Author: Matthew Peterson

The recent sale of the 1966 Batmobile (for more than FOUR MILLION BUCKS) was a pretty spectacular moment for pop culture and collectible fans, but I can’t help but feel a little bit of sadness at the loss of the one-of-a-kind Lincoln Futura concept car.  (Yes, I realize that I am probably the only one lamenting the transmogrification of a Fifties bubble-top show circuit vehicle. I am occasionally inexplicably sentimental about weird things.)  Still, it’s an idea that resonates with comics fans as well, given that no matter how wonderful Gail Simone’s Batgirl is, there are fans clamoring for Cassandra…

Or – “We’ve Got Nearly Half A Dozen Hyperions To Choose From…” The Marvel Universe is a long-lasting and diverse place, which means that certain characters have had a LOT of divergent takes.  Hyperion, for instance, was introduced as a villain, whom we late discovered was based on an extra-dimensional hero, after which a third Hyperion appeared, and then we’re cha-cha-ing.  When the latest H-Man appeared as part of Captain America’s latest Avengers team, I was intrigued and now it’s time to see what’s up with his backstory as he faces off with the villainous Ex Nihilo.  Your Major Spoilers…

Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve done something before?  I occasionally experience what the French call “Deja Vu,”, and I’m having a serious case of it right now.  Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve done something before?  I occasionally experience what the French call “Deja Vu,”, and I’m having a serious case of it right now.  Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve done something before?  I occasionally experience what the French call “Deja Vu,”, and I’m having a serious case of it right now.  Have you ever had the feeling that you’ve done something…

When I was young, reading ‘Uncanny X-Men,’ I was both shocked and intrigued when Longshot and Dazzler suddenly arrived late in the middle of a battle, he shirtless, she wearing his distinctive jacket over a pair of panties and seemingly nothing else.  This back-handed, but still overt treatment of sexuality among superheroes stuck with me, as it was not a “Very Special Episode” so much as a matter-of-fact moment which cemented the truth that the heroes were (in the vernacular of my teenage years) “doin’ it.”  Sex is VERY difficult to work into comics effectively without pitfalls, and most interpretations…

During a recent Twitter discussion with a Faithful Spoilerite, I was reminded that Wonder Woman’s first animated appearance came during an episode of the cartoon version of ‘The Brady Kids.’  Of course, her first live-action shot at fame (not counting a quickie pilot from ‘Batman’ producer Bill Dozier during the time when that show was a media juggernaut) came as a blonde gadgeteer/martial artist in the Emma Peel vein, played by future ‘That’s Incredible’ presenter Cathy Lee Crosby.  While not particularly successful (or, for that mater, sensible), it was nonetheless a gateway to the eventual, more successful Lynda Carter take…

Thought Critical Hit is distributed to the masses every Saturday, of late we have been recording the actual shows on Wednesday evening, and as of this writing, a C.H. session is scheduled for tonight.  (Wish me luck, my dice have been wonky lately.)  The duration of this campaign makes it officially my second-longest running game of all time, and I always  enjoy playing young Halston Thorquelson, but sometimes I like to consider what type of character I might want to play in a (completely theoretical) new session.  Would I want to be a striker?  A leader?  A shape-shifting creature? A…

This weekend, in a fit of abject boredom, I broke down and did something I haven’t done in nearly a decade:  I put a VHS tape in my cassette player.  (Yes, I’m aware that I’m behind the times, but I use the VCR as a video router to keep all my antediluvian video equipment in line.  Until last Christmas, my television only had coaxial inputs.)  In any case, ancient tech or not, large portions of Heavy Metal still have the same punch as back in ’82, especially the last 30 minutes of the film, with Taarna’s fully orchestrated battle against…

Or – “‘Cause One-Shot Is All He Needs!” Once again, we set our Retro Review sights on the decade known as the Nineteen-Nineties, a time of internet bubbles, stained blue dresses and irony  Oh, the frickin’ irony!  Even the Big Two publishers weren’t immune to the snark, which fueled the post-modern engine of Vertigo and turned the Marvel Universe into a Bad-Girl machine.  With the Image Comics indy rebellion in full swing, circa ’93, Marvel even dropped some cash to hire Even Dorkin (of ‘Milk & Cheese’ notoriety) to write a super-hero title.  Does anybody else smell savage lampoonery?  Your…

Recently, my daughter began telling me about her watching of the classic episodes of the Twilight Zone, lamenting that so many of them had endings that were, in her words, “not done yet.”  When I tried to explain that the ambiguity was half the fun, she wasn’t entirely sure, and proceeded to try and figure out what would have happened to poor Burgess Meredith, suggesting that he find the nuked optometrist’s store for a new pair of cheaters.  While I admit that the child has a point, it got me to thinking about whether or not the nature of those…

Or – “Is You Is, Or Is You Ain’t My Torchy?” Their tenure was only supposed to last for four minutes…  At least, that was the plan.  Weeks later, the interim FF team has been attacked by super-villains, lambasted by the media, and surprised to find that one member of their sister team HAS returned, albeit later than expected.  Is his tale of the death of the original Fantastic Four true?  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!

With the latest news out of Marvel-movie-ville, there is a chance that we may be seeing a film featuring Sorcerer Supreme Stephen Strange at some undefined point in the future (after the already-announced Guardians Of The Galaxy and Ant-Man films, of course.)  I’m very happy to see that Marvel is considering what properties they have that are most unusual and interesting rather than just going straight to the Deadpool/Wolverine/Punisher well again.  (A more cynical man than me might even wonder if they couldn’t apply more of that thinking to their comic properties, but that man or woman will inevitably do…

Or – “Still Can’t Believe What Last Issue Implied About Events Behind The Scenes…” I have said over and over that I can’t understand why DC chose to do the Before Watchmen project, much less so very much of it.  I just didn’t really see that there were that many stories left untold.  Last issue very shockingly reminded me that there were at least a couple of things I hadn’t considered, but the jury was out as to whether that was a good thing.  What’s the final word?  Your Major Spoilers review awaits!

As a longtime fan of Doctor Who in its various forms and mediums, I am naturally excited to see what Auntie Beeb has up her sleeve for the Big Five-Oh this fall.  Many rumor sites are claiming a multi-Doctor tale is in the works, but with the exception of David Tennant (and possibly Eighth Doctor Paul McGann) there would be a LOT of work involved in explaining/getting around aging actors.  While I would dearly love to see octogenarian Tom Baker in action and the vain Sixth Doctor played by a heavier Colin Baker with thinning hair, I suspect I’m in…

There are a few endless raging debates in the circles in which I turn: Ginger or Mary-Ann?  Could the Hulk beat Superman?  Why would Penny ever be interested in Leonard in the first place?  But one of the most savage battles comes in the question of whether it would be superior to be a silent master of martial arts, lurking in the shadows, or a brazen buccaneer swinging down from the mizen-mast to shiver someone’s metaphorical timbers.  In my years leaning on a counter in a comic & hobby store, (Gatekeeper Hobbies!  Huntoon & Gage, TOPEKA!  Ask us about our…