Fri
17
Feb

Secret Identity: NBC's POWERLESS Ep 103 'Sinking Day'

NBC's POWERLESS has coasted to it's third episode, where 'Da Boss' Van Wayne hopes to get Atlantis to sign an agreement with Wayne Securities after losing his firms biggest client Ace Chemicals.

In a very Michael Scott (THE OFFICE) way, Van Wayne continues his incompetence by dropping the ball with Ace Chemical company. When he forgot to forward an important email to Emily, they built something that Ace didn't want; this led them to take their business to LexCorp.

Not wanting to disappoint his father, Van taps Emily for advice. Meanwhile the team tries to figure out if the new guy, Alex, is actually a superhero in disguise.

Fri
17
Feb

Claudia Gray Novel Wins Best Book of 2016, by Force

Star Wars Bloodline Best Novel 2016

Continuing our series of releases for the Best of 2016 Awards, we now come to the category for Best Novel of 2016. And, boy, did we have a selection of choices in titles and genres!

However, there were three standouts who topped the list, starting with THE CROWN by Keira Cass, which came in third, edged out by BORN A CRIME by Trevor Noah -- both really excellent books and neither one anything at all alike. That's just a taste of the kind of range faced by our readers who voted in this poll.

Fri
17
Feb

Game Jab| Mario Galaxy - Episode 19

I'm A Failure

The boys continue another What If situation, while Zach struggles to keep Mario alive.
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Thanks for watching! Any view that we get is a shining moment for us but let us know how this episode made you feel because we are here to keep you entertained.

Thu
16
Feb

A Cringeworthy Marketing Ploy: MiraBurst

MiraBurst

Today’s teens have it tough. There, I said it. Lots of times, kids hear “Well, when I was your age,” or “You think it’s bad these days.” As parents, we often lament that today’s kids are either lazy, or misdirected, or they are getting into all sorts of shenanigans that we could not have even dreamed of. And we are kind of right. Let’s look at some statistics, shall we?

  1. Drugabuse.gov says that almost 5% of 12th graders have used Ecstasy, also referred to as MDMA or Molly.

  2. According to dosomething.org, 50% of high school seniors do not think it’s harmful to try crack or cocaine once or twice, and 40% believe it’s not harmful to use heroin once or twice.

Thu
16
Feb

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Toy Packaging Shows Rey's New Look

Saw this posted on Star Wars Facebook feed and thought it was kind of cool.


Your first look at The Last Jedi product packaging dropping out of hyperspace on September 1 for Force Friday II

Thu
16
Feb

The Best Comics Artist of 2016 is...

Suicide Squad by Jim Lee

Continuing this week's theme of revealing the winners in our Comic Books category, we wrap up with the Best Comics Artist of 2016.

Several deserving talents were in the running this year. Sana Takeda made the cut for his work on MONSTRESS, the only title that was a nominee in Best Comics Storyline and Best Comics Writer, so that ought to tell you something if you're not already checking it out. David Marquez  (CIVIL WAR II), Stuart Immonen (EMPRESS), and Cliff Chiang (PAPER GIRLS) was also in the running, as was the late great Steve Dillon for his work on PUNISHER.

Wed
15
Feb

Ira Bloom Crafts YA Must-Read: Hearts & Other Body Parts

Hearts & Other Body Parts by Ira Bloom

Ira Bloom's HEARTS & OTHER BODY PARTS reads with such fluidity and magnetism that it's difficult to believe this is a debut novel. It's a YA romance novel that blends urban fantasy with modern reality to the point that it is neither one and better than both.

Esme, Katy and Ronnie Silver are sisters attending the same high school. Esme is an intellectual overachiever, Ronnie is a natural beauty and knows it, and Katy is an everygirl whose fun to have around. They're also witches. Real spell-casting, potion-brewing, hex-tossing witches. And, no, they're not attending Monster High, tempting though it might be to draw the comparison. Middleton is an average high school filled with everyday kids -- and three witches.

Wed
15
Feb

Readers Select Best Comics Writer of 2016

New Avengers

We've had competitions that were squeakers before, but this is probably the closest it has ever come.

In the running for BEST COMICS WRITER of 2016, we had several nominations from our staff and our readers, covering several different publishers and titles. From Mark Millar for his work on EMPRESS to David Walker on SHAFT, from Tom King's VISION to Marjorie Liu's MONSTRESS. James Robinson got in there for his work on THUNDERBOLTS, as did Charles Soule for DAREDEVIL. And, of course, there's always a showing by Other.

But the main event came down to two huge names in the industry right now, both of which are turning their respective titles on their heads in new ways. Over at DC, Greg Rucka is once again at the helm of WONDER WOMAN, and his work there earned him a whopping 25.33% of all our votes. But it just wasn't enough to topple the man behind Avengers Idea Mechanics, the group behind Marvel's NEW AVENGERS!

Wed
15
Feb

Game Jab| Mario Galaxy - Episode 18

I FELL!

The boys try to continue Mario Galaxy and it just gets harder and harder.
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Thanks for watching! Any view that we get is a shining moment for us but let us know how this episode made you feel because we are here to keep you entertained.

Tue
14
Feb

And the Award for Best Comics Storyline of 2016 Goes to...

Avengers Standoff Logo

Critical Blast is pleased to present the first of several announcements in our annual "Best Of" awards, as nominated and selected by our readers. Reader participation in these events continues to grow, and we were all were very excited by the turnout this year.

So with no further ado (and as if you haven't already figured it out), we give to you the award for BEST COMICS STORYLINE OF 2016: AVENGERS: STANDOFF!

Starting out at Pleasant Hill, this story crossed over into several Marvel Comics titles, telling the story of a special S.H.I.E.L.D. facility where some of Earth's worst villains were rehabilitated through means of a Cosmic Cube, rewriting their realities and personalities from hardcore bad guys to milquetoast small town neighbors. When Winter Soldier, Steve Rogers and Captain America get involved, shortly after some of the villains begin to remember their previous lives, it turns into a physical and ethical confrontation.

Tue
14
Feb

The Longbox Short-List - Week of February 15, 2017

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out.   Just a warning, I make these picks pretty much a week BEFORE I actually get to read any of these comics, so if something is a stinker, I take no blame on that.  Let's get to it!

Comics shipping this week

Sun
12
Feb

Game Jab| Congo's Caper (SNES)

Eeerrr Mondays...

Zach once again digs up another great gem from his past in hopes the two will enjoy some classic SNES time together.
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Thanks for watching! Any view that we get is a shining moment for us but let us know how this episode made you feel because we are here to keep you entertained.

Sun
12
Feb

Enter to Win an Elgato Game Capture HD

Elgato HD

Ever made a super sweet move on your favorite game and wished your friends -- heck, the world! -- could have seen it?

Now you can, with the Elgato HD from Elgato Gaming. This nifty little device captures your game play, and you could find yourself the lucky winner of one, courtesy of the boys at Game Jab, who assure me they didn't just "find" it.

So what do you have to do to be worth of such a fine addition to your gaming station? Honestly, not a whole lot. Just take the options below to be entered. Every option is another entry -- and one of them lets you put an entry in every day. Shoot, subscribing to the boys' YouTube channel earns you a whopping five entries! Which begs the question -- why are you still reading all this stuff instead of clicking the buttons below?

Fri
10
Feb

Justice League of America #1: Rebirth or Abortion?

Justice League of America Rebirth #1

This is it, folks. This is what those action-packed six issues of JUSTICE LEAGUE VS SUICIDE SQUAD were leading up to: an all new JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA book.

Right up front, I expect to like this book. It's pencilled by Ivan Reis, who has never done a book that has left me disappointed. And his linework in this issue is just as good as ever.

So, Mr. Reis, this is not your fault.

Let's look at the book from it's basic precept: Batman wants to form a new Justice League. I don't know yet if he's informed the actual Justice League of his plans, but let's assume he hasn't because (a) he's Batman, and (b) it sets things up (again) for another Justice League vs. Justice League confrontation. His justifications are simple. He wants a League that ordinary people can look up to and aspire to be like -- one comprised of "humans, not gods."

Fri
10
Feb

Game Jab| Bugs Bunny: Rabbit Rampage

Who's Shooting Me!?

***THE VIDEO IS THERE.***
SKIP TO 00.30 IN THE VIDEO TO START THE EPISODE. SOMETHING WENT WRONG IN THE EDITING PROCESS.

Thu
09
Feb

Preview of February 10th WrestlePro Show @ Starland Ballroom

There’s a big WrestlePro show Friday Night (February 10) at Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, New Jersey and on Saturday night in Brooklyn at St Pat’s CYO.  Starland Ballroom is one of my favorite places to catch a wrestling show (or concert), and I’ve had my tickets for this one for a long time now.

Here are our predictions on how the Starland show plays out!


Ryback Vs Brian Cage

Thu
09
Feb

History Notes: Legends of Tomorrow Episode 211, "Turncoat"

Legends of Tomorrow, Turncoat

The introduction to this episode is delivered by Mick Rory (DOMINIC PURCELL), and it's the most brilliant thing ever! If anything sets the tone for this series, this did it. "Who writes this crap, anyway?" That's just genius.

Rip Hunter (ARTHUR DARVILL) has returned -- only he's not Rip Hunter any more. No, he's not "Phil" the hippy movie director either. The Legion of Doom have restored his memories from a backup, but not without having made some alterations to his personality. He's now no longer the hero he used to be -- he's with the Legion of Doom, and to attract the attention of the Legends team, so that he can retrieve the portion of the Spear of Destiny from them, he decides to make a big change to history. He assassinates General George Washington on Christmas Day, 1776. And he arms the British soldiers with automatic weapons. The United States now will never exist.

Thu
09
Feb

Let's Go PJ Masks!

Let's Go PJ Masks! on DVD

Kids by day. Superheroes (and villains) by night. When the sun goes down, these students slip into their PJs and into action as the PJ Masks -- Owlette, Gekko and Catboy!

This Disney Junior original series taps into the superhero inside all of us, as Amaya, Greg, and Connor discover problems at school during the day and then make them right at night as the PJ Masks team. And they do it not with their super powers (although they certainly help!) but with teamwork, sacrifice, and other life lessons that make them role models for younger (and older) viewers everywhere.

Wed
08
Feb

SOMETHING ROTTEN! Is Sweeter Than A Rose By Any Other Name

Something Rotten plays the Fabulous Fox Theatre Feb 7-19. Image Credit: The Fabulous Fox Theatre

Hark! What is this vision which dances before me? Is it Drama personified, grounding us with her stories of maidens, men and honored beasts? Nay! ‘tis Brother Comedy in his smiling mask of gold, sustained by the richness of my laughter. SOMETHING ROTTEN! ‘tis a rose by another name, but sweeter than the forbidden fruit of Eden, for the gods of jests and conspiracies have transported my soul upon the stage of the Fabulous Fox Theatre, and given voice to a belief most fundamental to my divine spirit: “God, I Hate Shakespeare!”

Wed
08
Feb

Catching Up: The Flash Episode 312, "Untouchable"

Flash Episode 311, Untouchable

The evolution of Kid Flash (KEIYNAN LONSDALE) continues this episode as Barry (GRANT GUSTIN) works on furthering the training of his protégé. To that end, "Untouchable" opens with a race between the two, with sensors around the city set up to track their movements back at S.T.A.R. Labs, where Cisco Ramon (CARLOS VALDES) is taking bets on the outcome, quoting HUNGER GAMES. We learn that gambling was banned on Earth-19 after an unfortunate incident with Vice-President Al Capone), but H.R. (TOM CAVANAGH) nonetheless seems quite adept at it. It's neck and neck, despite all the talk that persists about Wally getting faster at an accelerated rate, but in the end Barry cross the finish line first by vibrating through a building while Wally has to run up the wall. He still hasn't learned how to phase yet, and it's something that Barry tells him he's going to have to learn if he's going to defeat Savitar in a few months and save Iris.

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