3 Fall TV Shows Based On DC Comics

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Now that the summer is winding down it’s time for the new fall television premieres Hollywood has been slaving over since last January! With the success of Arrow on the CW, DC Entertainment has jumped into creating more innovative television based on other popular comic characters. Below are the run downs for three new DC inspired shows premiering this fall.


Gotham - Fox
Premieres - Monday September 22 at 8/7c
Where do villains come from? Are they born evil? Is there a haunted past which changes their moral standards and pushes them to the ‘dark side?’ Or is Gotham City itself a breeding ground for deceit, deception, and debauchery? Gotham is set during the crime that sparked a young Bruce Wayne’s pursuit of justice, the murder of his parents in front of his very own eyes, and seeks to answer all these questions. Follow Detective James Gordon, played by Ben Mckenzie, who on his mission to bring the real murderer to justice while crossing paths with minor criminal who later become super villains like  The Penguin, Catwoman, The Riddler and Poison Ivy just to name a few.




The Flash - CW
Premieres- Tuesday October 7th at 8/7c
The Flash was planned as a spin off of Arrow. Barry Allen, played by Grant Gustin, was introduced on season 2 of Arrow but audiences won’t get to him him in the official Flash suit until the series premieres, or in the trailer above. The show will explore the early days of Barry Allen as he discovers his identity and purpose as the Flash. Expect a lot of crossover characters from Arrow to be making guest star appearances.



Constantine - NBC
Premieres- Friday October 24th at 10/9c
Constantine is a textbook example of an anti-hero. He lacks the empathy heroes like Batman and The Flash have innately, but everything thing he does is to improve the big picture. His television show is dark and grotesque. It follows him as he protects our world from being taken over by incredibly powerful demons that seek to enslave humanity. Matt Ryan brings a multidimensional Constantine to the table. While it is apparent he is suffering from the bad decisions and sins of his past, his quick witted, sarcastic personality brings a little color to the looming shadows ahead.


So mark your calendars because this is some good television you won’t want to miss!

September 2014 Movie Preview

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A Walk Among the Tombstones

Based on Lawrence Block’s acclaimed novel by the same name, this new Liam Neeson action film appears to be comparable to Taken. Director Scott Frank was able to convince Neeson to accept the role with a brilliantly crafted script. Neeson plays private detective Matthew Scudder. This weathered detective is hired to find out who kidnapped and murdered the wife of a high end drug dealer, played by Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens. As he investigates he crosses hairs with the killers and they don’t appreciate it.
Release Date: 9/19 Rated: R







This is Where I Leave You

Shortly after Judd Altman, played by Jason Bateman, discovers his wife has been sleeping with his boss for about a year, he gets a call from his sister informing him their father has died. After the funeral in an attempt to bring the family their mother, played by the one and only Jane Fonda grounds her four children for a week. Bateman’s two brothers and sister are played by Adam Driver, Corey Stoll and Tina Fey. Based on the wildly successful novel by Jonathan Tropper, and an immensely talented cast of actors led by director Shawn Levy, Cheaper by the Dozen, it is a must see.
Release Date: 9/19 Rated: R




The Skeleton Twins

After premiering at Sundance Film Festival 2014 this heart felt film is hitting the big scream. The movie is the story of two estranged twins who after a brush with death reunite and eventually realize that what’s been missing in their life just might be eachother. The twins are played but Kristen Wiig and Bill Hader. Directed by Craig Johnson this dark comedy is a nice change of pace from the sketch comedy motif we are accustom to.
Release Date: 9/12 Rated: R

The Maze Runner

The Maze Runner series is the first of this years film series based on a book series that spotlights a lead male character. Thomas, played by Teen Wolf’s Dylan O’Brien, arrives at the Glade a place where a crew of misfit boys are imprisoned and forced to solve a maze where nasty extra-terrestrial like creatures called Grievers lurk waiting to pounce. Despite Fox’s desire for another Hunger Games first-time director Wes Ball has committed himself to a slightly tone reminiscent on the classic novel The Lord of the Flies.
Release Date: 9/19 Rated: PG-13




Below are other movies that have their wide release in September.

 September 5 - The Identical September 10 - Born to Fly: Elizabeth Streb vs. Gravity (NY) - My Old Lady (NY) September 12 - At the Devil's Door (limited) - The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (NY, LA; expands: Sept. 19) - Dolphin Tale 2 - No Good Deed - The Quitter (NY) - The Skeleton Twins (limited; wide: Sept. 19) September 16 - Worst Friends (limited) September 17 - 20,000 Days on Earth (NY) - The Guest (limited) September 19 - Fort Bliss (limited) - Hector and the Search for Happiness (limited; expands: Oct. 3) - Keep On Keepin' On (LA; NY release: October 3) - Pride - Tracks (limited) - Tusk - The Zero Theorem (limited) September 26 - The Boxtrolls - The Equalizer (2D theaters and IMAX) September TBA - Maps to the Stars

The Jungle Book Gets Two Remakes *Updated 8/21

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Not that Warner Brothers and Disney go head to head enough with their superhero movies (DC and Marvel) now they have both decided to produce their own adaptations of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book.
Disney has set their release for 2015. This remake is being directed by Jon Favreau, previous director credits include Iron Man and Cowboys and Aliens, and began filming just last week. The cast list includes A List celebrities like Scarlett Johansson as the mischievous snake Kaa, Idris Elba as the fierce Tiger Shere Kahn, Bill Murray as the lovable Baloo,  Christopher Walken as the demanding King Louie, Ben Kingsley as the sly Bagheera, Lupita Nyong’o as mama wolf Rakcha and Giancarlo Esposito as head of the wolf pack Akela. These characters are all listed as voice only so it is safe to say that they will be using some incredible CGI but will it simply be a technological upgrade from their 1967 animated film? Well they are certainly taking a risk by casting Neel Sethi, a green actor, as Mowgli who will be filming with animals he won’t be able to see until the final project.
A couple hours ago Warner Bros finally announced the first actor confirmed for their remake set to come out in 2016. No stranger to voice over work or playing the bad guy Benedict Cumberbatch has signed on to voice Shere Kahn. Andy Serkis, best known for his role as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings franchise,  will be making his directorial debut with the working title “Jungle Book: Origins.”  No stranger for CG motion capture it is my hope that all the actors will be greatly involved in the final animals we see on screen as well as providing their voices. As always Serkis’ version is said to be a lot darker than its Disney counterpart.

Now all Jungle Book fans can do it sit and wait. May the best movie win!

 *This morning casting additions were announced for the Warner Bros remake being directed by Andy Serkis. Serkis himself will be voicing Baloo, Cate Blanchett has signed on to voice Kaa, Jack Reynor will be Brother Wolf and Christian Bale will bring Bagheera to life.

Batman: Assault on Arkham Review

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When it comes to animated full length features DC Comics always comes out on top. With movies like Justice League: Doom, Batman: Year One, Superman vs. Elite and Son of Batman they bring adversity and creativity to characters previously seen as one dimensional. The beauty of their most recent endeavor Batman: Assault on Arkham, is that they focus on the villains of DC rather than Batman himself.


It begins with a typical stand off between The Riddler and Amanda Waller, a high ranking US Government official who controls, or so she thinks, The Suicide Squad. Though throughout DC history The Suicide Squad has taken many shapes and forms, this movie sticks to The New 52 variant. Directors Jay Oliva and Ethan Spaulding choose to introduce the members of ‘task force X’ with a highly stylized short and sweet action clip that mirrors scenic montagues in classic heist films. Each character gets a quick clip which seamlessly debuts their individual strength and personality, so audience members who may not be familiar with characters like King Shark have all the information they need to jump right into the action.
The team is dispatched to break into Arkham Asylum to retrieve a thumbdrive stolen by The Riddler containing past, present and future Suicide Squad members. After Round 1: Harley vs Batman the team discovers that the Joker, voiced exceptionally by the Troy Baker, has hidden a dirty bomb at Arkham Asylum. Immediately the stakes are raised and the plot takes off from there. Between a masterfully conceived, and flawlessly executed break into Arkham through action packed all out brawls, shots of several Batman Villain favorites, including Bane and Poison Ivy, and the countdown to detonation DC has succeeded in creating a nail biting edge of your seat film.
While the promotion for this film pushes that it is based on characters the the Arkham Games is a gross overstatement. Batman: Assault on Arkham could be an issue of Suicide Squad. While some DC villains, like the Joker, are malevolent, ruthless and unyielding, DC has several villains that fans sympathize with and they showcase their vulnerability throughout the movie. Deadshot, or Floyd Lawton, in continually shown holding/looking at a picture of his daughter, touching the heart of fathers everywhere. King Shark even shows a softer side by trusting and helping Killer Frost who is turn supports him. The Suicide Squad would not be complete however without Harley Quinn. Originally created by Bruce Timm and Paul Dini for a single episode of the Batman Animated Series, Harley has acquired a mob of die hard fans. The Harley Olivia and Spaulding chose for this particular adventure is an interesting collision of the fun loving, misguided, and naive Harley, with the lethal, psychotic, and overtly sexy Harley. It’s the perfect combination! She goes toe to toe with Batman twice in the film and does a damn good job holding her own! She is also stuck between her two loves The Joker and Deadshot which was an interesting choice made in recent New 52 comics.
The style and tone of the movie compliments that of Son of Batman effortlessly. DC is no stranger the grotesque and gruesome. The animators were not afraid to add splashes of blood  throughout the movie along side of gruesome fight sequences. This includes the explosion of some characters head from their spine. So when Deadshot continues to rumble with the Joker with shards of glass sticking out of his body it’s a perfectly monstrous way to end this spellbinding feature. Also they are not afraid to cut off younger audiences by adding an apparent, and brief sex scene between Harley and Deadshot and well as a lot of bare back shots for both Harley and Killer Frost.
Batman: Assault on Arkham is a thrilling and gripping mission from start to finish. It is filled with bawdy strong women fighting alongside volatile intuitive villains in a Heist that will go down in the history books. It is available now on Blu Ray/DVD as well as digital download.

Final Score: 4.5/5

Sailor Moon Inspired Fashion

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Here we are again Otakus!!! Some outfit inspired by the Ladies of Sailor Moon!
Kaorinite

Eudial
l

Mimete

Sailor Moon
If you like any outfit or article of clothing, go to my Sailor Moon Collection.

Have a comic book, or anime character you want to see made into a fashionista? I am accepting requests! Comment below ;)

DC Comics Inspired Fashion

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Polyvore is an amazing website where you can explore fashion, beauty and home decor. Here are some of my outfit ideas inspired by my favorite DC women….
Batgirl

Harley Quinn

Zatanna

Poison Ivy

Black Canary

If you like any outfit or article of clothing, go to my DC Collection.

 Have a comic book, or anime character you want to see made into a fashionista? I am accepting requests! Comment below ;)

Guardians of the Galaxy Review

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At Comic Con this past weekend Marvel announced that Guardians of the Galaxy 2 is set to hit theatres in 2017 a week before the first one is even released. This was a huge risk especially because the comic series of Guardians of the Galaxy does not have a fan base  anywhere near that of Spiderman or X-Men. So why Guardians of the Galaxy? Because there is nothing like it!
Director and screenwriter James Gunn deserves all the credit for this one of a kind super hero flick. He chose to incorporate a lot of comedy throughout the movie. This distracts the audience from the confusing planet names, character names, and proper weaponry terminology that makes other space odysseys impossible to follow. He also cast the perfect team  with the help of the amazing Sarah Finn. Even though you may not recognize the name you’ve definitely seen her work. Since Iron Man is 2008 she has been the casting director for multiple Marvel movies including The Avengers, Thor and Captain America. She has done an incredible job finding actors who truly embody the essence of  each character from the comic book, bringing their own interpretation to the big screen.


We’ve seen Zoe Saldana kick butt before but not like this. While it’s known she loves spending an afternoon at the shooting range, a gun seems to be her last resort in this film. Her athleticism  and incredible flexibility are apparent. She also has a way of using subtle acting choices despite her heavy make up. A WWE star was the perfect choice for Drax the Destroyer. Dave Bautista proves that acting is inherent for wrestling stars. His comedic timing is impeccable and he vibes off of the other actors as if they’ve been working together for years.  Chris Pratt as the quick witted Peter Quill is vibrant and engaging. He was honestly the perfect choice. Other actors that screen tested for the role include Joseph Gordon Levitt, Aaron Paul and Eddie Redmayne. Despite their incredible acting chops none of them have the innate comical sensibilities required to make Starlord as cheeky as Pratt does.


The star of this movie hands down is the animation and special effects team, along with the sound editors and voice talent. Grut is literally a living plant monster who can only say “I am Grut.” Though Vin Diesel, who was the voice of Grut, didn’t have much to work with the animators do a spectacular job using Grut’s eyes to convey emotions and intentions clearly to the audience. The ultimate gold star, however, goes to the team responsible for the crass, genius mastermind himself, Rocket the Racoon. Jim Carrey and Adam Sandler were both rumored to be considered for this rambunctious rodent but would have been a more wacky almost joke of a character. Bradley Cooper, whose voice is almost unrecognizable, chose a grounded relatable voice making Rocket as real as a gun slinging racoon could be. Also the animation is far from a cartoon. The audience can see every strand of hair and every whisker move just like the humanoid characters in the movie.
Other honorable mentions include: Lee Pace as the maniacal heartless genocidal villain Ronan, John C. Reilly as relatable Corpsmen Dey, and Glenn Close as the strong leader Nova Prime.
So in the end, although the plot is predictable and the length is about 30 minutes too long Guardians of the Galaxy is a summer blockbuster no one should miss. It is truly a unique addition to the Marvel Universe that leaves its audience in fits of laughter. Bring on the sequel!!!

 Guardians of the Galaxy hits theaters nationwide this Friday August 1st.

Final Score: 4/5

6 Tanks for a Batcave Worthy Workout

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Going to the gym is hard enough so why not wear a shirt that inspires you to push just a little harder! Here are a few Batman themed tanks to take your workout to the next level courtesy of www.lookhuman.com ...
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2408whiblk-w484h484z1-28839-the-batman-list.jpg


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2408atg-w484h484z1-27948-swole-bane.jpg

Affluenza Review

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Affluenza is defined as a psychological malaise supposedly affecting wealthy young people, symptoms of which include a lack of motivation, feelings of guilt, and a sense of isolation. The movie follows four teenage stereotypes. Fisher Miller, is the outsider desperately trying to find a way to fit in. His ‘in’ to the group is a young man who recently entered the affluent elite himself, Dylan Carter. Dylan was the outsider his whole life until his mother married into the exclusive world of mansions and lavish parties. He bribes Fisher with a college recommendation to help him get Kate Miller, Fisher’s cousin, to fall as deeply in love with him as Dylan is with her. Kate, however, is already dating Todd, the rich douchebag who treats her horribly.
Sig de Miguel and Stephen Vincent did an incredible job casting these obnoxious teens. They found actors who not only gave their character depth but also worked incredibly well off each other. Ben Rosenfeld, Boardwalk Empire series regular, in the lead role as Fisher has a unique sensibility that makes you believe he is a little quirky yet still has the charm to not only wiggle his way into ‘high society’ but also created a mysterious suave magnetism that entices the ladies.  Rosenfeld had great onscreen chemistry with Greg Sulkin, from MTV’s Faking It, who plays Dylan Carson. He is a prime example of someone who could have everything but only wants what he can’t have. Sulkin also adds vibrant colors to the stereotypical love sick puppy dog, especially the desperate anger when he confronts Todd Goodman Kate’s ‘real’ boyfriend played by Grant Gustin, The Flash CW. In contrast to Barry Allen aka The Flash, Todd is an entitled overly judgemental boyfriend who never missed an opportunity to be patronizing or harsh to Kate. Gustin portrays his in a way that audiences still hate him but they also sympathize with him.
Despite some truly dynamic performances Affluenza just misses the mark. They set it up with immense potential but it seemed like screenwriter Antonia Macia and director Kevin Asch dropped the ball and missed a huge opportunity. The movie is set in the summer 2008 during the stock market crash. It seemed Affluenza would examine what happens to these teens when the wealth and exorbitant lifestyle they have come accustom to has been ripped from beneath them. Instead however it revolves around the trivial and typical downfall of teenage love.


If the woes of unrequited prepubescent love in Long Island with lavish parties, drugs and self destructive decisions sounds captivating Affluenza is the movie to see. It is available in select theatres as well as on demand on Itunes and Amazon.
Final Score: 2/5
 

5 Actors Who Should Play Harley Quinn

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Dr. Harleen Quinzel, better known as Harley Quinn, was an employee at Arkam Asylum until the moment she fell in madly deeply and unwaveringly in love with the Joker. The actors below have been chosen based on three categories that are the most important traits of Harley’s that are imperative to whoever gets the role. The first is the attitude. Harley needs to have the an apparent mental stability issue because to love someone like the Joker you have to be CRAZY! She is extremely playful with a heart of gold. The next is the body. Harley most certainly a lover but that doesn’t rule her out as a fighter. She is always shown flipping through the air with ease and the ability to even go toe to toe in a fight with Batman himself. Last, one of the most recognizable traits of Harley is the voice.


Honorable mention who came so close to this list are Yael Stone from Orange is the New Black, Isla Fisher, and Teresa Palmer but each of them I believe are slightly off the mark. So here we go….




#5 Hayden Panettiere
Best known for the TV series Nashville Hayden maybe be small but she is definitely a fireball! She has had experience in Gymnastics in the past which means she is physically perfect and ready. Her body of work is versatile proving she can take on any role. The reason she barely makes the cut however is due the fact she hasn’t done any extreme accent work. Her beautiful vocals on Nashville proves her voice certainly have the range for Harley so there’s definitely potential there.



#4 Chloë Sevigny
Chloe, best known for American Psycho is no stranger to the criminally insane. She was a series regular on  American Horror Story Asylum playing a nymphomaniac trapped in a corrupt 1960s church run asylum. Her physicality and acting ability would lend itself incredible well to a darker Christopher Nolan-esque Harley. Unfortunately there is no proof she would be able to execute the voice.  



#3 Chloë Grace Moretz
If it weren’t for her age our favorite Hit Girl would have made number one on this list. Chloe’s performance as Hit Girl in Kick Ass and Kick Ass 2 proves she has the body and stunt capability to pull off Harley. In Martin Scorsese’s Hugo she showcased her ability to be playful and in the 2013 Remake of the Carrie she proves that dangerous and mentally unhinged is most definitely in her bag of tricks. She has also done multiple accents and voices for some of her characters therefore she has the vocal capability. The only problem is of course her age. Harleen is a certified therapist working at Arkam.There is no way a 17-year-old has been through enough school.



#2 Jena Malone
Jena had a long track record with both feature films and television that make her an obvious choice for Harley. Her most recent role as Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire certainly proves she got the physical capabilities. Just remove the axe she’s got in her hand and replace it with a huge mallet and you’ve got Harley. Her other roles include a plethora of accent work. She had an impeccable british accent in Pride and Prejudice along with a playful and youthful personality. So let’s get her in tights and she what can do!  




#1 Kristen Belle
Now best known Disney’s animated feature Frozen, Kristen is the most qualified when it comes to voice work. Not only does she have several voice over credits, her live performance of “Do You Want to Build A Snowman?” in which she sang all three ages of Anna with noticeably different voices proves her vocal capabilities are vast! There is a reason so much fan art of her exists as Harley already. She has tremendous talent and versatility. She commits 100% to every role she tackles, including any stunt work. Kristen herself has a youthful sensibility that will translate into Harley seamlessly.




The five above all are great choice with the foundation to pull Harley out off the comic books and on to the big screen!! It looks like for now however we will all have to wait patiently for the announcement of the return of the Joker followed by the introduction of Harley.

Gotham Pilot Review

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With the success of Arrow on the CW, DC has been extremely proactive about creating new television series based on other DC Super Heroes. Batman seemed to be the next logical choice, but how? With the success of the Dark Knight Films and anticipation for Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice how could they search for another actor to play Batman?
Gotham, a new pilot airing this Fall on Fox, follows Jim Gordon as he  starts his career with Gotham PD. The series begins two weeks after Gordon’s first day. The pilot jumps right in with his first big case, the murder of Gotham’s most influential couple, Thomas and Martha Wayne. Their death becomes catalyst for mayhem, deceit and destruction to thrive in Gotham, and is the spark that ignites Bruce’s obsession with justice.
Ben Mckenzie, best known for The O.C., is wonderful as Jim Gordon. Gordon is one of the only members of Gotham PD who is committed unwaveringly to doing what’s right. Mckenzie gives Gordon the tough skin he needs to survive in an organization as corrupt as the police force of Gotham has become with the heart and passionate determination we expect from Detective Gordon.


Other familiar faces include Detective Harvey Bullock played by Donal Logue, most recently a recurring character on Law and Order: SVU. Logue effortlessly captures Bullock’s nonchalant contentment for the way things are run in Gotham and his pompous attitude of imperviousness but misses opportunities to showcase the often jovial way Bullock copes with confrontation. Sean Pertwee, despite his lack of screen time in the pilot, is a very level headed Alfred. Last but certainly not least David Mazouz taking on the role of Bruce Wayne. As far as the pilot goes Mazouz adds both understated nuances and purposeful statements that make it plain Bruce’s journey to becoming Batman is a direct result of his parents death.
The main focus of Gotham however will not be Bruce Wayne. The plan is to focus each episode on the origin stories of our favorite Batman villains. Robin Taylor is outstanding as Oswald Cobblepot, aka the Penguin. Camren Bicondova plays Selina Kyle, and nails the feline physicality of the future Catwoman but doesn’t speak in the pilot. We also get a quick glimpse of Cory Michael Smith as Edward Nygma, later known as The Riddler. Poison Ivy played by Clare Foley has been included in teaser clips on Fox’s Website.

All in all director Danny Cannon does a tremendous job in creating the dark corrupt Gotham fans have grown to love. He gives them characters truly based on the future villains along with the ever so popular procedural layout successful shows cling to. Gotham will air this fall at 8 PM on Mondays only on Fox.
Final Score: 9/10

Tomb Raider # 5: Eyes in the Heavens Review

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Between the announcement of the new Tomb Raider game, Rise of the Tomb Raider, coming out in 2015 and the whispers of a possible reboot of the Tomb Raider Movies, what better time to release a comic series where the storyline picks up right where the most recent game leaves off.


Gail Simone, the writer, does a fantastic job of seamlessly placing flashbacks throughout the series to ensure that readers who have not played the game aren’t lost. Follow Lara as she returns to the island of Yamatai in the Devil’s Triangles to save her dearest friend Sam who has been kidnapped because four artifact were removed from Yamatai on their last visit. After four issues filled with gun fights, confusion, incoherently mumbled prophecies and lots of exposition the reader finally gets the true adventure expected of the infamous Tomb Raider and everything begins to connect and fall into place.
“Four Guardians, Four Calamities, Four Pieces to build his horse. The Circle has to be broken” The ill-fated statement made by Jonah in the first issue is starting to make sense. The leader of Sam’s captors, Matsu-Sama,  explains that he is not Solarii, but a group that worships the Solarii and seeks to resurrect Matthias the sole disciple to Himiko, the sun queen of the Solarii. The four guardians are  Matsu-Sama, his two daughters who are beautifully illustrated as statuesque Makara Lara finds in the second issue, and a mystery guardian yet to be revealed. As Matsu explains how they need Lara’s blood to bring Matthias back, Lara, while scaling a mountain on the outskirts of Yamatai, realizes that the ‘four calamities’ are linked to the four element. First there was the flood in the desert where it hadn’t rained in a hundred years. The second was when the fire on the ship and the last an avalanche the almost kills Lara.  Luckily after an ominous warning from Alex, her doomed comrade, “Beware the Fourth Guardian,” a stranger with a familiar face pulls Lara from the water. The man who saved Lara from her first encounter with Matsu-Sama… Serendipity or treachery?

Well looks like readers will have to wait for the next issue to figure out that last Guardian and the final calamity.  

 Final Score: 7.5/10