Brakebills in order to defeat The Beast. And poor Penny isn't having much luck with his hands.

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Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue Review

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The awkwardly titled Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8: Final Chapter Prologue is meant to set the stage for the long-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3, but this collection will really only be of value to those who are already well versed in all things hearts and heartless. Without that background, dropping into this collection at this point would likely leave amateur keyblade wielders in a confusing place.

Final Chapter Prologue is composed of three portions: 0.2 Birth By Sleep – A Fragmentary Passage, Dream Drop Distance, and Back Cover. The first of those three, a mini-chapter that fills in the gaps of Aqua’s history, is 2.8’s most exciting and rewarding aspect.

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Star Wars #27 Review

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Theoretically, the fact that Marvel's core Star Wars comic takes place in between Episodes IV and V prevents writer Jason Aaron from getting his hand son Yoda. But Aaron isn't letting chronology get in his way, as the series' current arc flashes back to one of Yoda's Episode I-era adventures. The change in both setting and cast serve as a welcome change of pace, though at this point the story's lack of depth makes it seem like it would have been better-suited for the single-issue treatment. The disappointing visuals also severely limit the impact of this flashback adventure.

The novelty factor is the main element in this arc's favor. The fact that this entire issue unfolds on a remote world marked by Stone Age technology and populated entirely by bloodthirsty children certain sets it apart from the crowd. Despite the lack of Sith Lords, Battle Droids or other familiar Prequel Trilogy trappings, Aaron is able to use this low-key setting to craft a challenge worthy of the great Master Yoda. It's rare for this venerable Jedi Master to feel like the underdog, but he does here.

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Spencer and Locke #1 Review

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Nostalgia is a powerful thing. It doesn't matter if your tastes change, or if your interests mature. If you liked something once, chances are you'll always find reasons to like it again, often through the benefit of rose-colored glasses. Luckily, no such spectacles are needed with Spencer and Locke #1. This new debut from David Pepose, Jorge Santiago and publisher Action Lab Entertainment offers a fiendishly fun take on an age old classic, combining two equally revered and wholly different comic cultures into something both wonderfully familiar and entirely new.

Billed as "Calvin and Hobbes meets Sin City," it's clear from the opening page that said description is remarkably on point. Writer Pepose doubles down on both influences immediately, his opener veering from warmly familiar to stunningly subversive in mere panels. It’s a tough tone to pull off, and an even harder one to maintain, yet Pepose’s first issue strikes an easy and effective balance. Some of that comes down to his writing style, which offsets brighter flashback sequences with plenty of bleak, cigarette dragging narration, but much of the book’s tonal consistency comes from the characters themselves.

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ViewSonic XG2401 Gaming Monitor Review

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The Viewsonic XG2401 (See it on Amazon) is the company's mid-range 24" gaming monitor and it costs a bit more than the base models due to the fact that it has FreeSync adaptive refresh rate technology, which is all the rage these days. It has HDMI and DisplayPort video inputs for fast-paced gaming, three USB ports for peripherals, and a 144Hz refresh rate too (DisplayPort-only) making it a well-equipped piece of gaming hardware. Before we jump in, let's take a look at the manufacturer-supplied specs:specs Viewsonic

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Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #6 Review

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When it comes to event comics, few things are more annoying than a finale issue that devotes more time to setting the stage for new stories than attempting to wrap up the current one. Unfortunately, that's a mistake Justice League vs. Suicide Squad makes. Despite the promising setup in Justice League vs. Suicide Squad #5 last week, the final chapter offers an anticlimactic conclusion to this crossover.

All the pieces were certainly in place, with Batman and a handful of Suicide Squad members being all that stands between the reborn Eclipso and total world domination. Sadly, that final battle is over and done with in surprisingly quick fashion. It's hardly a battle that matches the spectacle seen in the initial clash between the two teams or their collective confrontation with Amanda Waller's original Suicide Squad. Too much room is devoted to pacing the way for the new Justice League of America comic and too little towards giving Eclipso the showcase he deserves. Not to mention the fact that one Amanda Waller-related piece of fallout makes absolutely no logical sense.

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Civil War II: The Oath #1 Review

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When Marvel wrapped up their original Civil War crossover in early 2007, they capped off the story with a one-shot called Civil War: The Oath, which explored the emotional fallout of Iron Man and Captain America's war. Unsurprisingly, Marvel is taking almost the exact same approach with Civil War II. Civil War II: The Oath is very similar to its predecessor in terms of tone and execution. It's also more ambitious, though that actually winds up being its biggest flaw.

Civil War: The Oath's power stemmed from its elegant simplicity. It was just two guys in a room (one of them dead for the majority of the issue), reminiscing about their friendship and the long, terrible road that led them to where they were. It was and still is a straightforward and powerful read, and easily one of the best of the many partnerships between Brian Bendis and Alex Maleev. This sequel echoes the original in many ways. It's still framed around a heartfelt conversation between Captain and America and Iron Man (now having traded roles). But at the same time, it also devotes a great deal of energy to setting the stage for new books and new conflicts. The script frequently cuts away from the Cap/Iron Man conversation to touch base with characters like Spider-Man, Captain Marvel and Hawkeye, in some cases setting the stage for new series that have already launched. It's a little too preoccupied with setting up future storylines and, as a result, the timeless quality of the original Oath is lost.

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Legion: Series Premiere Review

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Note: This review avoids major spoilers for the first episode of Legion.

The X-Men universe is back on TV! Sort of! The new series Legion -- which debuts on FX in the U.S. on Wednesday, February 8, at 10 PM ET/PT -- pulls its main character, David Haller, from the pages of Marvel Comics. But of course, the X-Men’s live-action adventures on the big screen are not part of the MCU, and so it also goes with Legion. That means no connections to the Avengers, etc., but also it seems as though Legion will be keeping its distance from Fox’s X-Men movies as well. And judging by this first episode, that is a very, very good thing. For Legion isn’t a superhero show anyway, but it does have the potential to be the most unique and perhaps even the best comic-book based TV series to come around in quite some time.

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Tuesday, 24 January 2017

Taboo: "Episode 3" Review

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Full spoilers for Taboo continue below.

With each episode of Taboo, Tom Hardy's James Delaney becomes a more intriguing, captivating character. While he started the series as an enigma, we're starting to get a full sense of him as a person by episode 3, which makes his victories all the more cheer-worthy.

Hardy has steadfastly been playing James as a dangerous man, as he repeatedly says, and with each passing episode we're getting a better sense of how dangerous and cunning he is. At first, those claims were just words; James clearly seemed dangerous and unhinged, and there are plenty of rumors about his bad behavior, but what proof? Episode 3 started with what the audience has seen and what the characters have seen warping -- did James just bite the assassin's neck, or did he actually rip his heart out with his teeth? -- and went as far as to finally say the "m" word, magic, which starts to finally paint in the picture of the man the show has been following.

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Marvel's Agents of SHIELD: "Wake Up" Review

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Full spoilers for Marvel's Agents of SHIELD continue below.

Now that was a gut punch of an ending.

Marvel's Agents of SHIELD has learned a lot in its four years on the air, and in its latest episode "Wake Up," it showed that it really knows how to use our expectations against us. The first two thirds of this episode felt like story beats this show has told us before, from SHIELD infiltrating an enemy's base to Daisy's defense of Inhuman kind to a traitor being in our midst. But that last third is what made "Wake Up" such an excellent episode, subverting what have become anticipated story beats all the way up through May's brutal twist of final scene.

I was convinced several weeks ago, when Radcliffe and Fitz got knocked out by Aida and then they woke up relatively unharmed, that Fitz was the second secret L.M.D. in SHIELD's midst. I remained convinced all the way until the big twist at the end of the episode: that Radcliffe has been an L.M.D. ever since Aida failed to acquire the Darkhold, and that he went running off to Nadeer to protect him.

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The Flash: "Borrowing Problems From the Future" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Any lingering hopes that The Flash might do something more with the fallout of Flashpoint were dashed for good this week. The series returned for its midseason premiere complete with a new opening sequence, one that shifts the focus from Flashpoint to the ongoing quest to prevent Iris’ murder. It’s not necessarily a bad status quo, but The Flash needed a bigger jolt coming into 2017 than this midseason premiere was able to offer.

While I was pretty positive on the state of the series after the midseason finale, it really started to sink in again with this episode just how much The Flash is spinning its wheels and retreading old ground in Season 3. Once again, there’s the looming threat posed by a speedster villain with an unknown identity and a mysterious connection to Team Flash. Once again, Barry is keeping secrets from his friends under the misguided belief that he needs to tackle his demons alone. And once again, there’s the prospect of Barry losing one of his loved ones in the season finale. The single most important goal right now should be proving to viewers how the remainder of Season 3 is going to be different, and “Borrowing Problems From the Future” didn’t do enough in that regard.

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DC's Legends of Tomorrow: "Raiders of the Lost Art" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

How different would the world be if George Lucas never made Star Wars? It's a film that has profoundly shaped the lives of several generations of people now, and it's practically impossible to imagine a world without characters like Darth Vader and Han Solo. That was the central idea fueling this latest episode of Legends of Tomorrow. Sure, "Raiders of the Lost Art" furthered the Spear of Destiny conflict that will clearly form the backbone of the remainder of the season, but its real success came in celebrating the legacy and importance of George Lucas.

This episode had plenty of ground to cover as it picked up where "The Chicago Way" left off last December. There was the reveal that Reverse-Flash is seeking the Spear of Destiny and now has the means to track it across time and space. There's the twist that Rip isn't dead, but rather has been hiding out in the '60s making crappy, low-budget movies inspired by his adventures. And there's the issue that Mick has been plagued by hallucinations of his late partner-in-crime. Fortunately, "Raiders of the Lost Art" juggled all that material deftly and without ever losing sight of the fun, adventurous tone that's been Legends' strongest asset this season.

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The Path: Season 2 Review

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This is a review of The Path: Season 2 in its entirety. All 13 new episodes were made available to the press ahead of time even though the binge model is not currently what Hulu employs, releasing their episodes on a weekly basis, so this review won't delve into spoilers except for basic set-up/plot points.

The Path returns to Hulu with a slightly longer season, some more top-notch performances, and its usual muddled sense of self - as if it were a show in need of its own movement, or cult, of clarity.

We left off last season with the revelation that the exiled Eddie Lane (Aaron Paul) was seeing honest-to-goodness prophetic visions, indicating that he was taking on more of a "Chosen One" role despite having lost his faith. Unfortunately, when it comes to the Meyerist "Movement," when you lose your faith, you lose your worth and Eddie starts Season 2, which picks up months later, living a lonely life and secretly seeing his kids sporadically thanks to the good graces of Sarah (Michelle Monaghan).

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Dragon Ball Super Episode 75 Review

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Warning: The following contains spoilers about the episode.

Krillin is the star of the show this week as we see him coming to grips with his new life and the results it has had on his martial arts skills. Instead of focusing on intense fights, Episode 75 is another great punch of emotion and features Krillin’s struggle with his sense of inadequacy.

As one of the original and generally weaker members of the Dragon Ball series, Krillin has a unique perspective on events. After Goku approaches him about training together, Krillin realizes he has become weak and complacent with his life, and that powerful moment is hammered home as his wife and daughter make a remark about his strength. But what really sells the moment is the lingering camera, as we see Krillin come to the realization that his wife and daughter are right.

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Asus VG248QE Gaming Monitor Review

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High refresh rates are the latest buzz in the monitor world and the Asus VG248QE (See it on Amazon) is a solidly built, entry-level model that runs at 144Hz and is a good introduction to the world beyond 60Hz. It's a bit more expensive than competing models but performed well in our benchmarking and hands-on testing. Before we jump in, let's take a look at the baseline specs, as supplied by the manufacturer:

Asus Monitor

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Monday, 23 January 2017

Supergirl: "Supergirl Lives" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

“Supergirl Lives” is notable not just for being Supergirl’s midseason premiere, but because it marks director Kevin Smith’s debut on the series. Honestly, apart from the presence of his daughter Harley Quinn as teen kidnap victim Izzy Williams and a reference to “Thanagarian Snare Beasts,” you wouldn’t know there was anything out of the ordinary about this episode. But that’s a good thing. Smith has always voiced his desire not to rock the boat when it comes to his Flash and Supergirl work, and “Supergirl Lives” proved to be another solid addition to the Season 2 lineup.

Apart from the aforementioned Snare Beast reference, there wasn’t much to actually tie this episode to the now-infamous Superman Lives, which would essentially have been a big-screen adaptation of the “Death and Return of Superman” comic book storyline from the early ‘90s. I suppose you could argue the fact that Kara spent half the episode de-powered is a loose connection. But mainly, the goal here was clearly to give Kara one of those challenges every hero needs to experience now and then. She needed to reaffirm that Supergirl’s power comes from more than mere physical strength. She’s someone who can inspire others even when the situation seems hopeless. Case in point - she managed to rally a group of prisoners to overpower their alien oppressors and make it back to Earth. Not a bad week for Kara, all things considered.

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Gotham: "Smile Like You Mean It" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

Though none of the "Smile Like You Mean It" pictures in the gallery below will show it, the headline this week was pure Jerome. Yes, Cameron Monaghan returned to the series to inject this season with a jolt of energy and craziness that only "a Joker who's not really the Joker" can provide.

Seriously though, Monaghan's great. And it felt like was even more at home in the role this week, despite walking around most of the time with a bandaged, bloody face. His Jerome, which has to be considered a Joker performance really, may be a blend of notable maniacs, including past Jokers, but it's a smooth blend. Jerome's funny and, best of all, he doesn't feel forced. There's nothing about him that's designed to evoke empathy or display any inner damage -- you know, for texture -- but he still feels very present and real. I actually spoke to Monaghan about his return to the show this week and you can read that here.

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Riverdale: Series Premiere Review

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Forget the bright colors, harmless teenage hijinks and all-American purity of the Archie comic books that you grew up with (or flipped through while waiting in the checkout line at the grocery store) and get ready for something with a bit more bite. Riverdale presents all of the classic Archie characters and relationships in one form or another, but now the small town is a sinister place that can no longer hide its many secrets. A murder mystery sets the eerie tone of the show while scandals of all kinds are introduced until you’re convinced that no one in this place is what they appear to be. That’s the fun of Riverdale, yet another check in the win column for The CW’s comic book adaptations - Riverdale, like the CW's DC Comics-based series, is executive produced by Greg Berlanti.

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Tales of Berseria Review

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"Why do you think birds fly?" This riddle is posed in the first hour of Tales of Berseria, the emotionally ragged semi-prequel to Tales of Zestiria that ripped my heart out again and again with its cautionary tale of a woman so bent on vengeance that every road she follows leads to perdition. By the time the credits rolled on this 45-hour long action RPG I still wasn't sure what the answer was, but I knew this: Berseria is the best Tales game I've played, and my favorite to date.

Berseria's greatest strength lies in its ability to tell a different kind of story from those of its predecessors. Instead of the cheery, can-do spirit I've come to expect from the series, Berseria fully explores the darkest parts of the human heart. There's no real sunny side to the anti-heroine Velvet Crowe, who drives the plot with her unquenchable thirst for bloody vengeance on the man who took everything from her. Nor is there much hope of redemption for the memorable company she keeps, which includes the enraged pirate Eizen, the mouthy and detached witch Magilou, and the fratricidal demon Rokurou. These characters reflect just how emotionally broken their world has become in the face of multiple calamities. Only the fragile Malak (spirit) Laphi and the earnest Exorcist Elenor keep this ragtag group anchored in hope and distinct from the actual villains. Even then, the ties that bind them threaten to come undone as their search for the truth behind the theo-political machinations of a tight group of elites collides with their need for personal vengeance.

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Resident Evil 7: Biohazard Review

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Resident Evil 7 takes some big risks with the long-running horror series. But even as some succeed and others fall flat, this new first-person take on the formula wisely remembers that it’s survival-horror adventure — composed of tense exploration and careful item-hunting — and not solely its action that made its early predecessors memorable.

With one of the creepiest single settings since the Spencer Mansion and an enticingly bizarre mystery to unravel, this is the most fun I’ve had with a Resident Evil game in years.

The atmosphere in Resident Evil 7 is the strongest the series has seen in a long time, and that’s owed entirely to the eerie Dulvey plantation, to which the player character Ethan has been summoned by a cryptic email from his missing wife. If classic Resident Evil games were rooted in the zombie films of George A. Romero, this is Resident Evil in the tradition of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, with all the gruesome imagery, dilapidated old shacks, and cannibalistic horrors that come with it.

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Gold Review

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Matthew McConaughey’s return climb from being the star of a string of forgettable (sometimes downright awful) romantic comedies to being one of the most serious and respected dramatic actors of his generation is one of the most interesting that the entertainment industry has seen in recent years. However, after winning an Oscar for his performance in 2013’s Dallas Buyers Club and massive popular attention for his performance in the first season of True Detective, it’s seemed like McConaughey has been unable to recapture the same magic and critical acclaim with any of his films since his Oscar win.

With his two most recent live-action outings, The Sea of Trees and Free State of Jones, missing the mark, many have been hoping that Gold, the newest film from director Stephen Gaghan, might finally be another hit for McConaughey. Boasting yet another physically transformative lead performance from the actor as well, and focusing on an interesting premise based loosely on one the most notorious mining scandals of all time, Gold certainly has all the potential in the world to be that hit McConaughey has been waiting for ever since 2014.

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Sunday, 22 January 2017

Star Wars Rebels: "Trials of the Darksaber" Review

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Warning: Full spoilers for the episode below.

What a wonderful episode.

What was so notable about “Trials of the Darksaber” was how incredibly focused it was. Clips and images made it clear the episode would include Sabine training to use the weapon in the title, but I’m guessing I’m not alone in presuming something else would occur to make it more traditionally "action-packed" – that Sabine, Kanan and Ezra would encounter some Imperials or creatures or bounty hunters they’d need to fight and she'd prove herself in this manner. Instead, the story never moved beyond her training and was so much better and more impactful because of that. We didn't need any other foes this week because this was all about Sabine's own internal battle.

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