Kelly here this week for Superhero Sundays! This week is the calm before the storm of our favorite superhero shows returning. But don't worry: This week we have the end of Jessica Jones to chat about, plus comic news and reviews. Let's get to it!
Small Screen Supes
Speedy Synopses
Jessica Jones 1x13: AKA Smile
After shooting him in the head, Jessica races Luke to the hospital only to find his unbreakable skin has a downside when it comes to receiving medical treatment. She enlists the help of a nurse (an old friend of Daredevil’s) to take Luke back to her apartment to watch over his comatose body at her apartment while she prepares for the final showdown with Kilgrave. Speaking of Kilgrave, he gains control of the hospital’s PA system and orders every single person, patient and staff, to kill Jessica!
She somehow makes it back to the apartment where the nurse offers to call Daredevil to help her out. But the last thing New York needs is another compelled superhero—Jessica is determined to go it alone. Or at least with Trish.
The adopted sisters concoct a scheme in which Trish walks into Kilgrave’s dockside hideout, pretending to be Jessica while she flanks them from another direction. This of course, falls apart, and Kilgrave turns everyone on the docks against Jessica and each other. But Jessica is able to con Kilgrave, insisting that his increased powers have her under his spell once again. He approaches, testing her, requiring her to smile and to tell him she loves him. She does so without hesitation, with adoration. Except she doesn’t say it to him. She says it to Trish. Then she snaps that odious monster’s neck.
Thank goodness, y’all. I was afraid because it was Tennant, they’d let him live another season. (Amanda K.)
Hero of the Week: Trish Walker, Jessica Jones
Jessica might have the superpowers, but it's Trish who wants to save the world. Trish Walker does courageous things throughout the series, but facing Kilgrave and his enthralled police force is incredibly brave. And INCREDIBLY stupid. Throughout the series and highlighted in the finale, Jessica would never perservere without Trish at her side. Talk about a super BFF.
Honorable mentions: Jessica Jones, Jessica Jones
Villain of the Week: Kilgrave, Jessica Jones
I mean, duh. We're running out of ways to call this dude evil. If there was an award for Creepiest Marvel Villain So Far, Kilgrave would win. It's almost enough to make David Tennant not cute anymore. I SAID ALMOST.
Biff! Bam! Pow!
Pull List
Top Titles
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. #1, written by Marc Guggenheim and art by German Peralta
If you've ever wondered what S.H.I.E.L.D. would be like if Arrow showrunner Marc Guggenheim got his hands on it, look no farther than the new Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. series that debuted this week. All of your favorite S.H.I.E.L.D. agents from the show are here, although some are wearing their classic comics costumes and others aren't behaving quite like you'd expect. It makes the comic book a bit of a mixed bag for Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. fans who want to see more of their favorite characters. The action and story seem to be a good setup for an exciting series, however, so it's worth giving at least a few issues a shot.
Scarlet Witch #2, written by James Robinson and art by Marco Rudy
Wanda is searching for the cause of the ailing magic in the world, and she turns to the Greek goddess Hekate for advice. She tells Wanda about a minotaur terrorizing the night on the island of Santorini, and the goddess asks the Scarlet Witch to seek it out and stop it. Rudy's art style is beautiful, each page like a painting you'd expect to find hanging on the wall. The book has an overall eerie, magical atmosphere, so if you're looking for an alterative to the typical rock 'em sock 'em superhero series, pick up the first two issues of this title.
New Romancer #2, by Peter Milligan, with art by Brett Parson
A new Frankenstein twist is the backbone of New Romancer, in which our main heroine - Lexy - gets through the day pining for those that penned romantic sonnets of yore. It's Weird Science meets Silicon Valley meets...Shakespeare in Love? Lord Byron has been reanimated with AI developed by Lexy and her cohorts at New Romancer, a new dating site that is on the brink of financial ruin. Oh, and Casanova is ALSO reanimated and coming for Lord Byron. I can't wait til we find out which one of the notorious lovers has syphilis. (Amanda R.)
Pick of the Week
Red Sonja #1, by Marguerite Bennett, with art by Aneke
I am a HUGE fan of Gail Simone's run with Red Sonja, and I may have squealed with excitement when I saw that Marguerite Bennett (Angela of Asgard, DC Bombshells) was taking over the reins from Simone, and the good news is that she TOTALLY brings it. The King of Hyrkania is dying, and he wants our red-headed heroine to ascend to his throne. Sonja declines, knowing that she would succumb to much drunkenness and, let's say, FROLICKING. She knows she wouldn't make a good queen, so she leaves Hyrkania in pursuit of adventure only to return a year later to find it thriving! OR IS IT. Bennett keeps all of the classic Red Sonja banter, fun and action while taking a big old poke at imperialism, and we get to see Sonja experience her first existential crisis along the way. (Amanda R.)
As Seen in the Daily Planet
News
Comic superfan Kevin Smith is directing an episode of The Flash.
Vixen on CWseed will be back for a second season. Maybe it can be longer than 30 minutes this time!
In more awesome Vixen news, The CW president wants live-action Vixen to stick around for good.
Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) confirmed as director of Black Panther. NICE.
Smallville's Supergirl, Laura Vandervoort, cast in Supergirl as the villain Indigo. Supergirl v Supergirl: Dawn of Supergirl!
James Gunn wanted David Bowie for a cameo role in Guardians of the Galaxy 2. *shakes fist at the universe*
In Marvel TV News, the Mockingbird spinoff pilot has been ordered, S.H.I.E.L.D. might not end up tying into the Inhumans movie after all, John Ridley (American Crime) still has a Marvel TV show in development (although no one knows what it is), and a second Marvel TV comedy has been confirmed (there already was one??).
Marvel Comics' big crossover event this year will be Civil War II. I'm all for Captain Marvel going head to head with Iron Man.
Legends of Tomorrow is almost here! And they've released a clip of White Canary kicking serious ass.
Malcolm Merlyn takes on... Malcolm Merlyn? John Barrowman will be writing Merlyn's history himself in a new Arrow digital comic.
Connie Nielsen is on board to play Hippolyta in the Wonder Woman movie.
Nyssa and Roy are returning to Arrow (for an episode at least).
Netflix is likely developing a Punisher spinoff. Gee, I wonder if it will be dark and gritty.
Speaking of dark, a photo has been released of Killer Frost (YESSS) and Deathstorm from Earth-2. (Is his hair purple??)
Trailers
In Agent Carter news, this season will give us some Easter Egg tie-ins with the upcoming Doctor Strange movie, and another sneak peek was released, this time with Peggy's possible new Boo:
Which new show are you most excited for, the return of Agent Carter or the premiere of Legends of Tomorrow?