TV Show Review: Erased

I'm a casual fan of anime. When I first saw it in my youth, I was blown away by the energy and visual feast of the few titles that made it to American shores. Back then it was highly curated so only the really good stuff made it, and American animation was all done on the cheap. Now it seems everything comes over, which means there's a whole lot of bad and mediocre junk covering few gems. But there are still a few gems, and Erased is one of those.

Erased is a 12-episode drama, crime thriller anime from 2016 based on a manga of the same title. It tells the story of a 29-year-old man with the ability to travel back in time to save lives. Usually he only travels back a few seconds, but this time he travels back nearly two decades to his adolescent self to stop a serial killer.

The Good

Story. This series has a really solid story, and being only 12 episodes, it focuses strictly on that story with each episode moving towards the resolution with no filler episodes. The pacing is deliberate but never too slow yet never rushed. The characters are developed thoroughly enough that we feel we know them and care about them.

Tension. This series has really good tension with a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments. The mystery

Resolution. The ending was very satisfying. It took a twist the last two episodes I wasn't expecting and didn't think would work, but it did. The animators didn't take the usual route to resolve the story, which was refreshing and appreciated.

The Mother. This main character's mother plays an important supporting role always being there for her son and seemingly able to read his mind. She is very understanding and supportive of what seems like crazy ideas about helping his schoolmates. She doesn't know he's actually his 29-year-old self come back from the future to prevent a series of murders that haven't happened yet, but goes along with it anyway in a logical and believable way.

Unconventional Take on Conventional Story Tropes. This series deals with story elements we've seen a hundred times (time travel, murder, serial killers) but doesn't take the standard approach to any. There is absolutely no attempt to explain how the main character is able to travel thru time or why. The power also works in a very convenient way, at one point giving him a second chance to fix the past almost as if there is someone looking down from above guiding him. The resolution to the mystery was also not the typical ending to this kind of story.

The Bad

Whodunit. There are a couple of red herrings thrown in at the beginning of the series to make it look like a mystery, but there's really only one character who it could be. Unfortunately, there is no foreshadowing or indications of that, so while you know who it is, it feels awkward when the killer is revealed. It feels kind of like a cheat, like someone is trying to pull the rug out from under you for a big dramatic effect.

Convenient Plot Devices. There are a few convenient plot devices such as the time travel working just right to progress the story in a certain way or people believing and supporting the main character even when it doesn't really make sense to do so. They don't ruin the story, nor are they merely lazy writing, but they could have at least been explained so they didn't feel so convenient.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

This series has a very somber tone throughout that rarely changes. Most of the characters seem upset or depressed. Twelve episodes is a long time to sustain this mood. It would have been nice to have had more breaks from it either with humor or fun or something. There is humor and there are jokes, but they are few and far between and very subdued.

Overall

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. It had interesting characters, a strong story, and unconventional twists and resolution. I recommend this series to fans of crime thrillers and give it 4 out of 5 remotes.

    

Book Review - Buz Sawyer Book 4: Zazarof's Revenge

I've been a fan of comic strips and comic strip characters for as long as I can remember. My early favorites include Charles Schultz's Peanuts (Charlie Brown and Snoopy) and Jim Davis' Garfield. I wasn't old enough to experience action/adventure strips, so I never really discovered those until I was an adult. I first came across Roy Crane when his Captain Easy and Wash Tubbs strips were reprinted. I fell in love with the characters and the creator's artwork instantly. Then I learned he created another strip after Captain Easy and had to check it out. That strip was Buz Sawyer.

Buz Sawyer Book 4: Zazarof's Revenge is a collection of action, adventure comic strips from 1949-1952 by Roy Crane. It is available in Hardcover from Fantagraphics.

Comic Strip Overview

Buz Sawyer was created at the end of World War II. Buz Sawyer was originally a pilot for the navy until the end of the war. Then he becomes a trouble shooter for Frontier Oil and travels the globe moving from one adventure to another. Many girls are originally introduced vying for his affection, but he eventually marries a very down-to-earth neighbor named Christy. Occasionally she joins him on his adventures, but most of the time she is at home worrying about him.

The Good

Artwork. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous! Roy Crane knows how to make the most of a line. Every line, every stroke communicates so much with no superfluous marks made. It's very minimalist and cartoony in the best sense of both works. And the use of shading makes each strip look like an oil painting masterpiece. At times you forget that these are black and white. Even if the stories were no good, the artwork would more than justify picking up the book, although the exotic locations weren't quite as well rendered as in previous volumes. I hope this isn't a sign of a decline to come.

Action. I love the variety of action from fist fights to gun battles to action in the air and on the sea. It's all high energy with high stakes that makes you feel like you are part of the fights and other perils.

Adventures. I love the locations Buz travels to. It's fun to see different parts of the world. I also enjoy the variety of troubles Roy Crane puts his protagonist in from revolutions in South America to sneaking in and out of the Communist Block in Europe. The stories were very much a product of their time focusing on the concerns of the day. But Roy Crane crafts them so well that they feel vintage, not dated. Roy Crane continues to improve in his storytelling, and this is his best yet.

Production Value. Fantagraphics has done an amazing job finding, restoring, and presenting these strips so they look their absolute best. The black lines are crisp and clean with solid darks. The book itself is well designed with wonderful bonus material. This book was done right. Good job, Fantagraphics! Keep up the good work.

The Bad

Silly Animal Comedy. I am not a fan of silly animal sidekicks (like Bandit in Johnny Quest) that add nothing to the story beyond attracting certain viewers/readers. This volume unfortunately has two stories with such characters, one featuring a monkey and another featuring a parrot. They are by far the weakest stories and hardest to get thru.

Lack of Direction. After World War II ended, it feels like Roy Crane wasn't sure what to do with his character. By this volume in the series, Buz is firmly established at Frontier Oil, but he still is sent on random adventures that never fell connected or like their advancing a bigger story.

Characters. Buz Sawyer does not have the most interesting characters. Buz and his wife are a pretty typical 1950s couple with little to distinguish them from any other 1950s couple. The antagonists are also pretty one-dimensional with little more than their greed, fear, desire for revenge, or lust for power to define them. Occasionally they'll have some quirk such as a fear of germs or a desire to never be photographed, but it's not enough to make them interesting on their own. This is one of the few areas where Roy's previous efforts were much stronger.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the stories would stick to the action adventure and not veer off to the silly animal comedy sidetracks that are neither funny nor entertaining (although Roy Crane draws some great animals). I also wish there was more of an overall story instead of a series of adventures that don't really connect with each other. It feels like the creator isn't sure where to take the character.

Overall

Buz Sawyer Book 4: Zazarof's Revenge is the best of the Buz Sawyer books. Roy Crane continues to produce the most beautiful artwork in comic strips and his storytelling continues to get better and better. The adventures were even more exciting, more gripping, and better told than in previous volumes with a few unnecessary comedic side trips that went on too long. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

Book Review: John Quincy Adams by Harlow Giles Unger

I've studied quite a bit of US History, but one period and one figure that often gets overlooked is John Quincy Adams and his time in government. Aside from the "corrupt bargain" and his relationship to the country's second president, little is said about the numerous other contributions he made. He fought with Washington, served as minister to six countries, served in Congress, as Secretary of State, and as President, and helped negotiate an end to the War of 1812. He argued cases before the Supreme Court and spoke up against slavery when such a thing was prohibited.

John Quincy Adams is a biography written by Harlow Giles Unger. It's available as eBooks, Audiobooks, and those old-fashioned paper book things.

The Good

The Writing. Harlow Giles Unger's prose were crisp, clean, and clear. The narrative never dragged, nor did I feel like it moved too quickly. I never found myself bored or wished the book had spent more time on a certain event. I would definitely read more from this author.

Linear Telling. One complaint I have with tellings of true events is how authors like to jump around in time to try and make a point and/or force their interpretation of history on the reader by manipulating the telling and order of events. This book doesn't make that mistake. It tells the story in a linear fashion letting the reader draw his own conclusions for the most part.

Completeness. The novel covers John Quincy Adams life completely. Nothing important is left out or brushed over too quickly.

Objectivity. John Quincy Adams was quite a controversial figure in his day with scandal following him from one post to another. From a floundering law practice to dissatisfaction with his work overseas as minister to various countries to the "corrupt bargain" that won him the presidency, and the "gag rule" in Congress, he was quite a despised character. But many later historians look back at his ideas that were eventually adopted such as the US funding the arts and sciences, the end of slavery, and more and see him as a visionary figure. The author does an excellent job of presenting all points of views and giving amble explanation of why he received such praise and such venomous attacks without forcing his personal opinion on the reader. For a biography, this is important.

The Bad

Audiobook Narration. I listened to this as an audiobook, and while the reading was proficient, it didn't do the story any favors. It didn't ruin the story, but it didn't add to it either. It was the weakest part.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I've got nothing.

Overall

John Quincy Adams is a well-written book about an intriguing character and his fascinating life and impact on the destiny of this nation. The story is always interesting and never feels rushed or dragging. John Quincy Adams' life is presented thoroughly and objectively without a personal agenda being forced down the reader's throat. I give it a solid 5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

Movie Review: The Lego Batman Movie

I loved the original The Lego Movie and Batman's appearance in it. So when I heard he was getting his own film, I was pretty excited (especially considering Batman's last two appearances on the big screen left me a bit disappointed).

The Lego Batman Movie is a 2017 action, comedy, superhero film. It's rated PG and is appropriate for most audiences.

The Good

Humor. The humor was brilliant. The jokes were all so funny and original and covered such a broad spectrum of subjects and types of humor. Every single one worked.

References. This movie made more references than I thought possible to stick into two hours. It made references to every big screen appearance of Batman (including the original black & white serials from the 40s), the numerous TV appearances, and several classic comics. It included over two dozen Batman villains from the major players to the minor ones most people have probably never heard of. It also included references to other movies from Harry Potter to Gremlins to Iron Man. It also had references to music and other genres. I doubt anyone could catch all of them on the first or even second viewing. I can't believe the number of SuperFriends that made cameos.

Opening & Closing. This movie broke the fourth wall at the beginning and the end to make a comment on action movies, epic movies, and movies in general that was so funny and perfectly set the tone.

Action. The action does not disappoint. It was everything one could want from a Batman anything (movie, cartoon, comic). I can't see any live action movie even coming close to the level and fun the action in this movie achieved.

Visuals. This movie was gorgeous to look at from set design to costume design to character design. The colors, the lighting, the camera angles, and ever other visual was so well thought out and composed. I loved all the versions of the characters and settings the filmmakers used with the exception of Harley Quinn. They used the current comic book look which is one of my least favorite versions, but that's a personal matter of taste.

Music. This movie uses many different popular songs, well-known soundtracks, and a slew of original songs. The original songs were so fun and catchy. The popular songs were so well used. And the tracks from the original Superman movie was fun and a nice touch.

The Bad

Heavy-handed Moral. This story had a message underneath all the jokes that was literally spelled out several times in both words and images. You'd have to be brain dead not to have caught it the first time or the seventh time. It got annoying fast.

Robin. Robin was obnoxious from the lame character design to the poor characterization. He was obnoxious and kind of weird. With such likable characters, I'm shocked and saddened that they couldn't have done more with Robin. He's one of the best characters in the comics and cartoons. This was probably the worst version of him I've ever seen.

Prosaic Moral of the Story. The resolution to the emotional conflict was so prosaic and tired. For such a clever, original movie it felt out of place and kind of insulting. It wasn't enough to ruin the movie, but it did cause me to groan and shake my head.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish they hadn't beaten me over the head with the moral of the story. All the humor, the references, the jokes, etc. weren't heavy handed. So not only was it annoying, it was out of place.

I also would have enjoyed slowing down the action scenes a little more so I could have enjoyed all the characters and references. It was a little too frantic.

Overall

The Lego Batman Movie is a masterpiece. It was funny, it was clever, it was original, it included so many villains and other parts of Batman's world that we've grown to love. The action was exciting, the story solid, and the pop culture references brilliantly done. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

Book Review: Jonathan Quinn Series

I don't read a lot of spy thriller-type novels, but I do watch a lot of that genre of movies. They tend to work better as movies than books, because it's more interesting to see exotic locals than to read about them, and it's more fun to watch action and fight scenes than read about them. 

The Johnathan Quinn series is a series of action, spy thriller, drama, novels and short stories written by Brett Battles. It features a cleaner (someone hired to bury the body after a government or other entity assassination) who finds himself involved in a lot more than he ever signed up for. It's available as eBooks, Audiobooks, and those old-fashioned paper book things.

The Good

Main Characters. Most of the characters are interesting and developed enough that I care about them, but only the main three characters are developed enough that I feel I really know them and are fully fleshed out. There is a whole slew of secondary major characters that feel a little generic and undeveloped, but that's okay because character development isn't the main focus of this type of story.

Writing. The writing is clean, crisp, and precise. Brett Battles could easily write for radio with his uncanny ability to paint such vivid and precise pictures of both settings and action. I can literally see the book as a movie in my mind without even trying.

Exotic Locals. The adventures of Quinn and crew take them all of the world to places I've heard of and some I never have. The author spends sufficient time describing each location in enough detail that you understand the context but not so much that you feel like you're reading a travelogue. He also describes the locations from the point of view of the man on the street and not a travel channel, so you feel like you are there observing the scene in person and not like you're watching it on tv from a helicopter.

Same but Different. There is a definite formula to these books that makes each one immediate feel familiar and comfortable and you aren't surprised at what you're getting. But the stories and characters evolve from book to book enough that each story feels new and different and not like a remake of a previous one. 

Understands this is a Novel and Plays to those Strengths. The author understands that these are novels to be read, not a movie to be watched. He understands that we can't see the locals or the action--we have to read it. So he does an excellent job focusing on the parts that work best in prose--discussions between characters, internal monologues, and suspense--and keeps the action to a minimum with vivid descriptions of fights that tend to end quickly. 

Audiobook Narration. Most of the novels are read by Scott Brick, who I really enjoy. (The official second novel of the series has someone else reading that does a terrible job, so I haven't bothered to read it. The short stories are not yet available as audiobooks.) He has a very measured, serious tone that works well for this type of story. I know a lot of people don't his style, and if you are looking for a more dramatic style with lots of variation, this isn't it. His voice never changes for different characters so you do have to pay attention to who is speaking. But for this type of story his style works well. I pick up a lot of titles because of his reading and have enjoyed all of them.

The Bad

Formula = Predictability. Each book in the series follows a very similar formula, which is typical of a lot of series. The problem with the formula in these books is it makes it too easy to predict what is going to happen and when. Suspense, twists, wondering what is going to happen next are all essential elements of the spy thriller genre and the reason people read them. When you follow a strict formula, the reader can easily predict what will happen next and how situations will turn out which is counterproductive to the genre. The author also has a bad habit of regularly killing off major secondary characters at the end of his books, so when the deaths come, they lose a lot of impact because you knew it was coming.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I wish the author would stop killing secondary major killers in such a predictable way. It cheapens their deaths. And I wish he'd mix up the formula a little more so the action wasn't so predictable. There is a lot of suspense, and I enjoy it, but there could be more.

Overall

The Johnathan Quinn series is one of the best spy thriller series I've ever read (or watched if we include all formats of entertainment). The books are well written with interesting characters, and the series is constantly evolving to keep the stories fresh but never straying far from the roots of the original novel losing the magic that hooked me from the beginning. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 eReaders.

    

Book Review: The Iron Druid Chronicles

Normally I don't enjoy fantasy. I used to love the world of swords and sorcery, but after a while it all become more of the same with nothing new or original. And the worlds are always so far away with their own elaborate sets of rules that I find it hard to get into the story and care. And most of those types of books are long with numerous volumes that flow from one into another, which is a major commitment of time that rarely pays off. But if the fantasy is mostly rooted in this world with a few mystical elements, then I find it fascinating. The Iron Druid Chronicles is just such a series.

The Iron Druid Chronicles is a series of action, adventure, contemporary fantasy novels and short stories written by Kevin Hearne. It's available as eBooks, Audiobooks, and those old-fashioned paper book things.

The Good

Characters. The main characters were all very interesting and well developed. I felt like I understood what made each one tick, and I cared what happened to them. The author gave each of them a full back story with unique quirks that were fun to explore. The "bad guys" were engaging and I felt something when they met their ends. Even the generic creatures like Vampires and WareWolfs and familiar gods like Thor were given unique spins that made each feel fresh and fun. I never felt like I was reading something I'd read before. And somehow the author makes the minor characters who only appear for a single scene interesting and somewhat memorable.

Writing. The writing is very strong. The protagonist is Atticus O’Sullivan (not his real name), the last druid who has lived for thousands of years. The story is told in first person from his point of view. This allows us to explore the world thru his eyes and see it from his unique perspective and comparing the world of today to past civilizations.

Use of Setting. Having lived in Tempe, Arizona for several years, I am a little biased. I really enjoyed the use of actual locations, street names, etc. It brought back a lot of fond memories. But even for those who've never visited the Valley of the Sun, the use of an actual city helped to ground the story and add a nice element of reality and believability to a fantasy story, something that really helps engage the reader.

Adventures. The story was fun and exciting. The first story was a little small in scope, but they become more epic as the saga progresses. The short stories are fun little side trips that add to the overall story while providing a nice break from the epic.

Less Known Mythology. The story is about a druid and the ancient religion of what is today the United Kingdom, a mythology I'm not very familiar with and rarely see in fiction, which was really refreshing. The author spends sufficient time explaining the myths completely enough you understand the story and characters without turning it into a boring lecture.

Use of Mythology/Religion. The author took a very different approach to mythology, legends, and religions by saying they are all true and can interact with each other. This isn't a new idea, (I've seen it in several comic books a few novels), but in this story he made the idea of different pantheons existing in the same universe work much better and much more harmoniously than past efforts. They basically exist based on the faith of their believers (again, an idea that has been done before, but not often and not as well). When characters from other pantheons are introduced

Messing with History. The main character has been around for a couple thousand years, and the author uses this to put a unique retelling of fairly well known events. We're all very familiar with the quest for the Holy Grail, but this version of that story is completely different and yet works and is really fun and exciting.

Audiobook Narration. I listened to most of this series as audiobooks read by Luke Daniels. Luke Daniels is a brilliant reader and the reason I picked up the first book. He does an excellent job of bringing all the characters to life and sounding like different characters without making it silly. I pick up a lot of titles because of his reading.

The Bad

Heavy-handed bias. I'm fine with authors having strong opinions and expressing them as long as it doesn't become propaganda. This book crossed the line into propaganda with the author presenting his liberal view on the world as superior fact and showing those who disagreed as cartoonish idiots who immediately meet their demise. If you want to be an animal lover, that's fine, but that doesn't make you superior to those who aren't, nor are people who don't care for animals horrible people or ignorant fools. The writing and story were so strong that such obvious propaganda was out of place and annoying.

Overly powerful hero. The author makes the druid and his mythology superior to all other mythologies and characters. This causes a couple of problems. One, it's contrary to the established mythology. And two, the character becomes next to invincible so the stakes aren't that high. I found myself getting kind of bored during the dramatic epic battles, because I knew the druid would win and suffer no real loss. For example, when the main character's ear is cut off, it's healed in the next book, then cut off again, then healed again.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

The first few stories took place in Tempe, which was a fascinating setting. Arizona rarely appears in fiction, and when it does, it's never explored. This book actually explored it which added to the story. Then the characters have to move away to an isolated area and suddenly the stories feel like a stage play without scenery. I would have preferred the author to either keep the story in Tempe or find an equally interesting setting to move it to. The stories lost some of the magic when the setting disappeared.

Overall

The Iron Druid Chronicles is one of the best fantasy series I've ever read. I don't like fantasy, but I liked this. Each novel and short story added something to the saga and was not superfluous. The world the author created and the unique spin on well known and lesser known mythologies was refreshing and fun. I give it a solid 4 out of 5 eReaders.

 

Movie Review: Passengers

I've really enjoyed Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence in the various Marvel movies they've starred in separately, which is why I wanted to see Passengers. The trailers show great chemistry between two, and it's that chemistry and the natural charm of each that makes this movie so successful.

Passengers is a 2016 adventure, romance, drama, science fiction film. It's rated PG-13 for language, brief nudity, and sensuality and is appropriate for teenagers and up.

The Good

Visuals. This was a beautiful film to watch from the backgrounds to the set design to the costumes. Very well designed. I had a lot of fun exploring the world with the main characters and seeing possible technological advances that may come about. And the cinematography was extremely well done showing off the beautiful visuals.

Actors. I wasn't sure if a movie with basically only three characters in a closed environment could really be interesting enough for a two hour movie, but with the right characters, it is very possible. Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence were both perfectly cast. They are both charming and likable on their own, but together have such great chemistry that even the quietest scenes of sitting were entertaining. And while Michael Sheen is supposed to be a mere machine, he is a delight and adds greatly to the story.

Dialogue. The dialogue was well written and well delivered. I could have guessed the characters' history and occupations from what they said and how they said it.

Pacing. The film moved at a very steady, gingerly pace that never felt rushed while never dragging.

Story. The story was an excellent story and well told. It fully explored all of the ideas that the premise set up without every getting lost in unnecessary diversions.

World. The producers created a really fun world to explore, and the story was set up in such a way that exploring the world made sense. I really like the optimism and brightness of the future. Such a contrast to so many other shows that have come out in the last several decades.

The Bad

Convenient Plot Twist. I understand the necessity of having a member of the crew wake up to make the saving the ship possible, but that's really the only reason it would happen. In real life, several people would probably have awoken because of malfunctions or maybe another passenger instead of the crewman. And having him die just at the right time was pretty contrived. It wasn't so unbelievable that it spoiled the movie, but it was pretty convenient with little justification.

Action Sequence / Climax. I understand that this is an American film and so there are certain things that have to go into it including a clear and present danger that just barely gets resolved at the end with the fate(s) of the main character(s) hanging in the balance. This really wasn't necessary to the film and was probably the weakest part. Still, they did a really good job of filming it and, while gratuitous, it was entertaining.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

I was very satisfied, and didn't feel the movie was missing anything.

Overall

Passengers was probably the best flick I've seen in years with solid casting, acting, and storytelling. I was entertained from start to finish and never felt like it dragged or my intelligence was insulted. I give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 boxes of popcorn.

TV Show Review: Marvel's Daredevil Season 2 (Netflix Original Series)

I've been not so patiently waiting for the second season of Daredevil, at times wondering if it would ever come. I was a little nervous--actually A LOT nervous. I mean, how often does a sequel live up to the hype and expectations created by the original? And what about the new characters? I'm not a big punisher fan, and I've seen Elektra done both well and about as far from well as one can get. So how would this new season stack up? Fortunately all my fears were for not and my expectations shattered.

Daredevil is a 2016 Netflix original series from Marvel Studios. It is a 13-episode action drama about a blind lawyer with uncanny abilities and mad fighting skills based on the comic book published by Marvel Comics.

The Good

Returning Characters. I really enjoyed the characters from the first season, and they did nothing to change that opinion. Each one was still very likable, very true to who they were in the first season, and yet we saw growth and expansion in each. I even liked the Kingpin this time. In the first season he was very disappointing, but this season he was much more in line with the comic book version and the deadly schemer worthy of Daredevil.

New Characters. I was nervous how Elektra would be handled and whether Punisher would be compelling. Electra took me a couple of episodes to warm up to, because this is a slightly different spin on her than I've seen in the comics, but it was a good spin that worked in this universe and context. I've only read a few Punisher comics and wasn't a big fan of the character, but I'm a big fan of this version of him and would gladly watch a Punisher series if they decide to create one.

Story. The story could not have been better. Even thought there were actually two stories going on, they flowed from one to the other seamlessly. Both grabbed me by the collar and wouldn't let go until the very end. There was so much going on when the final episode began I worried they would rush it, but they didn't. It happened at just the right pace.

Pacing. The pacing was a lot better in this season. It never moved too fast so every scene had maximum drama and impact, and yet it never seemed to drag which is impressive considering it runs for over 12 hours. I watched the first 6 episodes and it felt like maybe an hour or two had passed, not 6.

Same but Different. This season looked and felt like a continuation of the first season. It didn't look like some reinvention had happened in the intervening months. And yet everything was different and new. Nothing was a rehash or a back remake of the first season, something I've never seem before (yes Star Wars, I'm talking about you). It felt like the same world, but a different corner of that world.

Easter Eggs. For a comic book fan like myself, I always appreciate little nods to the comics and other versions of the characters, and this season supplied them in spades from the pulp-styled poster of the gladiator hanging on the wall that looked awfully similar to a Frank Miller/Dave Mazzucelli cover to several nods and direct swipes from Frank Miller's run.

The Bad

The Red Suit. The red suit still looks stupid. Early in the season Daredevil's suit is damaged by the Punisher, and he is forced to ask the Gladiator to fix it. I was hoping they would use this opportunity to put Matt in the black and red suit from the current comics, but no. Maybe season 3.

What I Would Like to Have Seen

This time around I was completely satisfied with everything. I never found myself wishing they had done anything differently.

Overall

Overall, I loved this series. It had me hooked from the first minute and didn't let me go until the last. I didn't mean to watch all 13 episodes in one day, but I couldn't help myself. The characters, the story, the acting, the action, the tight plot, and the faithfulness to the comics made this a true classic. The Punisher and Elektra both added to the story and gave up great versions of each character. I highly recommend this series and give it a solid 5 out of 5 remotes.