YOUNG JUSTICE Episode 7 - DENIAL
Seeing the teen dynamic now establishing with new recruit Artemis and the more-accepted, Miss Martian, proves to be a nice potential spot for planting seeds of adolescent drama and fodder for teen angst later on in this series, but the opening exchange proved not as annoying as one would ponder. Seeing less petulance and insolence from certain individuals is a welcome respite as the episode doesn't focus on the team and all its members; but instead on a certain skeptical in the speedy Wally West. The cynical plot is well envisioned as we focus on the age-old Science vs Magic argument as Red Tornado asks the young team to check up on Dr. Fate's Helmet.
The pantheon of Fate's realm is well endowed for magical tales and while in the past the likes of Zatanna, Morgaine Le Fey, Mordred and Jason Blood/Etrigan have been in the magical spotlight, we get Klarion the Witch-Boy, Teekl and last but not least, the original poser/con artist in Abra Kadabra! It's a tease for fans of Grant Morrison's '7 Soldiers' and while the team goes up against these magical forces in their quest to analyse Fate's status, certain things stand out with some aspects faltering a bit.
It's a swooning pleasure to hear Klarion voiced by Thom Adcox-Hernandez (who wowed us as Lexington in Gargoyles) and while the character was a bit too spolit and obnoxious at times, they did a great job of ensuring his power transcended to the evil intents and purposes they tried to convey to the viewers. It doesn't become a convoluted bog of magical fits and wills as Klarion holds Kent Nelson hostage to ascertain the whereabouts of the Helmet in Fate's tower. It's here that the young heroes clash and Wally's childish behavior has graver repercussions than we would fathom at first.
Ed Asner cannot hold a fluttering light to Oded Fehr's voice as Kent/Fate and this was a huge downfall as I've gotten accustomed to the JLU version of Dr. Fate. Even as the age-old Nelson, Ed seems much more suited to his Perry White/Granny Goodness, and I'd have taken James Remar's delicate yet gruff stern tone as Nelson! Nit-pickings continuing, another puzzling factor was that Klarion was indeed a sturdy opponent for Nabu, a pivot in the Fate story and Lord of Order! Such robust a battle from the young Klarion of Chaos was one that took me by surprise but the writers did well to quell the situation as to why Nabu was a bit underwhelming...there's a lazy and dormant factor there, no pun intended. Kent's aspiring ascension to a celestial rendezvous with a certain madame was a nice romantic tone to counter the usually flailing romantic overture teen quips of Wally, and while his team-mates fell out of the spotlight in this one, even as Aqualad continued to embark as a tentpole for this series, Wally's debacle of Scientific belief and Magical Squalor did well to relieve the constant humor from him, and immerse the young speedster in a sense of seriousness.
Embedded in his skepticism comes actions and consequences that are all nods to DC lore, and gives an unexpected twist with the Helmet of Fate. It's practical but was it really one that would happen in the comic-verse? That still stands to be tested, but one thing's certain...as the episode ended, there was a shocking lack of further insight into the villainous society that peruses YJ, and we return to the usual status quo of the behavioral pattern of this team. I, for one, would like more browsings into our new archer on the roster! A filler episode this may be, but as a student of engineering myself, Science vs Magic, is almost giddy an argument as Man vs Religion...or dare I say...God? Not the best episode, but certainly worth a popcorn bowl on a Friday Night with a Snickers bar intact!
DC Animated Showcase - The SPECTRE
Steve Niles scribes this short-film and it's overseen by the tremendous Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett and posse so we know at least it's foundation is sound, after all Niles' writings to me are something special and he gave one of my favorites in '30 Days of Night' so why not let him have a crack at this.
This tale's wingspans gawk at just over 10 mins but it's enough time to tease what could be a future hit for DC. This incarnation is heavily influenced by Michael Fleischer and Jim Aparo's controversial run from the 70's Bronze Age and it's no surprise Niles set a path for dark and gruesome; and that's what we get here as we focus on the host body, Jim Corrigan, as he makes inquiries into the murder of a film executive in town. It's a noir-ish tone with a subtle soundtrack of oozing 70's bliss and to top that off, the feel that pounds what Niles was trying to convey, is well punctured - THE DC BRONZE AGE!
Gary Cole does well here in the throwback setting that punctuates a town in dismay and I feel no remorse to say that I lost my marbles envisioning Aimee Brenner, the film's damsel, in distress, as voiced by the sultry Alyssa Milano. I remember in 'Charmed' she went blonde for a while...and that's a story for another night..err...I mean...day!
Digression aside, Corrigan maneuvers the catacombs of detection on his job as he traces the killers, and it's a simple yet elaborative labyrinth that takes us to the endpoint that I don't think is that much of a surprise! Before he reaches his final foe, Corrigan as the Spectre travels the lines of woe, pain and vengeance as he irks out punishment to the murderers in fashions that would make Stephen King and Wes Craven smile. It's broody, dark, grim and horrific...such gruesome sights I'd love to see in a real-life DC film. DC Animation pulls no punches as they hold nothing but cigarettes, flickering lights, mannequins, props, and manual-driven cars that come to life automatically! Vengeance never looked as good being distributed. Corrigan's lack of conscience in his conviction that he is shelling out justice is as pleasing as the final battle, where paper-cuts and 'Benjamins' take on a whole new meaning! A simple plot is derived...yet substantially effective! The substance of terror in the vengeance-schemes is well illuminated as Corrigan's cold and heartless disposition heavily marry the depiction of the Spectre that they aimed for.
We end on an Issac Hayes note that can't help but take away from the fact that if we do ever get another Spectre feature, maybe John Ostrander's biblical-toned run can be touched on, involving God's plans and the entity known as Eclipso? I'd opt for that rather than a Hal Jordan tale of pseudo-insanity...or maybe they'd just stick to this well received formula as prescribed by Fleischer and Aparo. Niles definitely did one up on that Smallville Tease in 'Absolute Justice' where we saw a Spectre tease in the JSA squad paitning. Once they show us Corrigan dispensing this gory kind of retribution a la vengeance...then safe to say, I'm all in...and I HOPE OTHER DC FANS JOIN THE TRIP...ACID OR NOT!!! Bring all fiends, apparitions, ghouls...and Spectres!!!