Another Take on Smallville Episode 8

Wow!

I use that word a lot when talking about Smallville these days. There’s no need to go on a multi-paragraph tangent, considering Rob has nailed this episode down perfectly (see his post).

This episode just reminds me of an episode of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, an episode in which James Marsters (playing Milton Fine aka Brainiac in Smallvill) was a part of. It was the musical episode and in the final song they sang, “where do we go from here?”

Where does Smallville go from here? This was 5 episodes of storyline plunked into amazing scene after amazing scene. The episode was strong but directionless, in the fact that is leaves so many storylines used up, with no where to go.

The one thing I have to comment on, though, is the brilliant sabotage that Brainiac has played on Clark, making Clark believe that Jor-El was evil when he was indeed, the savior of the people. Pretty awesome stuff.

And, pretty convenient that Chloe was able to save the day. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Brainiac will be back, though. February sweeps sounds about right.

And Jonathan Kent is the one that is going to die this season. I’ll put money on it.

Comic Reviews - Week of November 16th, 2005

Very quick reviews this week, as I’m swamped with a to do list which includes watching the new episode of Smallville, laying out the new issue of Cut & Print Magazine and doing various chores that I’ve neglected all week.

I picked up 4 comics this week and was pleasantly surprised with a number of them.


CAPTAIN ATOM: ARMAGEDDON (#2 of 9) – For those who don’t know, Captain Atom was apparently blown to smithereens in an issue of Super/Batman when he stopped a Kryptonite meteor. But, he didn’t die. Instead, in a very cool twist, he was transported to the WildStorm universe (a separate line of comics published under the Time Warner umbrella).

Basically, in this world, superheroes are not welcomed and Atom is trying to find a way back home. Great building issue that sets up what’s going to go on in the rest of the series.

A CUT & PRINT COLLECT THE WHOLE SERIES


GREEN LANTERN #5 – Well, this one sort of sucked, no doubt about that. Hal Jordan fights the big shark villain that’s usually kicking around the ocean. And he fights it, and fights it. Not much other than Jordan fighting the shark and little alien dudes running around kidnapping people. Plus, this issue is like two months late.

A CUT & PRINT NO.


SUPERGIRL #3 – Somewhere I missed a crossover and I’m a little bit wishy washy on the storyline. Somebody has been watching Supergirl (it ends up being Luthor) and the Outsiders are around to help her. Supergirl, though, gets a huge crush on Nightwing, kisses him, runs away, takes on Luthor herself and at the end of the comic, after getting attacked by some sort of ray of Luthor’s, splits in two and a black/white version of her appears.

A CUT & PRINT OKAY



ALL STAR SUPERMAN #1 – Best comic of the week. The all star line is a cool idea and Grant Morrison has the reigns of Superman in this one. A cool first book that announces that Superman is dying because he saved an expedition to the sun and got so lose to the sun that his cells are absorbing too much sunlight and dying. At the end of the first issue, he reveals his identity to Lois and she drops her bag of groceries. That’s probably not the only thing she’s going to be dropping in the next issue when they go off to the fortress together (oh, I’m so bad). This, of course, is out of the continuity and is it’s own book.

A CUT & PRINT GO BUY THIS ONE.

Smallville Review Season 5 Episode 8

First off, I'd like to wholeheartedly agree with Monsieur Brzovic and his take on the Superman Returns trailer. Pretty cool stuff, and I must say the movie looks impressive so far. It's hard to gauge at this point whether it will be the revitalization of the Superman character such as Batman Begins was to Batman, but I think it's going to be close.

[Insert easy segway here] Those who simply couldn't wait to see the new Superman Returns trailer were likely glued to the WB network Thursday when the teaser made its debut during an episode of this blog's favourite television show.... that's right, Smallville.

So on to the Smallville review (coming at you a bit earlier than usual this week, I admit).

This week's episode is a bit harder to do without giving away the major plot points, so I apologize in advance for being somewhat vauge. The episode beings with Clark sitting up at his desk, presumably doing some sort of homework or "normal" activity Smallville only mentions in passing or uses as setup shots for major disaster scenes. His mom (played by Annette O'Toole) is bringing home the groceries when a giant space ray zaps her from the sky and knocks her out, planting some sort of horrible and painful degenerative rash disease in her body. As the episode wears on, she grows closer and closer to death.

Clark, who thinks this is all the work of his biological father Jor-El, turns to his history teacher and new Kryptonian ally Milton Fine aka Brainiac (James Marsters) for help and to start kicking some ass.

Whatever you do, don't blink. Wait - did you miss it? Yep. The relationship between Brainiac and Superman is culminated in this episode. I must say, it all happened pretty quick. And when you see the way it turns out in the span of like 30 minutes... I don't know, the whole damn thing seems rushed. WAY too rush.

I mean Brainiac and Superman are legendary adversaries, and we've seen Milton Fine in four previous episodes slowly building up this arc. Why have the whole damn thing get stuffed into 30 minutes this episode?

I didn't like it. And I think the writers missed a real opportunity for some great episodes as the two relationship unfolded further. But, what do I know? I'm not a show writer, I only write for newspapers.

Anywho, Marsters is signed for (rumour has it) one more episode although, I would suggest this might have been the finale of that particular storyline.

Other key episode moments include Lois slowly but surely turning toward the world of journalism. As someone currently employed in that industry, I can say this storyline amuses me greatly since I have never had a single great adventure punching out security guards, stripping in a nightclub (except that ONE time, now let's never speak of it again) or sneaking into warehouses like Chloe and Lois do when they are on assignment for the Daily Planet. Perhaps I'm not trying hard enough. But it's great to see Lois get the bug at the paper we know she'll be a star at in a few years...

Another good performance from Tom Welling this episode, although there was one scene he seemed to miss. As his mother lay near death and she had a heart-to-heart speech with her son which was quite well written, I couldn't help but think Welling should have pulled out some tears for the scene. Hell, if my mother was on her death bed (and I'm sure I'm not alone here) I would have shown more emotion than the Welling scowl/concerned-babyface-empathy look that he gets. Time to jab yourself in the eye with some bamboo Tom and get those tears a-flowin'.

Overall, a solid episode that was a bit too rushed, and packed for my liking. It did succeed in one thing though - shaking up the future storylines for this show as it reaches a well-deserved Christmas break after next week's episode.

Superman Returns Teaser Trailer

Just blasting in with some quick Superman Returns comments on the teaser trailer.

How’s “Holy God!” for one? If that wasn’t one of the best teaser trailers of all time, I don’t know what is. You can dissect that One and Half minutes all you want but it nailed exactly what this movie needs to be about.

It was completely epic, with the ORGINIAL Superman score and slow pans. It showed shots of all of the major set pieces. It showed Superman flying and it looked incredible (somebody on the Ain’t It Cool News talk back wrote that it looked like CGI crap, he’s an idiot).

Other than the kick ass Marlon Brando voice over, two shots really stand out. They were, obviously, the final two shots.

Superman, silhouetted with the sun. Just visually stunning. Can’t wait to see that on a huge screen.

And Superman looking over the Earth, eye’s closed, waiting for trouble. I hope that is the first shot of Superman saving the day once more. What a great reveal of Superman that would be. Think of this - Clark is back but Superman hasn’t appeared yet. Lois says something like “I wish Superman was here” or something like that, only better written (I’m too psyched to think of something good) and Clark changes, all epic like, and floats to the stars with the sun setting. He contemplates life, eye’s closed and hear’s Lois in trouble. Strike the John Williams fanfare and call it a day.

Check out the trailer at www.supermanreturns.com

Another point...

Ha, Brzovic, I beat you to the punch!
I will bring up a discussion point though - and that is Brainiac's references to the "duplicity" of the human race.
I think it will be one of those underlying themes that brings the season to a head. Clark's faith in humanity will be shaken - partly because Lana is lying to him about the spaceship, partly because Lex is lying to him about everything, and partly because of something I'm sure is going to happen with Jonathon Kent/Lionel Luthor.
Humans will be shown to be liers. And that's going to play in hugely as Clark moves to Metropolis, becomes Superman, and gets a job at the Daily Planet. Perhaps he will realize he ISN'T one of them, he is superior, and it's time to become something bigger than a normal person to help others.

Just my thoughts, I don't know how it will play out. But those closest to Clark are going to betray him in some manner - and that's going to be huge.

Smallville S5, E7 - Jake's Take

Arghh… Rob beat me to the punch again, which means I get to comment on things that he already commented on.

I’ll beat you next week Shaw. I’ll beat you next week. Even if I have to go as far as finding somebody who gets to watch the WB feed instead of downloading the show. Not that I do that...

Since Rob already tackled all the plot summary points, I won’t bother. Here are just a few of the things that I noticed. Primarily, why does Lana close her lap top in the first scene, when she’s looking at planets, and get all secretive on Clark. What’s the big deal? Does she think it’s going to tip his hat onto some astrological discovery that she won’t get to make? I’ve got news for you Lana, you’re not smart.

Do they actually have bells in college? Marsters in full Brainiac mode is awesome, as is Clark being one paranoid goofball. The whole tone of the episode seems rushed; to compliment Clark’s feeling uneasy. That’s a nice touch.

“I know how to kill you” – Clark is just starting to lose it. Marsters is nailing this role, making Clark believe that Lex is out to get him. Muhahah. What a brilliantly sublime episode that is making Clark push Lex away and not the other way around. Great writing.

Welling is huge, he towers over Marsters.

I don’t understand why Lana always goes to Lex? She knows that Lex has a crush on her, yet she always goes and gets herself into uncomfortable situations. Is she so stupid that she doesn’t see that Lex has a thing for her? He hides spaceships from her and then tells her, after pretending he never found a ship.

Lionel backing Jonathan is great little twist. Lex won’t win because of this and Jonathan is going to die after he wins. Bloody great writing these days (let’s forget about that vampire thing). I wonder if Lionel is really saying these things about Clark? You just don’t know what’s going on in this episode, much like Clark. Again, that’s just some really great writing and Welling really plays this up well.

I don’t get, though, how they’re going to write Lex out of knowing everything that he knows. He knows everything about the strange things in Smallville, the meteor rocks. He really should be able to put two and two together the first time that Superman shows up, looking exactly like the man he’s been friends with for 5 years.

Welling is making this episode great. Nevermind the stellar writing, it’s Welling’s acting that is carrying the surprise twists and the revelations. They’re going all out this season. Every episode makes it clear that they are taking a step towards the end.

A flippin’ intense episode that they can’t go back from. Nobody is forgetting anything. That is what makes this episode so special. Now who’s keeping secrets? Seems Lana isn’t going to tell Clark about the spaceship.

The best part of this episode is the final exchange between Brainiac and Clark. It’s going to be mighty interesting how they play Brainiac. To Clark, he’s just another Kryptonian now, who might not be evil. The final dialogue bits brought goose bumps, especially with Welling’s delivery (he’s gotten really good this season)

“You don’t know anything about this race. Yeah, they can be petty and dishonest and betray each other over nothing. But they can also be honest and loyal and they would give up everything to protect somebody they love, even if they were from a different planet” - Clark Kent, responding to Milton Fine aka Brainiac.

I might be a dork, but I'm a passionate one.

Smallville Review Season 5 Episode 7

I admit, I'm the first one to get upset when I get a splinter. After all, it hurts. But I don't go around tossing men through windows, blowing out the wall of my parents' house, or strangling a girl half to death. Then again, I'm not Superman.

This week's Smallville episode - titled, appropriately enough "Splinter" - is an hour dedicated to what happens when Clark Kent, the future Superman, get a splinter. Of course, his splinter is a new form of "silver kryptonite" which courses through his veins and blows his teenage mind, filling his head with hallucinations.

Someone sends Lana Lang, Clark's girlfriend, an unsolicited present in the form of a shiny silver meteor rock. The card is signed Lex Luthor, but Smallville's baldest, baddest, billionaire says he didn't do the deed. Clark handles the rock and cuts himself. From there, he starts seeing things that may or may not have happened, including an alliance between Lionel Luthor and Jonathon Kent, and some down and dirty diddling between Lex and Lana.

Great premise for an episode, and a solid step forward for Smallville this season. We learn a few big things, and the writers lay down the patchwork for the rest of the season. Clark's father, good ol' boy Jonathon Kent, is running for State Senate because he can't stand the thought of someone like Lex Luthor winning. Surprisingly (or not) Lex's father Lionel (played brilliantly by John Glover) wants to support the Kents rather than his own son.

Must be a bit of a blow to the ego for Lex. He is becoming further and further alienated from those around him. And Clark ends up tossing him down a hallway this week in a bit of Smallville tomfoolery that did not disappear when someone lost their memory. Instead, an equally lame-o excuse of Clark having "temporary powers" because of the splinter is used to smooth over the curiously raised eyebrows among his friends who wonder why he can lift people off the ground, blow through walls, handle live electrical wire, and hurl men like bowling balls down shiny mansion hallways.

Well, whatever. This is Smallville. Weirder things have happened, I guess.

Besides Jonathon Kent's run for Senate against Lex, we are also seeing the rise of Brainiac, played by James Marsters. He's up to no good, and Clark finally knows the guy is no longer his creepy, obtuse, quote-sputtering History teacher who, frankly, never seems to teach any history and instead singles Clark out for weird questions in front of the entire class. At least that facade is done and over.

I think the highlight of this episode comes near the end, when Lionel and Lex Luthor have a talk in the mansion. Lex is sporting a shiner and busted up face courtesy Clark. Lionel smart-asses: "Those Kents pack quite a punch don't they son?"

Lionel further rips his son a new one on Lex's run for Senate: "This isn't about serving the greater good, or even about power, it's about you changing the way people perceive you isn't it? That's why you are running for office. Even if you were President of the United States do you think that is going to make any difference? Because the people who are closest to you will always know what's truly in your heart. That's why Lana Lang will never truly love you son."

BOOM! What a great scene. Lays out the whole motivation behind Lex's pursuit of power, his rise to become president, and his future head-to-head battle against Superman.

Simply put, "Splinter" was another great episode. The series is 2/2 lately, and here's hoping we get a third hit next week.

Comic Reviews - Week of November 9th, 2005

It’s a great week to be a DC comics fan as Infinite Crisis #2 hits the stands. Another slow week for me, although I think it was supposed to be busier. I’m pretty sure a few things didn’t ship that were supposed to as I only picked up 3 books again this week when I budgeted for 7. Hmm… maybe I missed some?

INIFINITE CRISIS #2 – Might as well start off with the big daddy this week. Damn this is an exciting story. I didn’t know where they were going with the storyline after the ending of #1, where the Superman and Lois from Earth-2, Luthor of Earth-3 and Superboy of Earth-Prime showed up. Apparently they’re here to kick some hero ass because they’re pissed that the heroes of this Earth have let the joy’s of life disappear and are now only concerned with despair and the like.

We also learn that Power Girl is Supergirl from Earth-2 but somehow, like falling through the cracks, ended up back in the timeline. It explains why she doesn’t have any connections to anybody.

Pretty exciting stuff as Booster Gold shows up again from the future to find Blue Beetle’s scarab and Batman is getting taunted by Brother Eye.

The ending sets up the conflict for the last 5 books in the series. Can’t wait to see what happens. Right now I’m predicting that the heroes from the Multi-verse go so crazy that they can not be stopped and Superman of the real reality has to make the decision, for the first time, to actively kill somebody.

Yes, I’m saying that Superman will be the only person capable of killing them and will go through with it, understanding what Wonder Woman had to do.

A CUT & PRINT THIS IS TRULY AN AWESOME COMICS EVENT.


ACTION COMICS #833 – Okay, I flipped through this one and was completely under whelmed. Boring visuals combined with a stupid story about the Queen of Fables, who is a dark witch who wants to marry Superman made me lose focus and not care in the least. The Queen transports the world around Superman into a Snow White, medivial sort of motif and tries to get him to marry her. Superman escapes not because of clever thinking but because she lets him. The Queen thinks it’s going to take a Kryptonian fable to crack the big guy. She’s back again next issue. Joy. A CUT & PRINT NO

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #122 - The issue kicks off with the meta understatement of the year. The Dawn chick who channels people says, in reference to her husband not being there “I find I am a very poor replacement.” Yes, you are. I hope you get written out really quickly because you’re a loser of epic proportions.

The story with the insane guy is still going, the league is trying to rebuild and they can’t agree on anything. I’m digging how they’re drawing Aquaman in this book. The rest of the art is standard, as is the story. A lot of standing around and talking about feelings and such. Usually good to do character development but it’s been going on in every issue. Talk about overkill.

More OMAC’s show up at the end of the book and it’s action Jackson time. Red Tornado shows up to even the odds and help out the Justice League (I love Red T.) Good fight but the story goes nowhere again.

The insane guy, though, has made contact with the Dawn chick. Hopefully he’ll kill her. A CUT & PRINT BETTER THAN THE LAST COUPLE OF ISSUES.

Another take on Smaville S5, E6

It’s an interesting point that Rob brought up. Just how long will Clark be able to waltz into Lex Luthor’s study and be welcomed with open arms? Is Lex going to run the state from his mansion in Smallville? I mean, come on, the guy should have moved out a couple of seasons ago but he’s still going back and forth from Smallville. Why? What’s in Smallville that’s so important to Lex?

Rob is bang on with this week’s analysis of Smallville. Another great episode to get this season into contention for best season ever. Not hard with a show as hit and miss as Smallville.

A nice breather with this episode as we’re subjected to nothing from Lana Lang. I’m glad Lana and Clark are finally together, before getting ripped apart for good before the end of the season, but she’s very, very annoying when she pulls out the kicks and punches. I’m sure she would have had to do it in this episode if they had written her in. They should try more episodes without Lana, just to see how the story’s flow.

The exchange between Lex and Jonathan was a great scene. Lex is getting a backbone and then drops down the “good ol’ boy” line. Priceless. Lex is still always looking into things, but damn if he’s not effective. Rosenbaum is really getting into the role, finally having a lot of fun with it. “How well do you know your friend?”

Oh and the Smallville writers? They need to get Lois Lane in revealing clothing as much as possible. Too hot for tv? Too hot for network tv, at least. The show is definitely “maturing”. Clark’s facial expressions are just too much. Welling is becoming a great actor here.

Both Jonathan and Senator Jenning’s going cruising in the car? Damn man, the Duke ride again. And that Duke’s cruising music? Ha ha. The 70s were awesome and so is Smallville at times.

And Clark taking out the helicopter? Wow! Just wow! See what happens when you write an intelligent episode and don’t go with the freak of the weak, just a plain freak? Great twist not being able to take the foreign diplomat down because of immunity.

The hero motif they’re pushing is also really great, as Clark gets ready to assume the mantel. “Aye eye, sailor.” Maybe they should contiplate having Lana be the one who dies. It crushes Clark and makes him want to be a hero? Never let anyone die again? That would be good television.

Nothing more to talk about that Rob hasn’t already touched on. I’ll try to beat him to the punch next week and cover the show first so he has to comment on my comments!

Smallville Review - Season 5 Episode 6

Fresh off of last week's vampire suckfest, Smallville turns it up a notch in this week's episode: "Exposed".
It's an appropriate title for an episode which spends half its run time in a strip joint. Not that I'm complaining. See that picture over there of Lois in a Stars and Stripes bikini? That's ratings my friends. Ratings.

But I digress, let's get to the episode. Chloe is now answering phones as a quasi-receptionist at the Daily Planet, forced to work her way up the ladder after getting hired in last week's episode. A call comes in front a frantic woman who wants a reporter because she's being hunted down by a madman (why she just wouldn't phone the cops is beyond me). And so Chloe and Lois end up in the dodgy end of town watching the chick get run down by a car in an inspired, but gruesome, bit of CGI work.

Why she was killed, and who was behind it, ends up involving Lex Luthor, the Metropolis PD, Jonathon Kent, and a special guest star... Senator Jack Jennings, played by none other than former Dukes of Hazzard star Tom Wopat.

That's right, this episode features a reunion of the original Dukes of Hazzard. Pretty cool actually, and the writers do a lot to play it up, from the opening sequence when Wopat barrels down the Kent farm dirt road in a super-powered blue car that kind of resembles the General Lee, to when Jonathon Kent gets behind the wheel and they go out for a spin (complete with a car jump). They even have Wopat hop through the window of the car rather than use the door, explaining in a moment of fine writing that the "door keeps sticking." Indeed. It makes you smile, and the chemistry between Jennings as a Senator with a fondness for stippers (hell, that probably puts him in the political majority) and John Schneider is great.

The show also advances a few plot lines, albeit slowly. Luthor is now running for State Senate. Which, as we all know, is foreshadowing for his final destiny as President of the United States. I would suspect he doesn't win the race, but then again, what do I know. But if he does win elected office, it's going to be harder and harder to explain how a powerful Senator AND head of a multi-billion-dollar defence company is just sitting around in his study drinking scotch whenever Clark wants to barge in and accuse him of being an evil genius.

Which brings me to the real highlight of the show: Lois stripping. No, I'm not kidding. Her sequence of being forced to get naked on stage (or at least to a revealing bikini) and Clark's undercover sting job into the "Gentlemen's Club" both hit on all cylinders. Watching their facial reactions, Clark's adjusting his tie, Lois's reluctant lap dance, and then the final moment where the future Superman has to decide where to deposit the $20 bill - well, hell, folks that's just good TV. Inspired all around.

I was impressed by this episode. And I wish they did more of this kind of smart writing than the usual "freak of the week" random superpower nonsense. Kristen Kruek wasn't in this episode at all, which was also good. And with Clark pulling down helicopters in Metropolis (wait for it) and rushing out in superspeed from the newsroom of the Daily Planet, you just get the feeling we are more and more on the verge of him donning the cape and "S" costume.

I'd say it's a good time to be a Smallville fan, but, we both know next week's episode could suck monkey balls, and likely will. Still, if you want to convince a non-Smallville fan that this show has some chops, then sit them down in front of this diddy of an episode. Not a bad way to spend 60 minutes.

Comic Reviews - November 2nd, 2005

Some comic reviews to tie you over until Rob and I take apart the next episode of Smallville (which should be interesting considering Lois goes under cover as a stripper. Oh that Smallville is sure growing up fast).

Unfortunately, not many comics to pick up today. I’m still waiting on JSA: Classified #4. I’m guaranteed that they’ll have some on the next comic book Wednesday. They better, or Cut & Print Magazine is coming after them.

3 reviews this week, kicking off with –

SUPERMAN #223 – The girlfriend is again accusing me of being some sort of sick pervert after she glanced at the cover. Not my fault that Supergirl is crossing over into Superman’s comic to tell her cousin that she is going into the depths of space with Donna Troy (do I smell some sort of lesbian tryst in space? Mind is getting out of the gutter right now… it’s late, cut a guy some slack).

The villain is some chick who’s gotten hold of something called “Blackrock” and it makes her super powerful. The only thing I don’t like about Supergirl is that all these villains, like Blackrock, are always commenting that Supergirl is more powerful than Superman. That bugs me. I’m not a sexist, I just think that when it comes to superheroing, only Superman should be the most powerful. Everybody else should be striving to catch up to him.

Not much happens in this issue other than setting up the next issue, in which Blackrock is already coming back for a re-match. Superman lets Supergirl go to space reluctantly, like any other overprotective big brother and the issue is over. A CUT & PRINT ONLY IF YOU HAVE A THING FOR SUPERGIRL.


JSA #79 – The first Justice Society of America book I picked up was last month’s #78. Their lucky that I really want to get to know these characters because this is one book that a newb such as myself should not be jumping into. Playing off the “Day of Vengeance” mini-series, all the magic in the universe is screwed up and the JSA are split up and stuck in two places. One team is in the sixth dimension, trying to save Jakeem’s wife, whoever that is and the other is battling Mordu, who has escaped from the Rock of Ages.

I won’t lie, I really didn’t bother to do much other than look at the pretty average pictures and skim the text. It’s not very welcoming to a new person and I’m hoping I can catch the train when this storyline arc is finished after the next issue. That said, Dr. Fate is the only reason I picked up this book. I love the magically inclined Dr. Fate. I think it might be a dark time for Dr. Fate fans, as it looks like the creative team is about to kill him off. Rumour is that two people are going to die in the next issue and Dr. Fate could be at the top of the list.

If he is? I’ll shed a teat. You got to respect any superhero that wears a yellow helmet and makes it cool. A CUT & PRINT FOR CONFUSED READERS ONLY.

G.I. JOE: AMERICA’S ELITE #5 – Best damn book of the week. I love G.I.Joe and Devil’s Due has given me 48 pages of Storm Shadow being on the good guy’s again. The book sets up two different storylines, one with Scarlett being missing/the team trying to find Duke and the other has Storm Shadow and Stalker trying to intercept Zartan and finally put an end to him (Something that Storm Shadow is looking forward to seeing as Zartan was the one who framed him for killing his master).

If you like army action based on an 80s toy property, than G.I. Joe #5 is the way to go. They’ve setup some great storylines and it’s going to be fun to see them get paid off in the next issue. A CUT & PRINT YO JOE!