Season Review: Hazbin Hotel: Season 2

Hazbin Hotel from SpindleHorse and A24 returns for its second season on Amazon Prime. It once again stars Erika Henningsen as Charlie Morningstar, Stephanie Beatriz as Vaggie, Amir Talai as Alastor, Blake Roman as Angle Dust, Kimiko Glenn as Nifty, Keith David as Husk with Krystina Alabado as Cherri Bomb and Alex Brightman as Sir Pentious. It also sees the return of Jessica Vosk as Lute, Christian Borle, Lilli Cooper and Joel Perez as the Vees, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer as Rosie, Patina Miller as Sera, Shoba Narayan as Emily, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Carmilla with Jeremy Jordan and featuring Patrick Stump, Kevin De Aguila and Liz Calloway.

The story follows up after the previous season’s conclusion where both heaven and hell have gone through significant changes. The crew of the Hazbin Hotel has successfully repelled the Exterminators of Heaven but now have to tackle the overlords who want to use this victory for their own benefit. Meanwhile in heaven, the image of invincibility among the angels has been shattered and a new arrival in paradise has shaken the idea of moral superiority all the way to the upper echelons. Amidst all this, Charlie Morningstar still strives for redemption for sinners but a PR war in hell could lead to another war with heaven and destroy her dream before it has a chance to flourish.

The Following Will Contain Spoilers:

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New In Review: Devil May Cry

Devil May Cry is Netflix original animated series based on the videogame series of the same name. Developed by Adi Shankar it stars Johnny Young Bosch as Dante, Scout Taylor-Compton as Mary, Hoon Lee as the White Rabbit, and Chris Coppola as Enzo. It also features Benjamin Abiola, Kari Wahlgren, Roger Jackson, Jason Marnocha, Erica Lindbeck, Leilani Barrett, Sunkrish Bala, Fryda Wolff, Ray Chase, Tina Majorino. With Ian James Corlett and the late Kevin Conroy as VP Baines and Robbie Daymond as Vergil.

Thousands of years ago, the forces of Hell invaded Earth in a act of bloody conquest that nearly wiped out all of humanity. But the demon knight, Sparda, turned against his kind and saved the human race, sealing the demons away at the cost of his own power. Ages later, his son Dante works as a professional demon hunter battling the unholy powers with a combination of pizazz, style, and some serious immature, try-hard energy. But the forces of Hell are mobilizing once more under the leadership of the mysterious figure of the White Rabbit. And the world of the humans is also taking steps through the clandestine organization DARKCOM, whose leader is dedicated to protecting humankind to the point of fanaticism. If there’s to be any hope and chance of survival, Dante will have to step up his game because chaos is coming and the party’s about to get crazy.

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New In Review: Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl

The Unshaved Mouse once described that even though Wallace & Gromit have had four short films, a long-running spin-off, comics, computer games, and a feature film, the two have never felt like a franchise. There’s always been a distinct coziness to them that never felt pervasive no matter how merchandise has been produced. A big part of that comes from the fact that their stories and humor have remained quite British in tone and style regardless of the budget and kept the charm that comes with stop-motion animation. The duo of Wallace, an inventor with more technical ingenuity in his little finger than common sense in his brain and Gromit, his silent, longsuffering dog and minder have remained staples of British culture because they’ve never lost their charm.

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl is the latest project from Aardman Animations and is directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham and released through the BBC and Netflix. It stars Ben Whitehead as Wallace (taking over from the late Peter Sallis). It also features Reece Shearsmith, Peter Kay, Lauren Patel, Diane Morgan, Muzz Khan, Adjoa Andoh and Lenny Henry.

The film is a direct follow-up to the short The Wrong Trousers, some years after foiling the robbery from the criminal mastermind penguin Feathers McGraw, the titular duo find themselves strapped for cash once more on account of Wallace’s constant inventing. Wallace’s latest creation is a robot garden gnome named Norbot whose…enthusiastic take on gardening make him a hit for the community. But it might also be the key to the penguin’s sinister plan of revenge against the two.

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Season Review: Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina

The crew of nerdy-ass voice actors are back for a third season of Critical Role: The Legend of Vox Machina as the familiar crew of Laura Bailey (Vex), Liam O’Brien (Vax), Travis Willingham (Grog), Marisha Ray (Keyleth), Ashley Johnson (Pike), Sam Riegel (Scanlon), Taliesin Jaffe (Percy), and Matt Mercer return for more adventures in the D&D world of Exandria. Newcomers include Mara Junot as J’mon Sa Ord, Rachel House as Dohla, with Debra Wilson as Pa’tice and Luis Carazo as Zerxus. Returning cast includes Indira Varma, Stephanie Beatriz, Sunil Malhotra, Esme Creed-Miles, Gina Torres, Aisling Franciosi, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, Will Friedle, Fred Tatasciore, Troy Baker, Kelly Hu, Cree Summer, and the late Lance Reddick as Thordak.

Continuing from the end of season 2, Vox Machina have secured a great victory in securing three Vestiges of Divergence, great artifacts with the powers of the gods, and have slain Umbrasyl of the Chroma Conclave. But to defeat the rest of the draconic cabal, more Vestiges must be claimed and the quest for them will lead them all over the world, into the depths of hell itself, and in the sights of old enemies and new. And if they’re to stop the Cinder King’s mad plan that would bring the world to ash, an alliance of convenience with a treacherous deceiver may have to be made. And that could cost them more than they can imagine…

Warning: Spoilers may follow.

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New In Review: Batman: Caped Crusader

Batman: Caped Crusader from Amazon Prime is the latest animated series to tackle the Batman universe under the creative direction of Bruce Timm. It stars Hamish Linklater as Batman, Jason Watkins as Alfred, Eric Morgan Stuart as Commissioner Gordon, Krystal Joy Brown as Barbara Gordon, Diedrich Bader as Harvey Dent, Michelle C. Bonilla as Renee Montoya, John Dimaggio as Harvey Bullock, Gary Anthony Williams as Arnold Flass, and Cedric Yarbrough as Rupert Thorne. Rounding out the cast there’s Minnie Driver, Christina Ricci, Dan Donohue, Tom Kenny, Toby Stephens, Reid Scott, McKenna Grace and Jamie Chung.

Warning: Spoilers are to follow.

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Season Review: My Adventures with Superman: Season 2

My Adventures With Superman returns for another season on Adult Swim and sees the return of Jack Quaid as Superman, Alice Lee as Lois Lane, and Ishmel Sahid as Jimmy Olsen. It also features Joel de la Fuente as Sam Lane, Debra Wilson as Amanda Waller, Max Mittelman as Lex Luthor, Chris Parnell as Deathstroke, Darnell Brown as Perry White, Andromeda Dunker as Vicki Vale. Rounding out the cast there’s Byron Marc Newsome, Jesse Inocalla, André Sogliuzzo, Zehra Fazal, Leila Berzins, Jason Marnocha, Rhea Seehorn, with Michael Emerson and Kiana Madeira.

Picking up where the last season ended, our trio of Clark, Lois, and Jimmy continue their work at the Daily Planet bringing integrity (and just a bit of hijinks) to the news while Superman continues his own brand of working helping the people of Metropolis. But all is not well in the city, Task Force X is now under the complete control of Amanda Waller who alongside their new benefactor, tech genius Lex Luthor, is bringing their war against Superman to new lows. Besides repeated human rights violations, they’re bringing a new tactic in, a public relations campaign against the Big Blue Boy Scout. Combine that with the new stresses in their jobs and relationships and Clark and Lois’ relationship might be over before it’s had a chance to truly get off the ground. And the alien threat that drove Task Force X into such extremes twenty-two years ago? It’s directed its attention to Earth and to Superman…

Warning: Spoilers are to follow.

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Season Review: X-Men ’97

Ask the average Millennial what their first exposure to the X-Men franchise was and chances are you’ll one of two options: The Bryan Singer film from 2000 or the animated series from Fox Kids back in 1992. Despite being firmly entrenched in the 90’s, the lack of budget for the animation (a problem that showed up across the series) and some frankly hammy performances from the voice actors the series is still highly regarded among fans. Drawing from a combination of Chris Claremont’s acclaimed run on the comic with some influence from Jim Lee’s work, the show set the standard for adapting comic books that was never matched by Fox’s series of live-action films. There was humor, drama, adventure, romance and even with the more hammy or outlandish performances you can bet that Canada’s voice talents of the era were giving it their all. And the opening theme song was nothing but pure hype.

So when it was announced that the series would continue suffice to say, excitement was high.

Set one year after the series finale and the attempted assassination of Professor Xavier and his departure with Lillandra to the Shi’ar. Unknown to the public, he’s declared legally dead and a wave of goodwill for mutantkind has spread as a result. In the meantime, the X-Men continue to stand against hatred and bigotry and Scott and Jean prepare for the birth of their child. However things are soon thrown into chaos with the resurgence of extremist groups like the Friends of Humanity sporting new and dangerous weapons. The return of long-time adversary Magneto with the will and testament of Professor Xavier. And new, sinister forces from old foes emerge from the shadows, and not even the X-Men may be able to stop the coming onslaught.

Warning: Spoilers are to follow:

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Season Review: Hazbin Hotel

Hazbin Hotel is the new animated musical series from A24 and Amazon Prime and based on the 2019 Youtube pilot of the same name by Vivienne “VivziePop” Medrano. It stars Erika Henningsen as Charlie Morningstar, Stephanie Beatriz as Vaggie, Amir Talai as Alastor, Blake Roman as Angle Dust, Kimiko Glenn as Nifty, Keith David as Husk with Krystina Alabado as Cherri Bomb and Alex Brightman as Sir Pentious and Adam. The cast also includes Jessica Vosk, Christian Borle, Lilli Cooper, Joel Perez, Leslie Rodriguez Kritzer, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Sarah Stiles, Leslie Kritzer, Darren Criss, Patina Miller, Shoba Narayan with James Monroe Iglehart and Jeremy Jordan.

Picking up fairly closely to where the pilot left off, Hell is overpopulated with damned souls so an annual purge is enacted by a band of angels known as Exterminators to quell the numbers. Charlie Morningstar, the daughter of the first fallen angel and human, wants a more humane way of reducing the populace and opens up a hotel with the explicit plan of redeeming the sinners until they’re worthy of heaven. This is easier said than done as she’s faced with the dickishness of demons who scoff at betterment and the dickishness of the Exterminators who treat their crusade not as a necessary evil but an excuse to go on a murderous rampage.

Despite this, Charlie remains a hopeful optimist thanks in part by the support of her girlfriend, the support of her staff (whether willingly or not), and her belief in the dream of redemption. And she’ll need that support as the angelic powers have their own hidden agenda, the overlords of Hell plot and scheme against heaven and each other, and even her own patron has sinister ideas for the hotel.

Warning: The following review will contain Spoilers and material unsuitable for certain readers.

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Season Review: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off

First published in the early 2000’s, Bryan Lee O’Malley’s graphic novel series Scott Pilgrim hit the unique target niche in the market of indie comics. Detailing the life and bizarre adventures of Scott Pilgrim (age 23), a slacker from Toronto who must navigate the hurdles of relationship drama and 7 Evil Exes if he hopes to date the mysterious and alluring Ramona Flowers. Easy enough, after all Scott is the best fighter in the province. But the real battle between Scott and Ramona’s personal demons, a self-serving memory, and his whole feelings of inadequacy complicates things to an insane degree.

Like I said, it hit a unique target. The comic’s distinct humor, absurd premise, and anime and video game influences made it a surprisingly popular series and engrained itself into the Millennial geek zeitgeist. So much so that a movie adaptation helmed by the equally popular comedy director Edgar Wright was made before the comic was even finished. And while not the most faithful of adaptations it has remained a cult classic even as hipster tastes and Michael Cera’s usual schtick have faded away.

So how does the second adaptation fare?

Warning: Spoilers Are to Follow

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off begins as a relatively basic adaptation, boy meets girl, boy is already kinda dating another girl, girl is revealed to have seven exes who all want to kill boy for dating girl, and boy must defeat them in order to date girl.

So when our main hero seemingly dies in the very first boss fight things go wildly off the rails.

The series, as created by Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski, acts as sort of a middle ground between the original comic and the film adaptation while still acting as its own original story. It’s frankly amazing that nearly all the cast from the film was here to reprise their roles in voice over (even getting the band Metric back), especially since so many of them have had major boosts to their career since then. Also impressive is the animation from Science Saru which not only perfectly captures O’Malley’s distinctive style (with several moments from the first episode looking like the jumped right from the panel) but the excellent switches from more traditional anime style and 16 bit video games.

But most impressively of all is the decision to make this so very un-Scott Pilgrim like. It should come to no surprise that many things and story elements became dated. Whether it was the original intention or not, the comic series shows that the “nice guy” character type more often than not, wasn’t quite as nice they appear. The quest for dating a girl he barely knows comes off as stalker-ish and doing so while kinda seeing a high schooler makes him come off as a creep. Ramona’s number of exes and how she broke things off with them is examined and demonstrates how destructive her past has been with other people. And with Scott out of the picture the critical lens is turned on the Seven Evil Exes, their flaws reflected upon themselves and how they fell from grace. How many of them are committed to their evil image when there isn’t a hero for them to challenge and how many of them can keep up the self-destructive personality traits that drove them to this point in the first place. By the end of the series when Scott has returned and the villains are no longer proper villains the only thing left is to confront the possible future he has. One where he’s long since given up on growing up, where everyone has moved past him, someone who never took off and still tries to drag everyone down.

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off isn’t a faithful adaptation of the comic and despite its early bait-and-switch really isn’t trying to be one. While some may take umbrage with that, I’m actually rather pleased. Not just in the technical side of how well done the animation is, nor the chance to see actors like Chris Evans, Brandon Routh or Mae Whitman go even further ham than they did in live-action. But that it takes a certain level of maturity for creators and artists to look back and recognize the flaws of their work. And it takes a certain amount of skill to stay true to the great elements of that work even as it’s reinvented. While I certainly would’ve liked a true adaptation something about this series warms my heart. Knowing that in the end lovers, friends, acquaintances and exes are better people than they were yesterday.

Pilot Review: Lackadaisy

The year is 1927, the place is St. Louis, Missouri. It’s the Era of Prohibition, the days of gangsters and rum-runners. A time of shifty politicians, roaring tommy guns, and illegal cocktails (whether drinking or of the Molotov variety). Amidst all of this, the recently widowed Mitzi May tries to keep her husband’s speakeasy, The Lackadaisy, afloat against the ever-encroaching rival, The Marigold. Aided by an eclectic band of misfits: the hyperactive Rocky Rickaby, his cousin the timid but frighteningly effective gunman Calvin “Freckle” McMurray, the surly Slovak bartender Viktor Vasko, the sweet but overly enthusiastic Ivy Pepper and the world weary saxophonist Dorian “Zib” Zibowski will try to keep the law and competition at bay. Easier said than done as The Marigold has scooped up many of Lackadaisy’s former employees like the bookkeeper turned hatchet man, Mordecai Heller and brought in new muscle to knock them out of the alcohol business and into the obituaries.

Oh, did I forget to mention that it’s cast are all anthropomorphic cats?

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