Solar Flare: Science Fiction News

Image via WikipediaI was eager to watch this episode just from the name. The Sontarans appeared in the original series of Doctor Who a number of times, so I was curious how they would be revamped. Then in the opening moments we got mention of UNIT, another longstanding Doctor Who element, which got my hopes up even further. Throw in the return of Martha Jones before the credits even role…

Broadcast in 1967, The Invaders is heavily influenced by 50s science fiction and by the ongoing cold war. This 5 disc set has all 17 episodes from the first season of the series including the extended version of the pilot episode (Beachhead).

For those unfamiliar with the concept, David Vincent (played by Roy Thinnes) witnesses the landing of an alien spacecraft and discovers that earth is being invaded. The aliens look…

Okay I’ve decided I like the opening theme. Sometimes it just takes me a while. The Ood appeared in a previous episode where they were used very effectively so I was looking forward to another episode featuring them. Once again I’m impressed by the special effects. It looks like they must have had a bigger budget this year or they’re using it much more effectively than before.
Image via Wikipedia
Initially Ood…

Avengers: The Initiative #12
Writer: Dan Slott & Christos N. Gage
Artist: Steve Uy
Publisher: Marvel

I love this series. Slott mixed together some unknown and underused Marvel characters and perfectly captured the feeling of the Marvel Universe immediately after Civil War. Issue 12 is his wrap up issue so written with Christos Gage (who takes the reigns solo next month).…

I still haven’t quite gotten used to the new version of the theme music, but it’s growing on me and it does suit the frantic pace of the show. As the title suggests, this episode was set in Pompei, so I was really looking forward to a classic Doctor Who historical adventure.

Like last week, it feels as though they’re overplaying the humor aspects of the show. Or perhaps its that…

Universe 0
Writer: Grant Morrison and Geoff Johns
Artist: Every Artist DC Has
Publisher: DC

I’m really not sure why this issue exists. We had a whole 52 issue series in the form of Countdown to Final Crisis that was supposed to set up… Final Crisis. But apparently it didn’t. So we have Universe 0, which is little more than a…

The second episode of the fourth season of Doctor Who brings back Catherine Tate in her role from the Season 3 Christmas special as Donna Noble. This episode has both the Doctor and Donna separately investigating a “revolutionary” diet pill.
Image via Wikipedia
Tate’s role in Runaway Bride was largely comedic which worked fine for that episode, but I wasn’t at all sure how that would translate with her as a regular…

Doctor Who returned for its fourth season with a visit to the Titanic. Not that Titanic, a space faring luxury liner named the Titanic. The Doctor, temporarily without companion is paired up with guest star Kylie Minogue.

Did I mention the new title music? I preferred the previous version, but it’s no big deal.
Image by stovak via Flickr
This was the extra long Christmas special with the spaceship Titanic visiting the planet…

Countdown to Final Crisis #1
Writer: Paul Dini
Artist: Tom Derenick
Publisher: DC

So here we are. Finally the countdown reaches 1. And what do we get? An epilogue. As I feared this whole exercise hasn’t lead into Final Crisis at all. In fact the only really significant bit seems to be the death of the New Gods which actually mainly…

The Slitheen were subject to a lot of fan criticism when they first appeared in Doctor Who Season One. The farting was regarded as childish (and it is). So I imagine the name of this episode will make a lot of people unhappy.
Image via Wikipedia
However while Doctor Who is intended to be for the entire family, The Sarah Jane Adventures is firmly aimed at children. So the juvenile nature of…