Fantastic Universes

Many critics, and by that I've mean me, have one big point to talk about when it comes to KeyForge's future: how will it handle the newest expansion of cards? They need to be able to stick the landing – not making cards too strong compared to their first set, Call of the Archons. They needed to also create enough of a new impression to let the game evolve and expand. Richard Garfield is no stranger of making strong second sets, and Age of Ascension looks to follow Call of the Archons. We've seen a few of the new set's cards, and heard about some favourite cards making cameos in the new decks. A new TCG expansion warrants new game mechanics; and we've seen 3. Now appearing on certain creature cards is 'Deploy'. Not needing to enter on a flank, Deploy creatures enter anywhere – letting you scoot a space between creatures for them to enter. The mascots for the mechanic really show off the design space. "Lion" Bautrem giving a power b...

"Puppet Patrol" Writers: Tamara Becher-Wilkinson & Tom Farrell Director: Rachel Talalay Starring: Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Joivan Wade, Julian Richings, Kyle Clements, Alec Mapa, Phil Morris, Julie McNiven and Charmin Lee. Featuring Riley Shanahan and Matthew Zuk. Review by Steve J. Ray Road Trip! Yes folks, this week our band of misshapen misfits hits the road on a quest to rescue The Chief. Last week the gang managed to escape the Donkey , freeing Cloverton in the process. Their leader, however, is still missing and remains Nobody's prisoner . That could well be the strangest paragraph I've ever written. Seriously, read that back out loud! Poor Ol' Hamster From the opening scenes with Jane putting up missing posters, this show turns the whacky up to 11. Things then come to a head, when she introduces a citizen of Cloverton to a more staple diet than he's previously been used to. Talk about br...

Director: David McWhirter Writers: Kelly Wheeler & Sterling Gates Starring: Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Danielle Panabaker, Carlos Valdes, Tom Cavanagh, Danielle Nicolet, Reina Hardesty and Gabrielle Walsh Review by Steve J. Ray The mid-season break is over. We’ve all had time to process the awesomeness that was “ Elseworlds ” and the Arrowverse shows have returned to our tellyboxes… The Flash is back, baby! The great news is that this episode follows directly from  episode 8 , meaning that no knowledge of the crossover on infinite Earths is required. This week we discover that Nora Allen came back to our time after being taught how to by Eobard Thawne, The Reverse Flash. While the villain is claiming to have changed his ways, XS isn’t convinced. Can An Eobard Change Its Spots? This is a great episode in terms of character development, furthering the ongoing storyline and letting people catch up after the break. The writers dese...

"Wasted Space #7" Writer: Michael Moreci Artist: Hayden Sherman Color Artist: Jason Wordie Letterer: Jim Campbell Review by Steve J. Ray Fisticuffs, space ships, action, and inter-stellar gas stations... this chapter of Wasted Space has it ALL! Get your heads under the Slurpee faucet... Get Wasted! Damn, I love this comic! We left last month's issue with Molly's shocking vision of the future, in which she saw Fury betraying them all. The opening scenes in this chapter had me confused at first, but I should have had more faith in the Mighty Moreci. He's a lot more reliable than any action figure shaped deity. Ah Look Like Ah'm Kiddin'? Part of the magic of this series is the way it can blend political and social commentary, with insanity, hi-jinks and humour. Wasted Space makes me laugh out loud, as often as it makes me stop and think. How many floppy funny books can you say that about? Michael Moreci is a writer's writer. You can see...

“Ace Chemicals” Writer: Tze Chun Director:  John Stephens Starring: Ben McKenzie, Donal Logue, David Mazouz, Sean Pertwee, Robin Lord Taylor, Cory Michael Smith, Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova, Cameron Monaghan,  Morena Baccarin, Francesca Root-Dodson and Benedict Samuel This final season of  Gotham  continues to surprise and delight. If you were excited by the title, then the rest of this episode is seriously going to make you very, very happy… whilst also making you feel sick to your stomach. Since his transformation Jeremiah Valeska has been on a killing spree, leaving no doubt as to whether he’d retained any shred of sanity. This episode proves, once and for all, his almost limitless capacity for evil. Order And Chaos I’ve always admired Tze Chun’s writing. This man is clearly a fan of the Batman mythos, character and history. “Ace Chemicals” shows us a version of the Dark Knight’s relationship with the Joker, that’s as good as many f...

"Donkey Patrol" Writers: Neil Reynolds and Shoshona Sachi Director: Dermott Downs Starring: Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Alan Tudyk, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Joivan Wade, Phil Morris and Timothy Dalton Review by Steve J. Ray Last week I left everyone with the teaser: If a green lock needs a green key, and a steel lock needs a steel key, come back next week to find out what kind of key a don lock needs. You’ll feel like a total ass if you don’t. Of course, a Don Lock would require a Don Key. Remember our pack animal pal from last week? Well, he plays a huge fart  part in this week's episode. "Donkey Patrol" also features: messages in the mist, cutting words, garbage sacks, prophetic paintings and a clear warning to be very careful what you eat. After all, what goes in...  Jane Ain't The Only Crazy One This show is bonkers. If you thought that episode one was weird, wild and woolly , then this instalment is going to blow yo...