Before I get into this episode, I need to address something really important: the obligatory episode introduction. I get that Barry (GRANT GUSTIN) needs to bring the viewers up to speed (pun half-intended), but can they please get him to re-shoot this? Because the current one has him sounding so over-the-top when if finishes. "I am... The Flasssshhhh! It sounds like he's making fun of his own name. It's very off-putting.

Spell on Wheels #1

Written by: Kate Leth
Art by: Megan Levens
Colored by: Marissa Louise
Lettered by: Blambot’s Nate Piekos

Published by: Dark Horse
Cover Price:  $3.99

​Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   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!

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At first blush, PIG THE PUG is a cute story set to rhyme about a greedy pug dog who refuses to share with his fellow housemate, a happy little dachshund named Trevor. So he piles all his toys up and sits on them like he's king of the castle.

At second blush, there's a little too much schadenfreude at Pig's ultimate fate after he falls from his perch -- and out a window that's higher than the first floor, resulting in Trevor getting to play with all the toys while Pig recuperates in a body cast.

Confession is good for the soul, they say. It's also a religious expression. So this is a little of both.

I was raised in an Apostolic Pentecostal home. If you're unfamiliar with that, put your mental cursor on "snake handlers" and move it just a little to the left and you'll be in the vicinity. Morals were important, and that's a good thing -- but the morals (at that time in the organization's history) were often things that seemed up to the interpretation of those in charge, who knew better because they had divine connections. As such, it was an era of rock-and-roll record purging and exposure of backward masking in music. Pulpits were the fastest method of pushing pre-Internet memes such as KISS being an acronym for "Kings in Satan's Service" accompanied by tales of how the band would hold Satanic prayer rituals over each album's original pressing prior to mass production. Snopes did not exist.

Shaun Tan has simultaneously mesmerized and confounded readers with his surreal fables like TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA and THE ARRIVAL. His use of imagery and text -- and sometimes complete absence of text -- deliver artistic works of bizarre elegance.

Thus it is with THE SINGING BONES, a collection of snippets from the Grimm Fairy Tales juxtaposed with photos of sculpture created and photographed by Tan. With every turn of the page, readers are treated to a compelling passage of a fairy tale -- hardly ever the whole story but enough of it to feel as though you've experienced something important -- placed in parallel with an illustrative photograph that supports the passage in a way that is perfectly grotesque and stunningly beautiful.

The second installment of Time Life’s series on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Live, catchily titled Volume 2, is a further compilation of some of the best induction ceremony performances by the actual performers themselves or by other musicians brought together to pay tribute to the artist. Volume 2 says it is on “Limited Edition Red and Orange Marbled Vinyl,” however when looking at the album it appears…well…just a solid reddish-orange. Oh well, it’s still very cool though!

That aside, the collection of songs and artists on this volume is an eclectic olio of both songs and artists that have appeared on stage at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame ceremonies. (Although I will always just refer to it as a “music” hall of fame. One day I really hope a museum is opened that truly is just a Rock and Roll Hall of fame--JUST Rock and Roll.)

Zach here from Game Jab! Did you like watching those lovable yet terrifying animatronics jump scare me in both nights one and two in FNAF: Sister Location? Well you my dear Critical Blast lovelies are in for another funfilled, jumpscare adventure with me while I continue my new night job.

when I finish the game I will look back to see if there are any secrets because I know the creator Scott Cawthon is known for loading tons of secrets in these games and when I finish that and the gameplay then I will give my final review on the last video.

Great Lakes Avengers #1

Written by: Zac Gorman
Art by: Will Robson
Colored by: Tamra Bonvillain
Lettered by:VC’s Joe Caramagna

Published by: Marvel
Cover Price:  $3.99

Jessica Jones #1

Written by: Brian Michael Bendis
Art by: Michael Gaydos
Colored by: Matt Hollingsworth
Lettered by: VC’s Cory Petit

Published by: Marvel
Cover Price:  $3.99

At the end of our last episode, our heroes had become disperse, reunited, and ended up in 1942 to save New York from being hit by the Nazis with an atomic bomb, courtesy of Damien Darhk and Eobard Thawne (MATT LETSCHER), aka the Reverse-Flash, a time-traveling speedster from the 25th century. And when the dust had settled, the Legends team was confronted by a secret military force known as the Justice Society of America.

Picking up where we left off, the team's newest member, historian Nate Heywood (NICK ZANO) recognizes the JSA from his studies, particularly Commander Steel (MATTHEW MACCAULL). We later learn that this is because Steel is Heywood's grandfather, and Heywood still wears his grandfather's dogtags around his neck.

JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK is based on Lee Child’s series of books, featuring the titular hero, Jack Reacher. Starring Tom Cruise, Cobie Smulders, Danika Yarosh, Patrick Heusinger, and Robert Knepper, this sequel to the 2012 hit JACK REACHER was directed by Edward Zwick, who Tom worked with in THE LAST SAMURAI.

NEVER GO BACK was a different type of action movie than is predecessor. In the first movie, which also starred Tom Cruise, the action seemed to flow from start to finish; Jack was a force to be reckoned with and he knew what was going to happen before his adversaries did. In NEVER GO BACK, it was the opposite. There were times Jack seemed unsure of what he was doing, or how to handle a particular situation. He didn’t have that all-knowing persona that I liked in the first movie.

ARROW fans, are you ready?

Beloved readers of Critical Blast, are you ready?

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, fans of all ages...are you ready to rummmmmmmmbllllllle?

Yes, I'm stealing from Michael Buffer, and why shouldn't I? This is the episode for the fans who cross the borders of ARROW and World Wrestling Entertainment. This is the episode where Stardust -- aka Cody Runnels, aka CODY RHODES -- enters the Arrowverse.

When I get home from where I've spent the prior ten hours, I like to grab something cold to drink out of the fridge, and sit down in front of the tube to watch cartoons.

Then I look at the cartoon I'm watching and realize that it's celebrating a 50th anniversary -- and my bubble pops. I'm not coming home from school and grabbing a Hi-C anymore. I have a job, and the drink in my hands is one I wasn't allowed until I turned 21. My cartoons are old, and I've gotten old with them.

CHARLIE BROWN'S ALL STARS! is the cartoon in question today, released on DVD for it's 50th anniversary. It doesn't get as much fanfare as the holiday classics (among which I happen to include the Easter and Thanksgiving cartoons), but story-wise I rank it as much better than any of those. There weren't long gaps of no dialogue filled with music and dancing. This was Charlie Brown engaged in one of the things he loved most, and looking at having to give it up: baseball!

On January 11th, 2017 Titan Comics will launch KHAAL - a brand-new, violent space opera of warring clans, gladiatorial arenas and political intrigue.

The first issue of KHAAL will be made available with variant covers from the industry's top talents including; Marc Laming (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Nick Percival (Assassin's Creed), Adam Gorham (The Violent), Steve Kurth (Iron Man Legacy) and series artist Valentin Sécher.

A bold new comic series written by Stephane Louis (Husk). With art from Valentin Sécher (The Metabaron), KHAAL takes place on an ancient prison ship, floating alone in the void, left behind by a galaxy decimated by a brutal war.

Critical Blast and Game Jab are partnering up to bring both our audiences some of the most videogame reviews and game play. The crew at Game Jab operates through their YouTube Channel, and you can go there to see their past season of videos.

Episode 303 of THE FLASH introduces us to another new character, Magenta, because she flashes things with a purple color. No wait, that's not right. She affects metallic objects like a magnet, so they call her Magneta. No, that's not right either.

You can see why Frankie Kane a.k.a. Magenta is not one of my favorite characters in DC canon. She comes across like a dyslexic Magneto (who thankfully isn't called Magento). Frankie (JOEY KING) is a foster child living in an abusive home. When we first meet her, the father comes home from work in what we assume to be a typically disgruntled mood. In fact, the scene is almost a direct lift from CONSTANTINE Episode 102. Having had all she can, Frankie's dissociative personality, Magenta, takes over, and pulls in a lamp post from outside the house to beat her foster father into the hospital.

If you thought this season of SUPERGIRL was going to suddenly move slower than a speeding bullet, you were wrong. Monday night's episode was full of changes that demonstrated a willingness to adapt to their new location.

That location is The CW.

I know we're beating a dead horse here but it's crucial to be reminded that SUPERGIRL's inaugural season began on CBS. And while it started strong and ratings remained good enough to warrant a second season, moving to The CW was a point of concern to some level.

The Syracuse Comic-Con is growing. Bringing in top talent is the best way to draw the attention of out-of-town con goers, ultimately increasing attendance and notoriety.

According to a tweet, posted to Ron Marz's official twitter account, he will be attending the Syracuse Comic-Con.

Having long-time comic book writer, Ron Marz, in attendance will certainly help. Known for his work on Silver Surfer and Green Lantern, Marz has tackled many different projects for both DC and Marvel. As versatile as he is creative, he has found himself writing for lesser-known publishers as well.

Welcome back to Critical Blast’s weekly look at what new comics you should check out each week.   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